Sumner Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
The name Sumner originates from Old English, meaning 'summoner.' It evolved through various forms, including Middle English, before becoming a modern given name. The name carries traits of authority and responsibility due to its historical use related to legal summons. There is no biblical relevance associated with it. Sumner gained popularity as a surname in medieval times and transitioned into a given name in the 19th century, reflecting a unique and vintage charm today.
The name Sumner is most popular in Massachusetts, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. Recent 3-year trends show this Girl name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Sumner has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Sumner' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 949th out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 1295th out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 2260th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 4406th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3960th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 5030th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 6521st out of 23106 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 18004th out of 19264 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 11172nd out of 27321 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 12752nd out of 35406 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 20969th out of 30306 names. Discover how the name 'Sumner' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Sumner"
Pronunciation
/ˈsʌmnər/
Origin
Old English
Etymology
The name Sumner derives from the Old English word 'sumner,' which referred to a summons or messenger. It was originally used as a surname for someone who was responsible for summoning people to court or meetings.
Meaning
summoner
Language Evolution
Old English: sumner, Middle English: somner, Modern English: Sumner
Historical Usage
The name Sumner became popular as a surname in medieval England and later transitioned into use as a given name in the 19th century.
Variants & Derivatives
Summers, Sum, Summy
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, the name Sumner is often perceived as unique and carries a vintage charm, appealing to those who appreciate traditional names with historical significance.
Famous People
Sumner Redstone, American media magnate, Sumner Welles, American diplomat, Sumner McKeen, American football player
Explore More Sumner Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Sumner"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Sumner"
"Sumner" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 949th of 7545 | 837 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 1295th of 6773 | 514 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 2260th of 7552 | 246 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 4406th of 10718 | 88 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 3960th of 16616 | 204 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 5030th of 24088 | 259 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 6521st of 23106 | 153 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Girl | 18004th of 19264 | 6 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Girl | 11172nd of 27321 | 78 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Girl | 12752nd of 35406 | 106 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Girl | 20969th of 30306 | 22 |
Regional Popularity of "Sumner" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
74.79% 1059th/1416 |
28.72% 396th/1379 |
- | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- |
32.65% 508th/1556 |
- | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- |
56.09% 1363rd/2430 |
- | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - |
60.06% 3794th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - |
67.40% 5030th/7463 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Sumner" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Sumner"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Sumner" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.