This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Somerville family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Somerville Family History

Somerville Surname Meaning

Scottish: of Norman origin, a habitational name from Graveron-Sémerville in Eure (Normandy), from the ancient Germanic personal name Sigimar (see Siemer) + Old French ville ‘settlement’. The surname was taken from England to Scotland in the 12th century by William de Somerville, a retainer of David, Earl of Huntingdon, who became King David I of Scotland.

Irish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Somacháin (see Summers) or Mag Shamradháin (see Somers).

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Somerville family from?

You can see how Somerville families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Somerville family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Somerville families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 250 Somerville families living in London. This was about 29% of all the recorded Somerville's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Somerville families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Somerville surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Somerville ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Somerville. 12% of Somerville men worked as a General Labourer and 70% of Somerville women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Somerville were Motor Driver and Unpaid Domestic.

View Census Data for Somerville | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    12%
  • Builders Labourer
    5%
  • Medical Practitioner
    5%
  • Motor Driver
    4%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    70%
  • Private Means
    5%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%

What Somerville family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 86,000 census records available for the last name Somerville. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Somerville census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Somerville

Passenger Lists

There are 16,000 immigration records available for the last name Somerville. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Somerville immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 11,000 military records available for the last name Somerville. For the veterans among your Somerville ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Somerville military records

You've only scratched the surface of Somerville family history

Discover More

What is the average Somerville lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Somerville life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1944, and highest in 2003. The average life expectancy for Somerville in 1941 was 32, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Somerville

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Somerville ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Somerville family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial