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Somerset Family History

Somerset Surname Meaning

English:: habitational name from the English county of Somerset which takes its name from Somerton in Somerset (see Summerton) + Old English sǣte ‘settlers dwellers’. The Somerset family who are Dukes of Beaufort are descended from the Plantagenets.

The surname was assumed by Charles Somerset (1460–1520), illegitimate son of Henry Beaufort Duke of Somerset. The latter was himself descended illegitimately from Edward III through John of Gaunt.

A later member of the family was Fitzroy Somerset (1788–1855) who as Lord Raglan was the commander of British forces in the Crimea, one of the men responsible for the charge of the Light Brigade.

Possibly a habitational name from one or more places called with Old Norse sumar ‘summer’ + sætr ‘shieling hill pasture’, such as Summerseat in Elton (Lancashire), but decisive northern early bearers are lacking.

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


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Where is the Somerset family from?

You can see how Somerset families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Somerset family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Somerset families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 112 Somerset families living in Yorkshire. This was about 24% of all the recorded Somerset's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Somerset families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Somerset surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Somerset ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Private Means and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Somerset. 15% of Somerset men worked as a Private Means and 75% of Somerset women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Somerset were General Labourer (heav) and Unpaid Domestic.

View Census Data for Somerset | 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

  • Private Means
    15%
  • General Labourer
    15%
  • Builders Labourer
    15%
  • General Labourer (heav)
    15%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    75%
  • Private Means
    10%
  • Housewife
    4%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    2%

What Somerset family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 7,000 census records available for the last name Somerset. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Somerset census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Somerset

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Somerset. 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 Somerset immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Somerset. For the veterans among your Somerset ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Somerset military records

You've only scratched the surface of Somerset family history

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What is the average Somerset lifespan?

Between 1953 and 2004, in the United States, Somerset life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1953, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Somerset in 1953 was 22, and 89 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Somerset

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Somerset 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.

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