This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'de Somerville.'Lower says,' The progenitor of the noble family was Walter de Somerville, lord of Wicknor, &c, in Staffordshire, and of Aston Somerville, in Gloucestershire, who came into England with William the Conqueror, and left two sons, who became ancestors respectively of the English and of the Scottish Somervilles. This name has been anglicized to Somerfield': Patronymica Britannica.

Jacobus de Somerwill, Devon, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Robert de Somervile, Staffordshire, 20 Edward I: Placita de Quo Warranto, temp. Edward I-III.

Roger de Somerville, Staffordshire, ibid.

1630-40. Christopher Grainger and Mary Somervell: Marriage Lic. (Westminster).

1660. Edward Sommervill and Mary Beaufoy: Marriage Alleg. (Canterbury).

From a town near Caen in Normandy, Sumar's or Somer's estate. William de Somerville, first of the name in Scotland, came in the train of David I, and received lands in Lanarkshire. There were five Williams in succession, the last dying in 1282.

They appear as witnesses to charters to the religious houses of Melrose, Kelso, Coldingham, Glasgow, Newbattle, and Paisley during the reigns of David I, Malcolm IV, and William the Lion (see their chartularies). One of these Williams in the reign of William is said to have slain a monstrous animal or serpent which greatly devastated the district of Linton, Roxburghshire, and obtained the lands of Linton as a reward. A rude sculpture on one of the walls of the church represents a horseman in complete armor in the act of driving his lance down the animal's throat. An inscription is affirmed to have run thus:

'The wode laird of Lariston

Slew the worm of Wormes glen,

And wan all Lintoun parochine.'Stolen from Fore bears

Robert de Sumeruilla witnessed a charter by Duncan, earl of Fife, to the nuns of North Berwick, a. 1177 (CMN., 3). Ralph de Sumervilla, acolyte, was promoted to the church of Linton, 1255. Johan de Lynton of the county of Rokesburk, who rendered homage 1296 (Bain, II, p. 202), was most probably a Somerville as Lynton at that time was a possession of that family. William Somerwele of the Plane, a charter witness in Edinburgh, 1492 (HP., II, p. 193). John Semrell, tenant under the Abbey of Kelso, 1567 (Kelso, p. 530), and John Symmerwell was burgess-freeman of Glasgow, 1614 (Burgesses). Scumervaill 1521, Semervaile 1525, Simerwell 1689, Someruell 1567, Someruyle 1511, Somervaill 1628, Somervel 1679, Somervele 1451, Somervell 1599, Somervol 1724, Somerwale 1517, Somerwele 1544, Somerwell 1611, Sommerveale 1681, Sommervell and Sommerwall 1600, Sommerwell 1539, Somyruyle 1448, Summyrvil 1424, Summyrville 1424, Summrwil 1493; Sommeruill, Sommerweil, Somyruille, Somyrville, Symmervaill 1544, Symmervell 1650; Somerviel.

(French-Teut. + French-Latin) belonging to Sommerville (Norm.) = Sumar’s Estate [O.H. Ger. (mod. Sommer), Old Saxon, Old Norse sumar, summer + French ville, Latin villa] Robertus de Somervile.—Charter-Rolls, A.D. 129o.

The progenitor of the noble family was Walter de Somerville, lord of Wichnor, &c., in Staffordshire, and of Aston-Somerville, in Gloucestershire, who came into England with William the Conqueror, and left two sons who became ancestors respectively of the English and of the Scottish Somervilles. Peerage. This name has been anglicized to Somerfield.

The family are descended from Sir Walter de Somerville, who came into England with William the Conqueror; his son, William de Somerville, settled in Scotland.

The village near a marsh or lake; So mer, a marshy soil, near water or the sea. So, for swl, sal, the earth, soil, land. Samhradh, Gaelic, summer, from Samh, the sun. Somerset may have been so called because the primitive inhabitants had an altar to the sun, samh, or because the country lay to the south.