Welcome to the Sumner Family Tree.

This Sumner family originated in Wiltshire, south-west of Devizes, around the villages of Erlestoke, Potterne and Seend. Many centuries later spreading to Cheltenham, Bristol and worldwide.

Over the years the surname has changed. Originally the name was Sumpner - possibly meaning the owner of a packhorse and then changing to Sumner and Somner. Sumner has two possible occupational meanings - (1) a Court Summoner and (2) a local official whose job it was to ensure all parishioners attended church each week. This tree follows the Sumpner's and then the Sumner's. The Somner's seem to have taken a separate line (more research needed).

Currently my Family Tree contains over 10,000 individuals - too many for a single web site. Therefore the main surname groups in the tree have each been given their own web site - see links to them on the 'Links' page.

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John Hilton Sumner