Survey of English Place-Names

Historical Forms

• Sumertonne 1044–7 (13 Sawyer 1055) KCD 785

• Somertuna 1086 DB

• (apud) Sumertonam 1101–7 Holme

• Sumertona 1153–68,c.1157,t.Hy2 1170,1175,1179 P 1227 Bract

• Sumerton 1165(p)etfreqto1230 P 1198,1202 FF 1209 Ass 1213 Cur 1232 Cl 1254 NfA

• Summerton 1198 FF

• Sumertune c.1250 HMC

• Somerthone 1257 Ass

• Somerton(e) 1261 Pat 1275 RH 1278,1347 BM 1286 Ass

• Sommerton 1538 AD

• Estsumertone 1254–75 Val

• Est Sumertone 1269 Ass

• Estsomerton(e) 1286 Ass 1234 FF 1360 AD 1535 VE

• Est Somerton 1316 FA 1321,1346 FF 1328 Banco

• Este Somerton 1535 VE

• Westsumertone 1254–75 Val

• Westsomerton 1306,1374to1552 Pat

• West Somertone 1286 Ass

• West Sumerton 1289,1550 Pat 1316 FA 1346 FF 1535 VE

Etymology

OE  sumor-tūn 'farm or dwelling used in summer'. According to Ekwall (DEPN) a sumor -tūn was a place to which the cattle were removed during summer (v. also PNO I 235). Somerton had a great expanse of grazing marsh, 95 acres at Domesday. Only Martham had more (114 acres).