Surname Sommerkorn - Meaning and Origin

Sommerkorn: What does the surname Sommerkorn mean?

The last name Sommerkorn translates directly to "summergrain," and likely has origins as an occupational surname to denote somebody who worked in the milling of grain, particularly during the summer. It can also be seen as deriving from the words "summer" and "corn," which were once used interchangeably by English speakers and cen mean the same thing.

The name could have been adopted by Germanic families from the medieval period, as over the course of centuries many regional dialects and languages evolved from the two parent languages of Germanic and Latin. Most surnames in Germany (and other European countries) were only adopted in the late-14th or early-15th centuries, when feudal lords and other wealthy landowners began requiring citizens to adopt a family name, or to take a patronymic name to identify their state of origin or occupation.

Those with the last name Sommerkorn may be descended from a person who worked at a flour mill in the summer months, as this was once a common job in rural regions of Germany. It is possible the family moved to another country in search of better economic opportunities, or as part of larger migrations or resettlement efforts.

Today, the name Sommerkorn is still relatively common in Europe, particularly Germany and the Netherlands. There are also significant populations of Sommerkorns in the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, as descendants of 19th-century German immigrants.

Sommerkorn: Where does the name Sommerkorn come from?

The last name Sommerkorn is quite common today in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. In Germany, it is the 48th most common surname, with approximately 1,500 individuals bearing the name. Similarly, in Austria, Sommerkorn is the 38th most popular surname. In Switzerland, about 4,570 individuals share the last name.

The name is also present in other European countries, including the Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden. In the United States, the name is more rare, with only a few hundred individuals dispersed across a handful of states.

Sommerkorn originates from the ancient German word "sommerkorn," which means "summer grain." This suggests that the family was likely farmers or had agricultural connections centuries ago.

The Sommerkorn family crest is two golden wheat sheaves with a hummingbird with an olive branch in its beak. This crest likely has biblical origins, as it is an allusion to the passages from the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy.

The Sommerkorn family appeared to gain prominence in the middle 19th century, when the surname became common in Schleswig-Holstein and Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.

Variations of the surname Sommerkorn

Sommerkorn is a surname of German origin that can be found in both English and German speaking countries. It is derived from the two German words "sommer" and "korn," meaning "summer" and "grain," respectively. This name can be found in a variety of spellings, including Sommercorn, Somerkorn, Somercorn, and Sumarkorn.

The variants of the surname Sommerkorn can be traced to other countries with German heritage, including Austria, Switzerland, Canada, and the United States. In Austria, the surname is written as Sommerkorn; in Switzerland, as Somerkorn; in Canada, as Sommercorn; and in the United States, as Sumarkorn.

The Sommerkorn surname is also known by other surnames, such as Summercorn and Sumercorn. In some cases, the family name has been adapted to the local language of the country in which it is found. For example, "Sommerkorn" is often seen as "Veránkorn" in Belarusian, "Letnikorn" in Czech, and "Sumerczuk" in Polish.

There are also numerous variants of Sommerkorn found in Dutch and Flemish-speaking countries, including Dutch Somercorn, Somerkamp, Houckecorn, and Smeerkorn. The variations in spelling have no bearing on the origin, but are simply an adaptation of the name accorded to different cultures.

Although the origin of the Sommerkorn surname can be traced back to Germany, the name is used by descendants all over the world. Its numerous variations, spellings and surnames attest to its international reach and reflect the family's diverse legacy.

Famous people with the name Sommerkorn

• Brandt Sommerkorn: Known for his film roles in Iron Man 3, Ted and Elektra.
• Garry Sommerkorn: Award-winning golf course designer and instructor.
• Sandra Sommerkorn: German actress who was featured in the television series, Die Aufschneiderei.
• Mathias Sommerkorn: German astrophysicist and professor at the University of Bochum.
• Philipp-Moritz Sommerkorn: German literature scholar and academic at the University of Bamberg.
• Agatha Sommerkorn: 19th century German theologian who served as a professor at Wittenberg University.
• Wilfried David Sommerkorn: German scholar of Germanic studies at the University of Freiburg.
• Ludwig Sommerkorn: Austrian painter who was often commissioned to create portraits and landscapes.
• Adam Matthew Sommerkorn: Irish rugby and football player currently playing for the University College Dublin.
• Astrid Sommerkorn: German film actress and director known for her role in the German film, Nachtblende.

Other surnames

Sommerkamp