Sumner

Sumner is a surname and given name of English origin. It derives from the medieval office of a sumner, an official who summoned people to court or to attend legal or church proceedings. Over time, the spelling Sumner became established as a surname and, less commonly, as a given name.

Notable individuals include Charles Sumner (1791–1874), an American abolitionist and senator; Sumner Redstone (1923–2020), a prominent American media executive; and Sumner Welles (1892–1961), a U.S. diplomat.

There are several places named Sumner. In New Zealand, Sumner is a coastal suburb of Christchurch, known for its beach and hillside scenery. In the United States, Sumner County names include Kansas and Tennessee, with other towns bearing the name.

Sumner also appears in historical and cultural contexts as a surname and given name across English-speaking countries and has variant spellings such as Somner.