Show ContentsSunter History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Sunter family

The surname Sunter was first found in Berkshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Saxon surnames survived and the family name was first referenced in the year 1206 when Roger le Summeter held estates in that shire.

Early History of the Sunter family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sunter research. Another 85 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1301, 1331, 1363, 1378, 1416, 1427, 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Sunter History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sunter Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Sumpter, Sunter, Summeter, Sompter and others.

Early Notables of the Sunter family

Another 32 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Sunter Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Sunter migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Sunter Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Anne Sunter, who arrived in Virginia in 1700 1
  • Bridget Sunter, who landed in Virginia in 1700 1
  • Stephen Sunter, who arrived in Virginia in 1700 1
Sunter Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • John H Sunter, who arrived in Missouri in 1840 1
  • Joseph Sunter, aged 23, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1854 1

Sunter migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Sunter Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • James Sunter, English Convict from Durham, who was transported aboard the "Aboukir" on December 24, 1851, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 2
  • Janet Sunter, aged 22, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Grand Trianon"


  1. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  2. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2014, November 18) Aboukir voyage to Van Diemen's Land and Norfolk Island. [These convicts appear to have all landed in Van Diemen's Land], Australia in 1851 with 280 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/aboukir/1851


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