Somerville is a surname. Notable people with the surname include:
Sir Gaultier de Somerville was one of William the Conqueror's knights, who came to England in 1066. The name most likely comes from "Saint-Omer," a town about 20 miles south of Dunkirk at the North of France.
The name itself comes from a French village of the same name in Normandy, France. In 1066 the Lord of Somerville, Sir Gaultier de Somerville joined William the conqueror on his invasion of England, for his support Sir Gaultier de Somerville was given land in the North of England. By the twelfth century, the Somervilles were granted land and title of lord in Scotland and were at one time among the noble families of Scotland. Alternatively, Somerville can also be a Scottish or Irish clan surname.
The Irish House of Somerville began when William Somerville came to Ireland in 1690. William was an Episcopalian minister forced to flee from his manse when it was attacked by Covenanters. William brought his sons William and Thomas with him to Ireland. While the younger William returned to Scotland, his brother Thomas stayed in Ireland. Thomas would be educated at Trinity College in Dublin eventually earning a BA in 1711. He entered the church of his father and was ordained a minister at Cloyne Cathedral in 1715. It was in 1732 that Thomas was made the rector of Myross and Castlehaven. It was his son Thomas who by becoming a very successful merchant with Newfoundland and the West Indies was able to build up the Irish house of Somerville to the ranks of landed gentry a class out of which the Somerville clan had dropped for five generations.
The following people have the surname Somerville (or the variant Somervile):
Amanda Somerville (b. 1979), American pop, metal singerAlexander Somerville (b. 1811), Scottish journalist and soldierAnnesley Somerville (1858–1942), British politicianBonnie Somerville (b. 1974), American actressCarla Somerville (b. 1973), Canadian field hockey playerDaniel Somerville (1879–1938), British politicianDave Somerville (b. 1933), Canadian singerEd Somerville (1853–1877), American baseball playerEdith Anna Somerville (1858–1949), Irish novelistGeraldine Somerville (b. 1967), Irish-born British actressGreg Somerville, NZ rugby playerHenry Boyle Townshend Somerville (1863–1936), brother of Edith, sailor, antiquarian, anthropologist, murdered by IRAJames Somerville (Canadian politician, Bruce) (1826–1898), Canadian businessperson, notary and Member of Parliament (Bruce West electoral district)James Somerville (Canadian politician, Brant) (1834–1916), Canadian journalist, editor and Member of Parliament (Brant North, Wentworth North and Brant electoral districts)James Somerville (admiral) (1882–1949), British admiral during World War IIJames Dugald Somerville, best known as J. D. Somerville, Scottish-Australian historianJason Somerville, American professional poker playerJimmy Somerville (b. 1961), Scottish pop singerJohn Somerville (1939–1984), Australian rules footballer with Essendon (1960–1967)John Somerville, Scottish football player and managerJulia Somerville (b. 1947), ITN newsreaderLord Somerville, any of a family of Scottish peersMargaret Somerville (b. 1942), Canadian ethicistMary Somerville (1780–1872), Scottish scientific writer, after whom Somerville College is namedPeggy Somerville (1918–1975), British Impressionist painterPeter Somerville (b. 1968), Australian rules footballerPhyllis Somerville, American actressReginald Somerville 1867-1948, English composer and actorRichard Somerville (b. 1941), American climatologistRobert Somerville (b. 1940), American historian of ChristianityRobert Brown Somerville (1812–1904), Scottish-born merchant and politician in QuebecRoss Somerville (1903–1991), Canadian golferShirley-Anne Somerville (b. 1974), Scottish politicianWesley Somerville (c.1941-1975), Northern Irish loyalist paramilitaryThomas David Somerville (b. 1915), former Bishop of the Diocese of New WestminsterWilliam Somervile (1675–1742), English poet (Somerville is alternate surname spelling)William Somerville (cricketer) (b. 1984)