Somerset Family History

English:: habitational name from the English county of Somerset which takes its name from Somerton in Somerset (see Summerton) + Old English sǣte ‘settlers dwellers’. The Somerset family who are Dukes of Beaufort are descended from the Plantagenets.

The surname was assumed by Charles Somerset (1460–1520), illegitimate son of Henry Beaufort Duke of Somerset. The latter was himself descended illegitimately from Edward III through John of Gaunt.

A later member of the family was Fitzroy Somerset (1788–1855) who as Lord Raglan was the commander of British forces in the Crimea, one of the men responsible for the charge of the Light Brigade.

Possibly a habitational name from one or more places called with Old Norse sumar ‘summer’ + sætr ‘shieling hill pasture’, such as Summerseat in Elton (Lancashire), but decisive northern early bearers are lacking.