In a message dated 1/14/00 3:22:02 PM Eastern Standard Time, MEGBR549@aol.com writes: << Lynn, I don't have Ann Sumpter info but my people were from MO to OK. I',m the one who has been sending the Obits to Sumpter/L. Do you know if spellinging of Sumpter (with a P) and Sumter, without a P, are same family or different lines, as I have people who are Sumpter who marry Sumter? Thanks, Judy - ------------------------------------- I have this Coat of Arms scanned in black & white. The Sumpter Coat of Arms Illustrated above was drawn by an heraldic artist from information officially recorded in ancient heraldic archives. Documentation for the Sumpter Coat of Arms design can be found in Burke's General Armory. Heraldic artists of old developed their own unique language to describe an individual Coat of Arms. In their language, the Arms (shield) is as follows: "Ar, three boars pass. in pale sa." When translated the Arms description is: "Silver, three black boars walking, one over the other." Family mottos are believed to have originated as battle cries in medieval times. A motto was not recorded with the Sumpter of Arms. Individual surnames originated for the purpose of more specific identification. The four primary sources for second names were: (1) occupation, (2) location, (3) father's name, and (4) personal characteristics. The surname Sumpter appears to be occupational in origin, and is believed to be associated with the English, meaning "one who served as a stableman." Different spellings of the same original surname are a common occurrence. Dictionaries of surnames indicate probable spelling variations. The most prominent variations of Sumpter are: Sumter, Sumnters, Sumnpter, Sumnpters and Sumpters. (sum'ter) noun. A pack animal such as a horse or mule. Or somebody for carrying things. (Middle English sum(p)ter, sometour, driver of a pack animal; from Old French = som(m)etier; from Vulgar Latin = saumatarius (unattested); from Late Latin = Sama (pack saddle); from Greek = sattein (of obscure origin) to pack). >From research done in phonetics, there is an explanation for the insertion of the "p". Whenever ou have a voice continuant consonant such as "m" followed by a voiceless positive "t", there is a natural tendency for the mouth to insert another voiceless articulated in similar manner to the consonant that precedes it. Thus, a "p" is formed following the "m" with the audible, it is thus spelled as it is heard. Don't assume that the insertion of the "p" in "Sumpter" began in America. First inscription and mention of the surname is William le Sumeter in 1221 and Roger le Summeter in 1270, taken from the Assize Rolls Gloucester shire England and the Assize Rolls of Worcestershire. The name is also mentioned in 1320 in Surrey, England. In 1404 (England) there was a conspiracy to kill King Henry IV in his fifth year of reign. Implicated in the conspiracy were John Sumpter, Sr. and John Sumpter, Jr. of Essex County. Also, in 1642-46 the name Eill Sumpter was given in connection with a list of inventories from the Lands of Ireland. Shakespeare's play King Lear, Act II, Scene IV, "Persuade me, rather to be, a slave and sumpter." The Will of William (dated Nov 1752) uses ”Sumter". However, that depends on who wrote it. Supposedly being well educated, he probably had it spelled correctly as he normally wrote it himself. So it was probably "Sumter". General Thomas, his son, used "Sumter" as did Captain William, Thomas' brother; but have seen Thomas' name and those of his brothers also spelled ” Sumpter".