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The name Summerscales originated in West Yorkshire, England, and is a combination of two Old Norse words "sumar", meaning summer, and "Skai", to mean shelter. Taken together the name is understood to describe a person who lived in a hut or crude shelter during the summer months, possibly as a herdsman on upland pastures. Present day spelling of the name has originated from earlier versions such as Somerscale/s and Summerskale/s. The earliest known holder of the name was Robert de Somerscales as recorded in the year 1298 in the Parish of Hazelwood near Bolton Abbey. The Yorkshire Tax Poll of 1379 also shows a John de Somerscales. In 1539 an inspection was made of all able bodied men in Craven (near Silsden) when it was recorded that among those present were Robert Somerscales, an archer, and William Somerscales, an archer with horse and armour. Both men were almost certainly veterans of the battle of Flodden (Northhumberland) which took place in 1519. Family historians may wish to visit the parish churches of Kildwick and Silsden, both in Yorkshire and, (following a move by some family members to Oldham, Lancashire in the 1700's) the church of St Margaret's in Hollinwood and also Hollinwood and Chadderton cemeteries. There they will find many memorials to members of the Summerscales family.