It was named Summerford by settlers moving west that stopped there because the creek was up. They set up a settlement while waiting for the creek to drop to a safe lever and the forded the creek in the summer. Make a summer ford of the creek.
Summerford was laid out by Joseph Christian in 1833–4, and was originally known as Somerford. The Summerford Post Office was established on June 6, 1837. As of 1875, the community contained two churches, a drug store, two grocery stores, one hotel, and two blacksmith shops, and the population was about 20. The post office was discontinued on December 15, 1905. The mail service is now sent through the London branch.