Šumelj families are Croats and they are mostly from Imotski area. In the past century, relatively most of Croatian residents bearing this family name were born in Imotski area and in Herzegovina (Ljubuski area).
Prevalence
About 80 people with faimily name Šumelj live in Croatia today, in 30 households. There were 30 of them in the middle of the past century, and their number more than doubled. They are only located in in 8 Croatian cities and 6 other places, mostly in Zmijavci in Imotski area (35), Makarska (15), Imotski (10), Tucepi in Makarska area (<10), and in Zagreb (<10).
Outside Croatia
Family name Šumelj (including: Sumeli , Shumeli , Sumelj and Sumely ) is present in 12 countries worldwide.
In the sources analysed in the project Acta Croatica so far, the name is mentioned over five times, the first time 2007 in source Encyclopaedia of Croatian Surnames.