Novel compositions of matter and the process of preparing these surfactants having the structure: R.sup.1[--(O--(R.sup.2O).sub.m--(R.sup.3O).sub.n--(R.sup.4)].sub.y where: R.sup.1=alkyl, alkenyl, amine, alkylamine, dialkylamine, trialkylamine, aromatic, polyaromatic, cycloalkane, cycloalkene, R.sup.2=C.sub.2H.sub.4 or C.sub.3H.sub.6 or C.sub.4H.sub.8, R.sup.3=C.sub.2H.sub.4 or C.sub.3H.sub.6 or C.sub.4H.sub.8, R.sup.4=linear or branched C.sub.7H.sub.14SO.sub.3X to C.sub.30H.sub.60 SO.sub.3X when y=1, R.sup.4=linear or branched C.sub.7H.sub.14SO.sub.3X to C.sub.30H.sub.60 SO.sub.3X or H when y>1 but at least one R.sup.4 must be linear or branched C.sub.7H.sub.14SO.sub.3X to C.sub.30H.sub.60 SO.sub.3X, m.gtoreq.1, n.gtoreq.0, n+m=1 to 30+, y.gtoreq.1, X=alkali metal or alkaline earth metal or ammonium or amine. These novel ether sulfonate surfactants have excellent surfactant properties making them suitable for a variety of applications as surfactants including agriculture, adhesives, coatings, deinking, detergents, emulsion polymerization, laundry, lubricants, metal working, mining, oilfield, personal care, pharmaceuticals, and soil remediation.