Novel compositions of matter and the process of preparing these surfactants having the structure:R1[—(O—(R2O)m—(R3O)n—(R4)]y where:R1=alkyl, alkenyl, amine, alkylamine, dialkylamine, trialkylamine, aromatic, polyaromatic, cycloalkane, cycloalkene,R2=C2H4 or C3H6 or C4H8,R3=C2H4 or C3H6 or C4H8,R4=linear or branched C7H14SO3X to C30H60 SO3X when y=1,R4=linear or branched C7H14SO3X to C30H60 SO3X or H when y>1 but at least one R4 must be linear or branched C7H14SO3X to C30H60 SO3X,m≧1,n≧0,n+m=1 to 30+,y≧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.