NameCensus.

UK surname

Naismith

An English surname denoting someone of Scottish descent from the town of Naesmyth.

In the 1881 census there were 797 people recorded with the Naismith surname, ranking it #4,670 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,078, ranked #5,417, down from #4,670 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hamilton, Bothwell and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Roystonhill, Blochairn, and Provanmill, Dundyvan and Drongan.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Naismith is 1,096 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.3%.

1881 census count

797

Ranked #4,670

Modern count

1,078

2016, ranked #5,417

Peak year

2014

1,096 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Naismith had 797 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,670 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,078 in 2016, ranked #5,417.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 943 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Naismith surname distribution map

The map shows where the Naismith surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Naismith surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Naismith over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 465 #5,332
1861 historical 637 #4,207
1881 historical 797 #4,670
1891 historical 849 #4,814
1901 historical 943 #4,963
1911 historical 78 #25,013
1997 modern 957 #5,682
1998 modern 997 #5,687
1999 modern 1,003 #5,701
2000 modern 994 #5,718
2001 modern 983 #5,653
2002 modern 983 #5,781
2003 modern 989 #5,642
2004 modern 990 #5,643
2005 modern 986 #5,612
2006 modern 1,009 #5,522
2007 modern 1,054 #5,369
2008 modern 1,065 #5,353
2009 modern 1,070 #5,447
2010 modern 1,078 #5,529
2011 modern 1,065 #5,521
2012 modern 1,036 #5,572
2013 modern 1,065 #5,534
2014 modern 1,096 #5,411
2015 modern 1,087 #5,396
2016 modern 1,078 #5,417

Geography

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Where Naismiths are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hamilton, Bothwell, Govan Combination, Edinburgh and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Roystonhill, Blochairn, and Provanmill, Dundyvan, Drongan, Hamilton Centre and Low Parks and Cumnock South and Craigens. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Hamilton Lanark
2 Bothwell Lanark
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Roystonhill, Blochairn, and Provanmill Glasgow City
2 Dundyvan North Lanarkshire
3 Drongan East Ayrshire
4 Hamilton Centre and Low Parks South Lanarkshire
5 Cumnock South and Craigens East Ayrshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Naismith

These lists show first names that appear often with the Naismith surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Naismith

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Naismith, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Naismith surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Naismith household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Naismith is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Naismith is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Naismith falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Naismith is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Naismith, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Naismith

The surname Naismith is of Scottish origin and can be traced back to the 16th century. It is derived from the Scots Gaelic words "naomh" meaning saint and "sìth" meaning peace, essentially translating to "saint of peace" or "peaceful saint."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Scottish parish registers from the late 16th century, where the spelling "Nasmyth" was commonly used. It is believed that the name may have originated from a place name, possibly a chapel or church dedicated to a particular saint, near which the original bearers lived.

In the 17th century, the name appeared in various Scottish records, including the Protestation Rolls of Dunfermline in 1638, where a John Naysmyth was listed. This suggests that the name was well-established in Scotland by that time.

The Naismith surname is particularly associated with the counties of Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire in the central lowlands of Scotland. Some notable historical figures bearing this surname include:

1. James Nasmyth (1808-1890), a Scottish engineer and inventor, best known for his contributions to the development of the steam hammer and other industrial machinery.

2. Alexander Nasmyth (1758-1840), a Scottish portrait and landscape painter, renowned for his depictions of Scottish scenery.

3. John Naismith (1770-1824), a Scottish architect and civil engineer, who designed several notable buildings in Glasgow.

4. James Nasmyth (1716-1779), a Scottish philosopher and professor of moral philosophy at the University of Edinburgh.

5. Peter Naismith (1805-1874), a Scottish-born Australian farmer and landowner, who played a significant role in the early settlement of the Murrumbidgee region in New South Wales.

While the Naismith surname has its roots in Scotland, it has since spread to other parts of the world, particularly through emigration and migration patterns. However, the historical records and notable figures mentioned above highlight the strong Scottish heritage and origins of this surname.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Naismith families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Naismith surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lanarkshire leads with 494 Naismiths recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.65x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 494 19.65x
Midlothian 64 6.14x
Renfrewshire 38 6.31x
Stirlingshire 36 12.55x
Perthshire 23 6.59x
East Lothian 21 20.39x
Dunbartonshire 18 8.62x
Ayrshire 16 2.75x
Lancashire 15 0.16x
Fife 12 2.61x
Durham 10 0.43x
Argyllshire 9 4.16x
West Lothian 7 5.98x
Berwickshire 6 6.37x
Kirkcudbrightshire 6 5.33x
Caernarfonshire 5 1.59x
Middlesex 4 0.05x
Glamorgan 3 0.22x
Yorkshire 3 0.04x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.19x
Angus 1 0.14x
Hampshire 1 0.06x
Kinross-shire 1 5.09x
Roxburghshire 1 0.71x
Surrey 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barony in Lanarkshire leads with 100 Naismiths recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.71x.

Place Total Index
Barony 100 15.71x
Hamilton 75 106.94x
Govan 70 11.26x
Old Monkland 51 51.11x
Cambusnethan 44 78.80x
Falkirk 31 46.19x
Blantyre 30 114.59x
Glasgow 29 6.50x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 26 6.20x
Bothwell 23 33.73x
Cathcart 22 67.48x
Lesmahagow 16 60.17x
Lecropt 13 797.55x
Renfrew 11 55.28x
Rutherglen 11 29.82x
South Leith 11 9.39x
Dalserf 10 39.86x
Dalziel 9 33.27x
Haddington 8 52.63x
Tranent 8 57.51x
Walton On Hill 8 16.01x
Blairgowrie 7 50.72x
Lismore Appin 7 97.22x
North Leith 7 14.52x
Row 7 25.90x
Bathgate 6 23.60x
Chirnside 6 148.88x
Edinburgh St Johns 6 91.32x
Kilmarnock 6 8.66x
Kirkcudbright 6 64.45x
Auchterderran 5 43.22x
Bishopwearmouth 5 2.52x
Bonhill 5 14.91x
Lanark 5 24.72x
Llanbeblig 5 15.67x
Old Kilpatrick 5 20.25x
Pencaitland 5 170.07x
Stirling 5 13.83x
Stonehouse 5 58.62x
Avondale 4 27.21x
Cambuslang 4 15.78x
Edinburgh St Georges 4 18.50x
Harpurhey 4 31.25x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 4 3.99x
Markinch 4 25.61x
New Monkland 4 5.38x
Newbattle 4 44.94x
Newton On Ayr 4 22.95x
Aberdare 3 3.23x
Ayr 3 10.93x
Bolton In Bradford 3 60.73x
Newburgh 3 51.28x
Old Artillery Ground 3 44.84x
Paisley Middle Church 3 8.55x
Cadder 2 10.77x
Carlton 2 16.72x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 2 8.12x
Largs 2 14.59x
Abbey 1 1.09x
Boness 1 6.20x
Caputh 1 18.21x
Carluke 1 4.38x
Carnwath 1 6.43x
Dalkeith 1 4.87x
Duddingston 1 4.78x
Dunoon Kilmun 1 5.92x
Glencorse 1 25.00x
Hampstead London 1 0.83x
Inchinnan 1 73.53x
Irvine 1 6.19x
Kettins 1 41.49x
Kilcalmonell 1 20.41x
Kinclaven 1 63.29x
Kinross 1 14.84x
Kirkdale 1 0.64x
Liberton 1 6.22x
Melrose 1 8.21x
Monkwearmouth 1 4.52x
Moss Side 1 2.06x
Southampton All Sts 1 3.66x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Naismith surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 6
Agnes 2
Ellen 2
Jane 2
Jessie 2
Alice 1
Eleanor 1
Eliza 1
Janet 1
Jenny 1
Margaret 1
Margt. 1
Marion 1
Rachael 1
Rebecca 1
Sarah 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Naismith surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 4
Wm. 3
James 2
Alex. 1
Alfred 1
Charles 1
Chas. 1
Daniel 1
George 1
Henry 1
Jane 1
Walter 1
William 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Naismith households.

FAQ

Naismith surname: questions and answers

How common was the Naismith surname in 1881?

In 1881, 797 people were recorded with the Naismith surname. That placed it at #4,670 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Naismith surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,078 in 2016. That gives Naismith a modern rank of #5,417.

What does the Naismith surname mean?

An English surname denoting someone of Scottish descent from the town of Naesmyth.

What does the Naismith map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Naismith bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.