NameCensus.

UK surname

Shoesmith

An occupational surname for someone who made or repaired shoes.

In the 1881 census there were 890 people recorded with the Shoesmith surname, ranking it #4,275 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 949, ranked #6,049, down from #4,275 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Halifax and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rother, Hastings and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Shoesmith is 1,217 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 6.6%.

1881 census count

890

Ranked #4,275

Modern count

949

2016, ranked #6,049

Peak year

1911

1,217 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Shoesmith had 890 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,275 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 949 in 2016, ranked #6,049.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,217 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Shoesmith surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Shoesmith surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Shoesmith 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 574 #4,436
1861 historical 595 #4,454
1881 historical 890 #4,275
1891 historical 952 #4,349
1901 historical 1,119 #4,326
1911 historical 1,217 #3,882
1997 modern 1,007 #5,472
1998 modern 1,038 #5,497
1999 modern 1,052 #5,472
2000 modern 1,045 #5,492
2001 modern 1,017 #5,509
2002 modern 1,032 #5,554
2003 modern 998 #5,603
2004 modern 1,003 #5,585
2005 modern 994 #5,583
2006 modern 984 #5,626
2007 modern 984 #5,681
2008 modern 977 #5,754
2009 modern 996 #5,784
2010 modern 1,035 #5,715
2011 modern 990 #5,865
2012 modern 963 #5,914
2013 modern 980 #5,915
2014 modern 998 #5,867
2015 modern 958 #6,024
2016 modern 949 #6,049

Geography

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Where Shoesmiths are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew, Halifax, London parishes, Brighton and Bradford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rother, Hastings and Cornwall. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Hastings St Mary-in-the-Castle, Hastings St Andrew Sussex
2 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
3 London parishes London 3
4 Brighton Sussex
5 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rother 007 Rother
2 Hastings 003 Hastings
3 Cornwall 019 Cornwall
4 Hastings 001 Hastings
5 Hastings 002 Hastings

Forenames

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First names often paired with Shoesmith

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Shoesmith

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Shoesmith, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Shoesmith surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Shoesmith household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Shoesmith is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Shoesmith is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Shoesmith falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Shoesmith is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

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

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Shoesmith

The surname Shoesmith is an occupational surname that originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "scoe" meaning "shoe" and "smið" meaning "smith" or "maker." This suggests that the name initially referred to a craftsman who made or repaired shoes.

The earliest known record of the name Shoesmith dates back to the 13th century in the county of Yorkshire, England. In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a man named Robert le Shosmithe is listed as residing in the village of Tickhill. This early spelling variation demonstrates the evolution of the name from its Old English roots.

During the 14th century, the Shoesmith surname began to appear in various historical records across England. In the Poll Tax returns of 1379, a William Shosmethe is documented in the county of Sussex. Additionally, the Subsidy Rolls of 1332 mention a John Shosmethe from the county of Lincolnshire.

Notable individuals bearing the Shoesmith surname throughout history include William Shoesmith (c. 1550-1630), an English clergyman who served as the rector of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. Another prominent figure was John Shoesmith (1608-1683), a wealthy merchant and alderman in the city of York.

In the 18th century, the Shoesmith family established a presence in the town of Hadleigh, Suffolk. Records show that a Samuel Shoesmith (1712-1792) was a respected landowner and farmer in the area. His grandson, also named Samuel Shoesmith (1778-1849), became a successful businessman and served as the mayor of Hadleigh.

The name Shoesmith has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Shoesmith Lane in Haydock, Lancashire, and Shoesmith Field in the village of Swinstead, Lincolnshire. These toponyms likely originated from individuals with the Shoesmith surname who lived or worked in those locations.

Throughout its history, the surname Shoesmith has maintained a strong connection to its occupational roots, reflecting the legacy of skilled shoemakers and their trade. While the name may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation over time, its origins remain deeply rooted in the craftsmanship of medieval England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Shoesmith families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Shoesmith 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. Yorkshire leads with 274 Shoesmiths recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.18x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 274 3.18x
Sussex 254 17.31x
Lancashire 164 1.59x
Kent 65 2.19x
Middlesex 58 0.67x
Surrey 44 1.04x
Anglesey 10 6.48x
Hampshire 7 0.39x
Carmarthenshire 4 1.09x
Derbyshire 3 0.22x
Devon 2 0.11x
Cornwall 1 0.10x
Denbighshire 1 0.30x
Durham 1 0.04x
Lanarkshire 1 0.04x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.09x
Royal Navy 1 0.96x
Shropshire 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bexhill in Sussex leads with 46 Shoesmiths recorded in 1881 and an index of 629.28x.

Place Total Index
Bexhill 46 629.28x
Leeds 38 7.80x
Burnley 37 42.55x
Skircoat 37 108.82x
Brighton 34 11.49x
Bradford 26 12.46x
Hastings St Mary 23 63.00x
Halifax 22 17.38x
Bowling 21 24.59x
Colne 19 61.77x
Hartfield 19 409.48x
Great Little Marsden 18 38.06x
Hastings St Clement 17 123.10x
Horton In Bradford 16 11.88x
Northowram 15 24.81x
Ilkley 14 99.36x
Tong 14 84.03x
Castleton 13 12.61x
Baildon 12 73.89x
Barrowford Booth 12 104.99x
Chelsea London 11 4.20x
Morton In Keighley 11 162.48x
Beaumaris 10 176.06x
Briercliffe Cum 10 292.40x
Hove 10 15.54x
Chatham 9 11.02x
Hastings All Sts 9 65.12x
Hastings St Leonards 9 41.74x
Hollington 9 172.41x
Penshurst 9 180.36x
Southwark St George Martyr 9 5.14x
Camberwell 8 1.44x
Crowhurst 8 640.00x
Fulham London 8 6.34x
Headcorn 8 179.78x
Lewes St Michael 8 274.91x
St Pancras London 8 1.14x
Gorton 7 7.21x
Havant 7 77.52x
Lewes St John Southover 7 71.07x
Minster In Sheppey 7 14.23x
Padiham 7 28.07x
Southowram 7 26.60x
Bermondsey 6 2.32x
Eastbourne 6 8.89x
Habergham Eaves 6 6.36x
Hastings St Andrew 6 114.07x
Huddersfield 6 4.78x
Lambeth 6 0.79x
Manningham 6 5.65x
Preston 6 23.42x
Read 6 217.39x
Royton 6 19.00x
Spotland 6 5.23x
Tottenham 6 4.33x
Cowden 5 257.73x
Dorking 5 17.56x
Graffham 5 406.50x
Greenford 5 312.50x
Icklesham 5 193.80x
Beckenham 4 10.31x
Chiswick 4 8.41x
Farnley In Bramley 4 37.17x
Hailsham 4 45.05x
Llanelly 4 4.84x
Ovenden 4 10.42x
Pyecombe 4 392.16x
Sutton Valence 4 118.69x
Wisborough Green 4 81.14x
Ardwick 3 3.22x
Broadwater 3 8.92x
Horsforth 3 15.87x
Kirdford 3 58.94x
Mitcham 3 11.19x
North Bierley 3 6.44x
Paddington London 3 0.94x
Pudsey 3 6.51x
Reigate Foreign 3 6.53x
Thornham 3 53.76x
Warley 3 12.04x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 59
James 41
William 39
Thomas 26
George 23
Henry 18
Charles 16
Edward 14
Walter 14
Alfred 12
Arthur 12
Joseph 10
Harry 9
Frederick 8
Richard 8
Albert 7
Robert 7
Frank 6
David 5
Stephen 5
Tom 5
Fred 4
Willie 4
Edmund 3
Ernest 3
Herbert 3
Louis 3
Samuel 3
Andrew 2
Benjamin 2
Christopher 2
Denton 2
Edwin 2
Jesse 2
Sam 2
Squire 2
Wm. 2
Abram 1
Amos 1
Bolton 1
Chas. 1
Ellen 1
Ephraim 1
Eveleen 1
Francis 1
Harper 1
Hector 1
Heny.Wm. 1
Hobson 1
Zachariah 1

FAQ

Shoesmith surname: questions and answers

How common was the Shoesmith surname in 1881?

In 1881, 890 people were recorded with the Shoesmith surname. That placed it at #4,275 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Shoesmith surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 949 in 2016. That gives Shoesmith a modern rank of #6,049.

What does the Shoesmith surname mean?

An occupational surname for someone who made or repaired shoes.

What does the Shoesmith map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Shoesmith 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.