NameCensus.

UK surname

Smale

A surname derived from the Old Norse word for "small" or "slender".

In the 1881 census there were 1,958 people recorded with the Smale surname, ranking it #2,240 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,803, ranked #3,507, down from #2,240 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Tormoham with Torquay and Northlew. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torridge and North Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Smale is 2,262 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 7.9%.

1881 census count

1,958

Ranked #2,240

Modern count

1,803

2016, ranked #3,507

Peak year

1911

2,262 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Smale had 1,958 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,240 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,803 in 2016, ranked #3,507.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,262 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Smale surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Smale surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Smale 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 1,256 #2,273
1861 historical 1,169 #2,416
1881 historical 1,958 #2,240
1891 historical 1,746 #2,612
1901 historical 1,999 #2,667
1911 historical 2,262 #2,235
1997 modern 1,879 #3,208
1998 modern 1,942 #3,229
1999 modern 1,981 #3,202
2000 modern 1,945 #3,233
2001 modern 1,914 #3,218
2002 modern 1,932 #3,266
2003 modern 1,865 #3,284
2004 modern 1,864 #3,288
2005 modern 1,851 #3,282
2006 modern 1,848 #3,300
2007 modern 1,859 #3,312
2008 modern 1,836 #3,375
2009 modern 1,874 #3,387
2010 modern 1,869 #3,462
2011 modern 1,828 #3,488
2012 modern 1,822 #3,441
2013 modern 1,826 #3,488
2014 modern 1,846 #3,481
2015 modern 1,824 #3,487
2016 modern 1,803 #3,507

Geography

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Where Smales are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, Tormoham with Torquay, Northlew, London parishes and Lifton, Bratton Clovelly, Broadwood Widger. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Torridge and North Devon. 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 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
2 Tormoham with Torquay Devon
3 Northlew Devon
4 London parishes London 3
5 Lifton, Bratton Clovelly, Broadwood Widger Devon

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torridge 004 Torridge
2 North Devon 010 North Devon
3 North Devon 013 North Devon
4 North Devon 007 North Devon
5 North Devon 008 North Devon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Smale

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Smale

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

Ageing Communities

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Smale is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Smale is most concentrated in decile 1 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Smale falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Smale 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 Smale, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Smale

The surname SMALE originated in England during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "smæl," which means "slender" or "thin." This suggests that the name may have initially been a nickname given to someone with a slim or slender physique.

One of the earliest recorded references to the SMALE surname can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and population conducted during the reign of William the Conqueror. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Smale" and "Smael," indicating its presence in England during the Norman period.

The SMALE surname was particularly prevalent in the counties of Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire, and Derbyshire in the East Midlands region of England. This is evidenced by historical records, including parish registers and tax rolls from the 13th to 16th centuries, which document individuals bearing the SMALE surname in these areas.

One notable historical figure with the SMALE surname was Richard Smale (c. 1420-1492), who was a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament for Nottinghamshire during the reigns of Henry VI and Edward IV. Another individual of note was John Smale (c. 1510-1578), who served as the Mayor of Nottingham in 1554 and played a significant role in the city's governance during the Tudor period.

In the 17th century, the SMALE surname can be found in various places across England, including the village of Smale in Shropshire, which may have derived its name from the surname itself or vice versa. One notable individual from this period was Thomas Smale (1638-1707), a respected English clergyman and author who served as the Archdeacon of Cornwall.

As the centuries progressed, the SMALE surname spread beyond England to other parts of the British Isles and, later, to the colonies and territories of the British Empire. In the 18th century, John Smale (1726-1792) was a prominent British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War.

In the 19th century, the SMALE surname gained further recognition through individuals like Robert Smale (1809-1892), a British architect and civil engineer who designed several notable buildings in London, and Frederick Smale (1838-1923), a British painter and illustrator known for his landscape and genre works.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Smale families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Smale 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. Devon leads with 948 Smales recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.66x.

County Total Index
Devon 948 23.66x
Middlesex 186 0.97x
Cornwall 176 8.08x
Surrey 127 1.35x
Glamorgan 75 2.24x
Kent 69 1.05x
Cheshire 54 1.27x
Lancashire 54 0.24x
Somerset 52 1.68x
Sussex 43 1.33x
Gloucestershire 32 0.85x
Essex 31 0.82x
Hampshire 22 0.56x
Channel Islands 13 2.28x
Yorkshire 11 0.06x
Hertfordshire 10 0.75x
Monmouthshire 9 0.65x
Staffordshire 9 0.14x
Derbyshire 8 0.27x
Northumberland 8 0.28x
Royal Navy 6 2.62x
Dunbartonshire 5 0.97x
Dorset 4 0.32x
Perthshire 4 0.46x
Lanarkshire 3 0.05x
Shropshire 3 0.18x
Warwickshire 3 0.06x
Cambridgeshire 2 0.16x
Durham 2 0.03x
Wiltshire 2 0.12x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.13x
Midlothian 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Northlew in Devon leads with 46 Smales recorded in 1881 and an index of 916.33x.

Place Total Index
Northlew 46 916.33x
Plymouth Charles The 37 20.96x
Plymouth St Andrew 37 11.99x
Stoke Damerel 35 12.48x
Sheepwash 32 1172.16x
Bedminster 31 10.65x
Macclesfield 31 16.42x
Calstock 30 70.21x
Lambeth 29 1.73x
Great Torrington 27 118.84x
Lifton 27 280.08x
Ore 27 111.80x
Swansea Town 26 9.46x
Tormoham 22 12.98x
Hatherleigh 21 210.63x
Holbeton 21 286.10x
Chatham 18 9.96x
Exeter St Sidwell 18 19.62x
Newton Abbot St Mary 18 53.56x
Bideford 17 39.62x
Ashwater 16 281.69x
Kensington London 16 1.50x
St Giles In Fields 16 24.10x
Tavistock 16 35.06x
Barnstaple 15 23.86x
Newington 15 2.11x
Dartford 14 20.85x
Parkham 14 265.15x
St Dominick 14 255.94x
St Pancras London 14 0.90x
Toxteth Park 14 1.81x
Camberwell 13 1.06x
Chulmleigh 13 142.54x
Hammersmith London 13 2.74x
Stockport 13 5.95x
Week St Mary 13 379.01x
West Teignmouth 13 42.41x
Buckland Monachorum 12 140.19x
Chelsea London 12 2.07x
Hove 12 8.43x
Lewannick 12 282.35x
Littleham 12 40.97x
Rame 12 213.90x
Stonehouse East 12 59.06x
Aberdare 11 4.78x
Bermondsey 11 1.92x
Bratton Clovelly 11 277.78x
Broadwoodwidger 11 241.76x
Okehampton 11 72.80x
Poplar London 11 3.03x
Portsea 11 1.42x
Werrington 11 254.04x
Bromley London 10 2.36x
Clovelly 10 191.57x
Exeter St Paul 10 126.10x
Jacobstow 10 354.61x
Sandford 10 102.04x
Antony 9 42.78x
Aylesbeare 9 155.17x
Christchurch 9 20.91x
Croydon 9 1.73x
East Barnet 9 34.21x
Exeter St David 9 26.29x
Langtree 9 185.57x
Mountnessing 9 156.25x
Northam 9 30.82x
Tintagel 9 151.77x
Almondsbury 8 55.52x
Colaton Raleigh 8 161.62x
Denton 8 15.81x
Greenwich 8 2.61x
Lawhitton 8 280.70x
Marland Peters 8 459.77x
North Petherwyn 8 141.34x
Petrockstow 8 237.39x
Roborough 8 301.89x
Rotherhithe 8 3.36x
Swansea Lower 8 46.81x
Westminster St James 8 4.04x
Wolborough 8 15.80x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 177
John 125
James 65
George 54
Thomas 50
Charles 49
Richard 41
Henry 39
Frederick 29
Samuel 26
Albert 19
Robert 16
Alfred 14
Edward 14
Joseph 14
Ernest 12
Arthur 10
Harry 8
Frank 7
Sidney 7
Wm. 7
Herbert 6
Francis 5
Thos. 5
Abraham 4
Benjamin 4
Edwin 4
Isaac 4
Lewis 4
Silas 4
Stephen 4
Walter 4
Ambrose 3
Andrew 3
Bertram 3
Chas. 3
Fred 3
Josiah 3
Richd. 3
Daniel 2
Edmund 2
Elias 2
Fredk. 2
Horace 2
Leonard 2
Michael 2
Owen 2
Peter 2
Tom 2
Wiliam 2

FAQ

Smale surname: questions and answers

How common was the Smale surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,958 people were recorded with the Smale surname. That placed it at #2,240 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Smale surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,803 in 2016. That gives Smale a modern rank of #3,507.

What does the Smale surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old Norse word for "small" or "slender".

What does the Smale map show?

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