NameCensus.

UK surname

Smales

A locational surname derived from small villages or areas with this name.

In the 1881 census there were 792 people recorded with the Smales surname, ranking it #4,700 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 979, ranked #5,896, down from #4,700 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sutton and Stoneferry, Whitby and Silkstone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Riding of Yorkshire, Leeds and Kingston upon Hull.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Smales is 1,105 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.6%.

1881 census count

792

Ranked #4,700

Modern count

979

2016, ranked #5,896

Peak year

1911

1,105 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Smales had 792 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,700 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 979 in 2016, ranked #5,896.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,105 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Smales surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Smales surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Smales 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 468 #5,304
1861 historical 532 #4,936
1881 historical 792 #4,700
1891 historical 882 #4,672
1901 historical 1,011 #4,721
1911 historical 1,105 #4,205
1997 modern 1,018 #5,412
1998 modern 1,039 #5,490
1999 modern 1,036 #5,548
2000 modern 1,046 #5,485
2001 modern 1,029 #5,464
2002 modern 1,067 #5,405
2003 modern 1,009 #5,550
2004 modern 1,022 #5,502
2005 modern 1,002 #5,540
2006 modern 1,003 #5,553
2007 modern 992 #5,645
2008 modern 995 #5,670
2009 modern 1,019 #5,676
2010 modern 1,017 #5,805
2011 modern 1,016 #5,745
2012 modern 995 #5,760
2013 modern 1,001 #5,819
2014 modern 993 #5,894
2015 modern 983 #5,893
2016 modern 979 #5,896

Geography

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Where Smales' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sutton and Stoneferry, Whitby, Silkstone, Wakefield and Bradford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Riding of Yorkshire, Leeds, Kingston upon Hull, Selby and Wakefield. 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 Sutton and Stoneferry Yorkshire, East Riding
2 Whitby Yorkshire, North Riding
3 Silkstone Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Wakefield Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Riding of Yorkshire 031 East Riding of Yorkshire
2 Leeds 087 Leeds
3 Kingston upon Hull 024 Kingston upon Hull, City of
4 Selby 005 Selby
5 Wakefield 008 Wakefield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Smales

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Smales

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Smales surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Smales household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Smales is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Smales is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Smales 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 Smales 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 Smales, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Smales

The surname Smales originated in England during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word 'smæl', meaning 'slender' or 'thin'. This suggests that the name may have been initially used as a nickname for a person of a slim or slight build.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Smales surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1170, where a certain Alan Smale is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established in the northern regions of England by the late 12th century.

During the 13th century, variations of the name such as 'Smale' and 'Smael' appeared in various records across different counties in England. For instance, the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273 mention a John Smale, while the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1275 list a William Smael.

The Smales surname also appears in the renowned Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings across England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This record includes the name 'Smalehulle', which is believed to be an early place name associated with the surname.

Notable individuals with the surname Smales throughout history include Sir John Smales (1556-1628), an English lawyer and Member of Parliament during the reign of King James I. Another prominent figure was Thomas Smales (1767-1849), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars.

In the literary world, Samuel Smales (1841-1923) was an English author and poet who wrote extensively about the Yorkshire Dales region. Meanwhile, John Smales (1809-1887) was a renowned architect from Yorkshire who designed several notable buildings, including the Church of St. John the Evangelist in Redmire.

The surname Smales has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Smalesmouth in Northumberland and Smalesmoor in Derbyshire. These place names further reinforce the connection between the surname and its Old English origins.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Smales families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Smales 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 568 Smales' recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.42x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 568 7.42x
Durham 56 2.44x
Lancashire 48 0.52x
Middlesex 41 0.53x
Derbyshire 21 1.74x
Northumberland 17 1.48x
Surrey 8 0.21x
Cornwall 5 0.57x
Glamorgan 5 0.37x
Hertfordshire 5 0.94x
Essex 4 0.26x
Lincolnshire 4 0.32x
Berkshire 2 0.34x
Gloucestershire 2 0.13x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.21x
Hampshire 1 0.06x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.10x
Perthshire 1 0.29x
Royal Navy 1 1.09x
Sussex 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kippax in Yorkshire leads with 30 Smales' recorded in 1881 and an index of 445.77x.

Place Total Index
Kippax 30 445.77x
Stanley Cum Wrenthorpe 25 70.28x
Sutton 19 217.89x
Islington London 18 2.40x
Holy Trinity 16 8.69x
Horsforth 16 95.29x
Micklefield 16 869.57x
Wortley In Bramley 15 24.74x
Pemberton 14 38.30x
Middleton St George 13 451.39x
Roos 13 921.99x
Whitby 13 50.39x
Wombwell 13 58.24x
Southcoates 12 28.24x
Sculcoates 11 9.06x
Skipwith 11 1486.49x
Barnsley 10 12.66x
Haworth 10 54.95x
Hinderwell 10 153.14x
Whitwood 10 92.00x
Cheetham 9 13.16x
Manchester 9 2.18x
Middlesbrough 9 9.03x
Ruswarp 9 105.63x
Skelton In Guisbrough 9 43.46x
Sutton Stoneferry 9 41.08x
Arden 8 2500.00x
Calverley Cum Farsley 8 36.80x
Horton In Bradford 8 6.69x
Newbold Dunston 8 69.57x
Stapleton 8 2000.00x
Templenewsam Thorpe 8 503.14x
Bishopwearmouth 7 3.55x
Brimington 7 76.25x
North Bierley 7 16.93x
Seacroft 7 192.84x
Templenewsam 7 126.35x
Walton In Wakefield 7 426.83x
Worsbrough 7 31.21x
York St Lawrence 7 87.72x
Beeford 6 319.15x
Great Bolton 6 4.94x
Hackney London 6 1.39x
Leeds 6 1.39x
Morley 6 15.08x
Snydale 6 379.75x
Stokesley 6 125.79x
Watton 6 714.29x
Westgate 6 8.43x
Bedale 5 179.21x
Beverley St Martin 5 39.12x
Bramley In Bramley 5 17.06x
Brampton 5 29.57x
Cardiff St Mary 5 6.75x
Cramlington 5 32.92x
Darlington 5 5.63x
Droylsden 5 16.72x
Evenwood Barony 5 64.02x
Greasbrough 5 49.46x
Holbeck 5 9.86x
Hunslet 5 4.19x
Ludgvan 5 71.74x
Oldstead 5 1470.59x
Sheffield 5 2.05x
Shotton 5 88.03x
Thorganby Cum West 5 467.29x
Tudhoe 5 24.86x
Batley 4 5.50x
Catwick 4 555.56x
Chilton 4 55.79x
Crossgate 4 39.80x
Fitling 4 1111.11x
Follifoot 4 305.34x
Gowdall 4 727.27x
Hammersmith London 4 2.10x
Langcliffe 4 218.58x
Oldham 4 1.35x
Pudsey 4 9.78x
Skeffling 4 909.09x
Waltham Holy Cross 4 28.07x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 53
Sarah 34
Jane 25
Elizabeth 24
Ann 23
Annie 16
Alice 15
Eliza 14
Emily 11
Emma 11
Hannah 9
Edith 8
Margaret 8
Harriet 7
Ellen 6
Fanny 6
Ada 5
Frances 5
Lydia 5
Rose 5
Catherine 4
Florence 4
Kate 4
Martha 4
Caroline 3
Clara 3
Isabella 3
Ruth 3
Agnes 2
Anne 2
Charlotte 2
Esther 2
Ethel 2
Gertrude 2
Grace 2
Lucy 2
Margret 2
Maria 2
Rebecca 2
Selina 2
Susannah 2
Betsey 1
Betsy 1
Dinah 1
Dora 1
Dorothy 1
Easter 1
Elenor 1
G.Ellen 1
Ursala 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 51
William 41
Thomas 37
George 30
Joseph 28
Charles 20
James 19
Robert 10
Isaac 8
Edward 7
Henry 7
Alfred 6
Arthur 6
Frederick 6
David 5
Richard 5
Wm. 5
Benjamin 4
Peter 4
Frank 3
Herbert 3
Leonard 3
Mark 3
Tom 3
Albert 2
Allen 2
Benjn. 2
Edwin 2
Fred 2
Fred. 2
Joshua 2
Reuben 2
Samuel 2
Thos. 2
Trueman 2
Walter 2
Alma 1
Amos 1
Benton 1
Bill 1
Boswell 1
Earnest 1
Eli 1
Eric 1
Francis 1
Jabaz 1
Jesse 1
Joan 1
Job 1
Wood 1

FAQ

Smales surname: questions and answers

How common was the Smales surname in 1881?

In 1881, 792 people were recorded with the Smales surname. That placed it at #4,700 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Smales surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 979 in 2016. That gives Smales a modern rank of #5,896.

What does the Smales surname mean?

A locational surname derived from small villages or areas with this name.

What does the Smales map show?

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