NameCensus.

UK surname

Smaller

A surname derived from the German word "klein", meaning small or little in stature.

In the 1881 census there were 58 people recorded with the Smaller surname, ranking it #25,428 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 155, ranked #23,197, up from #25,428 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include North East Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Smaller is 155 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 167.2%.

1881 census count

58

Ranked #25,428

Modern count

155

2016, ranked #23,197

Peak year

2016

155 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Smaller had 58 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,428 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 155 in 2016, ranked #23,197.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 78 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Smaller surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Smaller surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Smaller 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 59 #22,756
1861 historical 67 #25,342
1881 historical 58 #25,428
1891 historical 76 #27,290
1901 historical 77 #25,627
1911 historical 78 #25,013
1997 modern 136 #22,398
1998 modern 139 #22,720
1999 modern 145 #22,305
2000 modern 149 #21,874
2001 modern 141 #22,344
2002 modern 142 #22,687
2003 modern 140 #22,634
2004 modern 149 #21,905
2005 modern 148 #21,961
2006 modern 141 #22,833
2007 modern 150 #22,212
2008 modern 148 #22,627
2009 modern 149 #23,031
2010 modern 150 #23,482
2011 modern 154 #22,886
2012 modern 143 #24,019
2013 modern 148 #23,884
2014 modern 146 #24,274
2015 modern 152 #23,507
2016 modern 155 #23,197

Geography

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Where Smallers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to North East Lincolnshire and North Lincolnshire. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 North East Lincolnshire 001 North East Lincolnshire
2 North Lincolnshire 002 North Lincolnshire
3 North Lincolnshire 001 North Lincolnshire
4 North Lincolnshire 004 North Lincolnshire
5 North East Lincolnshire 007 North East Lincolnshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Smaller

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

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Smaller

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Smaller, 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 Smaller surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Smaller 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Smaller 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

Smaller is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Smaller falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Smaller

The surname Smaller is believed to have originated in England, with roots dating back to the 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "smæl," which means "slender" or "thin."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Smaller can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1188, where a person named Robertus Smalere is mentioned. This suggests that the name had already been established in medieval times.

In the 13th century, the name Smaller appeared in various historical records, such as the Assize Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1260, which referred to a person named William le Smalere. The prefix "le" was commonly used at that time to distinguish surnames from given names.

The Smaller surname may have originated as a descriptive nickname for someone of a slender or thin stature. It is also possible that the name was initially an occupational surname, referring to someone who worked with small objects or in a trade that required precision and delicacy.

One notable early bearer of the Smaller surname was John Smaller, a 14th-century English scholar and clergyman who served as the Chancellor of the University of Cambridge from 1348 to 1349.

In the 16th century, the name Smaller was found in various records from different regions of England. For instance, in the Parish Registers of Yorkshire from 1564, there is a mention of a person named Thomas Smaller.

Another notable individual with the Smaller surname was Sir Robert Smaller, a 17th-century English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for the constituency of Brackley from 1640 to 1644.

The Smaller surname has also been associated with place names, such as Smallridge in Gloucestershire, which may have influenced the spelling variation "Smallridge" for some families.

Other variations of the Smaller surname include Smalley, Smalridge, and Smalman, which may have originated from different regions or through phonetic spelling variations over time.

While the Smaller surname is not among the most common in England, it has a rich history that can be traced back to the Middle Ages and has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including scholars, politicians, and landowners.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Smaller families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Smaller 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. Lincolnshire leads with 41 Smallers recorded in 1881 and an index of 45.34x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 41 45.34x
Nottinghamshire 9 11.81x
Lancashire 2 0.30x
Northumberland 2 2.38x
Yorkshire 2 0.36x
Cornwall 1 1.56x
Durham 1 0.59x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Great Grimsby in Lincolnshire leads with 11 Smallers recorded in 1881 and an index of 191.64x.

Place Total Index
Great Grimsby 11 191.64x
Boston 9 328.47x
St Swithin Lincoln 8 563.38x
Clee With Weelsby 7 353.54x
Eastwood 6 882.35x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 3 236.22x
Chirton 2 105.26x
Leverton 2 1818.18x
Ormesby 2 132.45x
Aspull 1 63.29x
Bennington By Boston 1 909.09x
Flawborough 1 10000.00x
Heworth 1 30.12x
Manchester 1 3.31x
Newark Upon Trent 1 36.50x
Nottingham St Nicholas 1 96.15x
St Blazey 1 178.57x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 10
Henry 4
John 3
Harry 2
Mowbray 2
Samuel 2
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Geo. 1
George 1
James 1
Joseph 1
Richd. 1
Tom 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 Smaller households.

FAQ

Smaller surname: questions and answers

How common was the Smaller surname in 1881?

In 1881, 58 people were recorded with the Smaller surname. That placed it at #25,428 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Smaller surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 155 in 2016. That gives Smaller a modern rank of #23,197.

What does the Smaller surname mean?

A surname derived from the German word "klein", meaning small or little in stature.

What does the Smaller map show?

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