NameCensus.

UK surname

Smee

An English surname derived from a nickname for someone small in stature.

In the 1881 census there were 631 people recorded with the Smee surname, ranking it #5,619 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 844, ranked #6,621, down from #5,619 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Braintree, St Mary Stoke Newington and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Conwy, Chichester and Westminster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Smee is 932 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 33.8%.

1881 census count

631

Ranked #5,619

Modern count

844

2016, ranked #6,621

Peak year

2002

932 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Smee had 631 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,619 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 844 in 2016, ranked #6,621.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 892 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Smee surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Smee surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Smee 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 379 #6,300
1861 historical 274 #9,111
1881 historical 631 #5,619
1891 historical 622 #6,214
1901 historical 823 #5,492
1911 historical 892 #4,994
1997 modern 890 #6,012
1998 modern 908 #6,116
1999 modern 917 #6,115
2000 modern 914 #6,113
2001 modern 903 #6,068
2002 modern 932 #6,026
2003 modern 917 #5,991
2004 modern 887 #6,165
2005 modern 858 #6,268
2006 modern 859 #6,266
2007 modern 862 #6,305
2008 modern 859 #6,365
2009 modern 869 #6,456
2010 modern 895 #6,416
2011 modern 894 #6,351
2012 modern 862 #6,456
2013 modern 878 #6,478
2014 modern 878 #6,492
2015 modern 850 #6,605
2016 modern 844 #6,621

Geography

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Where Smees are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Braintree, St Mary Stoke Newington, London parishes, St Pancras and Chelmsford, Broomfield, Writtle, Widford, Chignal St James, Chignal Smealy. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Conwy, Chichester, Westminster, St. Helens and West Oxfordshire. 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 Braintree Essex
2 St Mary Stoke Newington London (North Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Chelmsford, Broomfield, Writtle, Widford, Chignal St James, Chignal Smealy Essex

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Conwy 013 Conwy
2 Chichester 009 Chichester
3 Westminster 011 Westminster
4 St. Helens 007 St. Helens
5 West Oxfordshire 015 West Oxfordshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Smee

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Smee

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Smee is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Smee is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Smee falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Smee

The surname Smee originated in England during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "smæc," which means "smoke" or "smoky." This suggests that the name may have been initially used as a descriptive nickname for someone who worked in a smoky environment, such as a blacksmith or a baker.

The earliest known record of the Smee surname dates back to the 13th century. In the Hundred Rolls of Berkshire from 1273, there is a reference to a person named Richard Smee, indicating that the name was already in use at that time.

Over the centuries, the Smee surname has been recorded with various spellings, including Smee, Smeigh, Smey, and Smye. These variations likely emerged due to regional dialects, scribal errors, and the lack of standardized spelling conventions in earlier times.

One notable historical figure associated with the Smee surname was John Smee (c. 1545-1628), an English mathematician and astronomer. He was a Fellow of Christ's College, Cambridge, and contributed to the development of mathematical and astronomical knowledge during the Elizabethan era.

Another individual worth mentioning is Sir John Smee (1784-1857), a British surgeon and pioneer in the field of electrochemistry. He made significant contributions to the understanding of galvanic cells and the electrodeposition of metals.

In literature, the character of Mr. Smee appears in J.M. Barrie's famous play "Peter Pan" (1904) and its subsequent adaptations. Mr. Smee is portrayed as the comic and obsequious sidekick to the villainous Captain Hook, adding an element of humor to the classic children's tale.

Other notable figures with the Smee surname include Alfred Smee (1818-1877), a British surgeon and writer known for his books on gardening and natural history, and William Smee (1818-1904), an English architect who designed several notable buildings in London during the Victorian era.

While the Smee surname may have originated from humble beginnings as a descriptive nickname, it has been carried by individuals who have left their mark in various fields throughout history, including mathematics, astronomy, medicine, literature, and architecture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Smee families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Smee 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. Essex leads with 263 Smees recorded in 1881 and an index of 21.89x.

County Total Index
Essex 263 21.89x
Middlesex 133 2.18x
Surrey 61 2.06x
Cambridgeshire 34 8.82x
Hampshire 27 2.16x
Suffolk 19 2.56x
Berkshire 12 2.63x
Lancashire 11 0.15x
Hertfordshire 10 2.38x
Kent 10 0.48x
Sussex 9 0.88x
Leicestershire 8 1.19x
Monmouthshire 4 0.91x
Norfolk 4 0.43x
Wiltshire 4 0.74x
Cheshire 3 0.22x
Devon 3 0.24x
Staffordshire 3 0.15x
Warwickshire 2 0.13x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.27x
Durham 1 0.06x
Northumberland 1 0.11x
Royal Navy 1 1.38x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Andrewthe Less in Cambridgeshire leads with 23 Smees recorded in 1881 and an index of 52.21x.

Place Total Index
St Andrewthe Less 23 52.21x
Lambeth 20 3.77x
Beaumont 19 2134.83x
Chelmsford 19 92.14x
Toppesfield 19 1061.45x
Shoreditch London 18 6.82x
Stoke Newington London 18 37.97x
West Ham 17 6.41x
Mile End Old Town 14 14.57x
Newington 13 5.78x
Springfield 13 246.68x
Shalford 12 789.47x
St Marylebone London 12 3.69x
St Pancras London 10 2.04x
Aldershot 9 21.54x
Braintree 9 83.41x
Chelsea London 9 4.91x
Kensington London 9 2.66x
Reading St Giles 9 20.08x
St Giles Cambridge 9 180.72x
Clerkenwell London 8 5.57x
Fryerning 8 544.22x
Ridgwell 8 583.94x
West Derby 8 3.79x
Aylestone 7 131.58x
Colchester St Martin 7 318.18x
Froyle 7 440.25x
Great Baddow 7 163.93x
Great Oakley 7 364.58x
Maldon St Marys 7 243.06x
Millbrook 7 22.28x
Ovington 7 2500.00x
Royston 7 196.08x
Bermondsey 6 3.31x
Brantham 6 714.29x
Brighton 6 2.90x
East Bergholt 6 241.94x
Hackney London 6 1.76x
Hornchurch 6 101.87x
Little Ilford 6 288.46x
Woodham Mortimer 6 857.14x
Battersea 5 2.23x
Stisted 5 322.58x
West Hanningfield 5 555.56x
Bow London 4 5.16x
Chepstow 4 53.40x
Childerditch 4 869.57x
Crayford 4 44.10x
Finchley 4 17.14x
Langford 4 833.33x
Purleigh 4 223.46x
Romford 4 21.06x
South Hanningfield 4 816.33x
St George In East 4 9.66x
Ulting 4 1176.47x
Weeley 4 317.46x
Wethersfield 4 132.01x
Beddington 3 26.16x
Brentwood 3 40.93x
Burton Upon Trent 3 6.24x
Deal 3 16.94x
Dunham Massey 3 72.82x
Eccleston In Prescot 3 8.27x
Farnborough 3 22.90x
Farnham 3 13.01x
Fulham London 3 3.40x
Great Yeldham 3 240.00x
Halstead 3 21.40x
Ingatestone 3 155.44x
Ipswich St Mathew 3 14.44x
Islington London 3 0.51x
Mundon 3 447.76x
Norwich St Martin At Oak 3 52.72x
Penge 3 7.72x
Rotherhithe 3 3.99x
Shellow Bowells 3 1304.35x
Acton 2 5.61x
Bromley London 2 1.49x
Richmond 2 4.81x
Willesden 2 3.49x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Emma 21
Mary 21
Eliza 17
Elizabeth 17
Sarah 16
Emily 15
Ellen 14
Alice 13
Louisa 12
Annie 11
Hannah 11
Jane 9
Ann 8
Charlotte 7
Harriet 7
Susan 6
Florence 5
Lydia 5
Ada 4
Edith 4
Margaret 4
Martha 4
Rosa 4
Rose 4
Amelia 3
Lillian 3
Maud 3
Clara 2
Eleanor 2
Ethel 2
Isabella 2
Lily 2
Lucy 2
Maria 2
Marian 2
Rebecca 2
Sophia 2
Susanna 2
Susannah 2
Anna 1
Anne 1
Emly 1
Esther 1
Eva 1
Gertrude 1
Lauria 1
Lilla 1
Lilly 1
Lizzie 1
Ursula 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 34
Edward 21
George 21
James 15
Alfred 14
John 14
Thomas 12
Arthur 11
Henry 11
Robert 11
Charles 8
Joseph 8
Walter 8
Wm. 8
Ernest 7
Frederick 6
Albert 5
David 5
Edwin 5
Samuel 5
Abraham 4
Edmund 4
Harry 4
Frank 3
Herbert 3
Earnest 2
Francis 2
Frederic 2
Fredk. 2
Infant 2
Leonard 2
Lewis 2
Nimrod 2
Percy 2
Richard 2
Andrew 1
Archibald 1
Benjamin 1
Bertram 1
Chas. 1
Conrad 1
Elias 1
Elijah 1
Ephraim 1
Fred 1
Jacob 1
Jessie 1
Joe. 1
Jonathan 1
Wm.F. 1

FAQ

Smee surname: questions and answers

How common was the Smee surname in 1881?

In 1881, 631 people were recorded with the Smee surname. That placed it at #5,619 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Smee surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 844 in 2016. That gives Smee a modern rank of #6,621.

What does the Smee surname mean?

An English surname derived from a nickname for someone small in stature.

What does the Smee map show?

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