NameCensus.

UK surname

Smeed

A variant spelling of the English surname 'Smyth' referring to a metalworker or blacksmith.

In the 1881 census there were 320 people recorded with the Smeed surname, ranking it #9,298 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 210, ranked #18,965, down from #9,298 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to East Grinstead, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rother, Medway and IZ21.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Smeed is 395 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 34.4%.

1881 census count

320

Ranked #9,298

Modern count

210

2016, ranked #18,965

Peak year

1911

395 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Smeed had 320 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,298 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 210 in 2016, ranked #18,965.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 395 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Smeed surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Smeed surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Smeed 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 209 #10,066
1861 historical 191 #12,467
1881 historical 320 #9,298
1891 historical 284 #11,542
1901 historical 361 #10,196
1911 historical 395 #9,373
1997 modern 244 #15,520
1998 modern 251 #15,631
1999 modern 255 #15,599
2000 modern 255 #15,538
2001 modern 243 #15,791
2002 modern 255 #15,599
2003 modern 247 #15,733
2004 modern 243 #16,004
2005 modern 228 #16,683
2006 modern 233 #16,560
2007 modern 226 #17,103
2008 modern 245 #16,295
2009 modern 248 #16,509
2010 modern 232 #17,657
2011 modern 228 #17,673
2012 modern 227 #17,630
2013 modern 221 #18,252
2014 modern 223 #18,279
2015 modern 217 #18,542
2016 modern 210 #18,965

Geography

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Where Smeeds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around East Grinstead, London parishes, St Pancras, Lambeth and St Matthew Bethnal Green. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rother, Medway, IZ21, Shepway and Tunbridge Wells. 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 East Grinstead Sussex
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 St Matthew Bethnal Green London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rother 004 Rother
2 Medway 005 Medway
3 IZ21 East Lothian
4 Shepway 011 Shepway
5 Tunbridge Wells 012 Tunbridge Wells

Forenames

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First names often paired with Smeed

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Smeed

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

Smeed 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

Smeed falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Smeed

The surname Smeed has its origins in England, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "smede," which means "smith" or "metalworker." This occupational surname was likely given to individuals or families who worked as blacksmiths or metalworkers during the medieval period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Smeed can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which listed a Richard le Smede from Oxfordshire. The Subsidy Rolls of 1327 also mention a John Smede from Cambridgeshire. These early records suggest that the name was present in various parts of England during the Middle Ages.

In the 14th century, the surname appears in the Placita de Quo Warranto records, which contain legal proceedings from that time. The entry mentions a William Smede from Bedfordshire in 1346. This document provides insight into the widespread use of the name across different regions of England.

The Smeed surname has also been associated with various place names throughout history. For instance, the village of Smeedon in Derbyshire likely derived its name from the Old English words "smede" and "dun," meaning "smith's hill." Similarly, the hamlet of Smeeton in Leicestershire may have origins related to the Smeed surname.

Notable individuals with the surname Smeed include:

1. John Smeed (c. 1590-1667), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Whitchurch Canonicorum in Dorset. 2. Samuel Smeed (1677-1753), a English surveyor and cartographer known for his maps of Kent and Essex. 3. Mary Smeed (1773-1843), a British philanthropist and social reformer who established schools and charitable organizations in Kent. 4. Walter Smeed (1843-1922), a British civil engineer and inventor who patented several innovations in railway signaling systems. 5. John Josiah Smeed (1913-1992), a British economist and transport researcher who contributed significantly to the field of road safety and traffic management.

While the Smeed surname has roots in England dating back to the medieval era, it has since spread to other parts of the world through migration and various historical events. However, its origins can be traced back to the Old English word "smede," reflecting the occupational background of metalworkers and blacksmiths in early English society.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Smeed families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Smeed 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. Kent leads with 114 Smeeds recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.70x.

County Total Index
Kent 114 10.70x
Middlesex 80 2.56x
Surrey 48 3.16x
Sussex 37 7.03x
Warwickshire 13 1.65x
Essex 9 1.46x
Northamptonshire 6 2.04x
Wiltshire 6 2.17x
Northumberland 2 0.43x
Durham 1 0.11x
Hampshire 1 0.16x
Norfolk 1 0.21x
Somerset 1 0.20x
Suffolk 1 0.26x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. East Grinstead in Sussex leads with 29 Smeeds recorded in 1881 and an index of 389.26x.

Place Total Index
East Grinstead 29 389.26x
Lambeth 14 5.14x
Birmingham 13 4.96x
Faversham 13 127.95x
St Pancras London 12 4.78x
Bethnal Green London 9 6.64x
Margate St John Baptist 9 46.15x
Newington 9 7.81x
Sittingbourne 9 107.02x
St George Martyr 9 171.10x
Mile End Old Town 8 16.24x
Strood 8 131.58x
Canterbury St Mildred 7 276.68x
Edenbridge 7 334.93x
St George Bloomsbury 7 39.08x
Twickenham 7 52.32x
Chislehurst 6 105.08x
Fisherton Anger 6 117.42x
Frindsbury 6 149.63x
Hackney London 6 3.43x
Higham 6 416.67x
Bexley 5 53.08x
Godstone 5 183.82x
Icklesham 5 537.63x
St Botolph Aldgate 5 117.37x
Stalisfield 5 1388.89x
Walthamstow 5 22.54x
Battersea 4 3.48x
Greenwich 4 8.05x
Northampton Priory St 4 22.70x
Shoreditch London 4 2.96x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 6.37x
Tonbridge 4 10.41x
Canterbury St George 3 234.38x
Chatham 3 10.24x
Clapham 3 7.69x
Herne 3 63.56x
St Andrew Holborn 3 28.36x
Tunstall 3 1034.48x
Whitstable 3 57.47x
Byker 2 8.71x
Hinxhill 2 1333.33x
Kingston On Thames 2 5.47x
Lingfield 2 67.57x
Northampton St Sepulchre 2 13.39x
Peasmarsh 2 224.72x
Stoke Newington London 2 8.23x
Sturry 2 158.73x
West Ham 2 1.47x
Aylesford 1 33.90x
Bishopwearmouth 1 1.25x
Blendworth 1 312.50x
Bromley London 1 1.46x
Charlton Next Woolwich 1 9.00x
Chelsea London 1 1.06x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.36x
Ealing 1 3.58x
Folkestone 1 4.84x
Framlingham 1 37.04x
Grays Thurrock 1 17.45x
Great Yarmouth 1 2.52x
Halse 1 232.56x
Hastings All Sts 1 20.16x
Kensington London 1 0.58x
Leyton 1 9.43x
Mortlake 1 14.75x
Murston 1 106.38x
Penge 1 5.02x
Rainham 1 34.13x
Reigate Foreign 1 6.07x
Send Ripley 1 50.51x
St Martin In Fields 1 5.35x
Stoke 1 163.93x
Westminster St James 1 3.12x
Weybridge 1 30.67x
Whitechapel London 1 3.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Elizabeth 9
Emma 9
Eliza 8
Emily 8
Alice 7
Kate 6
Louisa 6
Sarah 5
Ada 4
Ann 4
Ellen 4
Annie 3
Caroline 3
Charlotte 3
Edith 3
Fanny 3
Jane 3
Amy 2
Catherine 2
Eleanor 2
Florence 2
Georgiana 2
Gertrude 2
Lucy 2
Maria 2
Martha 2
Minnie 2
Rose 2
Sophia 2
Anna 1
Anne 1
Blanch 1
Bridget 1
Christianna 1
Edward 1
Elisios 1
Elizth. 1
Enid 1
Esther 1
Harriett 1
Helen 1
Ida 1
Infant 1
Isabel 1
Jemima 1
Jesse 1
Jessie 1
Judith 1
Juste 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 18
George 17
Edward 13
James 12
John 12
Henry 10
Thomas 9
Charles 7
Arthur 6
Albert 5
Walter 5
Ernest 4
Frederick 4
Fredrick 3
Herbert 3
Alfred 2
Frank 2
Harry 2
Lewis 2
Samuel 2
B. 1
Clement 1
David 1
Edwin 1
Geo. 1
Horace 1
Lawrence 1
Percy 1
Richard 1
Robert 1
Sidney 1
Tom 1
Wm.Bokes 1

FAQ

Smeed surname: questions and answers

How common was the Smeed surname in 1881?

In 1881, 320 people were recorded with the Smeed surname. That placed it at #9,298 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Smeed surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 210 in 2016. That gives Smeed a modern rank of #18,965.

What does the Smeed surname mean?

A variant spelling of the English surname 'Smyth' referring to a metalworker or blacksmith.

What does the Smeed map show?

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