NameCensus.

UK surname

Smellie

A Scottish surname derived from the Old English word "smilian" meaning "to smile".

In the 1881 census there were 1,329 people recorded with the Smellie surname, ranking it #3,088 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 366, ranked #12,690, down from #3,088 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bothwell, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Tweeddale West Area, Blackness, Bo'ness - Carriden and Grahamsdyke and Coltness.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Smellie is 1,603 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 72.5%.

1881 census count

1,329

Ranked #3,088

Modern count

366

2016, ranked #12,690

Peak year

1901

1,603 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Smellie had 1,329 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,088 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 366 in 2016, ranked #12,690.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,603 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Smellie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Smellie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Smellie 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 992 #2,815
1861 historical 973 #2,856
1881 historical 1,329 #3,088
1891 historical 1,391 #3,129
1901 historical 1,603 #3,222
1911 historical 398 #9,321
1997 modern 475 #9,676
1998 modern 482 #9,878
1999 modern 470 #10,120
2000 modern 471 #10,073
2001 modern 442 #10,388
2002 modern 451 #10,429
2003 modern 425 #10,765
2004 modern 423 #10,816
2005 modern 410 #10,979
2006 modern 407 #11,087
2007 modern 396 #11,459
2008 modern 386 #11,795
2009 modern 377 #12,269
2010 modern 381 #12,436
2011 modern 370 #12,576
2012 modern 364 #12,564
2013 modern 367 #12,707
2014 modern 371 #12,689
2015 modern 366 #12,717
2016 modern 366 #12,690

Geography

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Where Smellies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bothwell, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Shotts and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Tweeddale West Area, Blackness, Bo'ness - Carriden and Grahamsdyke, Coltness, Cornwall and West Berkshire. 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 Bothwell Lanark
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Shotts Lanark
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Tweeddale West Area Scottish Borders
2 Blackness, Bo'ness - Carriden and Grahamsdyke Falkirk
3 Coltness North Lanarkshire
4 Cornwall 006 Cornwall
5 West Berkshire 007 West Berkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Smellie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Smellie

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Smellie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Smellie household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Smellie 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

Smellie is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Smellie falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Smellie

The surname Smellie is believed to have originated in Scotland during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English word "smele," which means "small" or "slender." This suggests that the name was likely a descriptive nickname given to someone with a slight or diminutive physical stature.

The earliest known record of the name Smellie can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, a collection of feudal homages and bonds of allegiance made to Edward I of England. In these rolls, the name appears as "Smele" and is associated with individuals from the Scottish Lowlands.

Throughout the 14th and 15th centuries, variations of the name, such as "Smelie" and "Smaillie," can be found in various Scottish records and charters. These include the Exchequer Rolls of Scotland, which detail financial transactions and royal accounts from that period.

One notable figure bearing the name was John Smellie (c. 1510-1582), a Scottish clergyman who served as the Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1572. He played a significant role in the Scottish Reformation and was a staunch supporter of Presbyterianism.

Another prominent individual with the surname Smellie was William Smellie (1740-1795), a renowned Scottish printer, editor, and naturalist. He is best known for his seminal work, "The Philosophy of Natural History," which was influential in popularizing the study of natural history in the 18th century.

In the 19th century, William Smellie (1856-1914), a Scottish obstetrician and author, gained recognition for his contributions to the field of midwifery. His book, "A Treatise on the Theory and Practice of Midwifery," became a standard reference work for medical students and practitioners.

The name Smellie has also been associated with certain place names in Scotland, particularly in the regions of Ayrshire, Dumfriesshire, and Lanarkshire. For instance, the village of Smailholm in Berwickshire is believed to be derived from the Old English words "smael" (small) and "holm" (river meadow), which may be related to the surname's origins.

While the surname Smellie is relatively uncommon today, it continues to be found primarily in Scotland and areas with Scottish heritage. Its historical roots and derivation from the Old English word "smele" provide a glimpse into the descriptive naming practices of medieval times and the fascinating stories behind many Scottish surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Smellie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Smellie 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. Lanarkshire leads with 721 Smellies recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.24x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 721 17.24x
Lancashire 105 0.68x
Middlesex 90 0.70x
Midlothian 76 4.39x
Renfrewshire 63 6.28x
West Lothian 60 30.80x
Dunbartonshire 43 12.37x
Ayrshire 33 3.41x
Stirlingshire 33 6.92x
Argyllshire 14 3.89x
Roxburghshire 13 5.55x
Dumfriesshire 11 3.85x
Angus 10 0.83x
Cumberland 10 0.90x
Wigtownshire 10 5.82x
Durham 5 0.13x
Essex 5 0.20x
East Lothian 4 2.33x
Hampshire 4 0.15x
Surrey 4 0.06x
Yorkshire 4 0.03x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.17x
Derbyshire 1 0.05x
Kent 1 0.02x
Kinross-shire 1 3.06x
Selkirkshire 1 0.85x
Warwickshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Old Monkland in Lanarkshire leads with 104 Smellies recorded in 1881 and an index of 62.65x.

Place Total Index
Old Monkland 104 62.65x
Govan 91 8.80x
Glasgow 88 11.85x
Barony 83 7.84x
Cambusnethan 74 79.65x
Bothwell 59 52.01x
Carluke 38 100.03x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 35 5.02x
Shotts 34 67.92x
New Monkland 31 25.07x
Openshaw 31 43.13x
Hamilton 30 25.71x
Preston 29 7.06x
Kilmarnock 22 19.09x
Bethnal Green London 21 3.74x
Dalserf 21 50.31x
Livingstone 19 285.71x
Renfrew 18 54.38x
Boness 17 63.31x
Cumbernauld 17 89.24x
St Pancras London 16 1.54x
Dalziel 15 33.33x
Falkirk 14 12.54x
Hackney London 13 1.79x
Hawick 13 24.79x
Cardross 12 28.75x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 12 29.28x
Islington London 12 0.96x
Neilston 12 23.85x
Carlaverock 10 214.59x
Chorlton On Medlock 9 3.69x
Dundee 9 2.01x
Gorton 9 6.24x
Hampstead London 9 4.47x
Lesmahagow 9 20.34x
Whitburn 9 31.98x
Edinburgh St Marys 8 23.75x
Rutherglen 8 13.04x
Slamannan 8 30.63x
Stainton 8 214.48x
Uphall 8 37.35x
Cathcart 7 12.91x
Clerkenwell London 7 2.29x
Mearns 7 39.86x
Shadwell London 7 19.34x
Blantyre 6 13.78x
Campbeltown 6 13.81x
Dumbarton 6 12.40x
Glassford 6 93.02x
Manchester 6 0.87x
Maryhill 6 7.33x
Bishopwearmouth 5 1.51x
East Greenock 5 5.28x
Gorbals 5 20.14x
Kilwinning 5 15.99x
Kirkdale 5 1.94x
Muiravonside 5 41.25x
Southend 5 118.20x
West Ham 5 0.89x
Wigtown 5 51.02x
Barrow In Furness 4 1.92x
Bathgate 4 9.46x
Battersea 4 0.84x
Denny 4 15.76x
Edinburgh Greenside S 4 63.69x
Kirkintilloch 4 8.47x
Lochwinnoch 4 26.77x
Mid Calder 4 53.26x
Newton 4 68.61x
Prestonkirk 4 46.67x
Salford 4 0.89x
West Derby 4 0.89x
Abbey 3 1.96x
Cambuslang 3 7.11x
Currie 3 28.28x
Newington 3 8.50x
Newton On Ayr 3 10.35x
Paisley High Church 3 3.76x
Penicuik 3 12.74x
Torphichen 2 29.50x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 14
Elizabeth 11
Margaret 8
Eliza 6
Helen 6
Agnes 5
Jane 5
Alice 4
Ann 4
Christina 4
Annie 3
Ellen 3
Jessie 3
Louisa 3
Martha 3
Catherine 2
Hannah 2
Isabella 2
Kate 2
Sarah 2
Ada 1
Amelia 1
Barbara 1
Beatrice 1
Bertha 1
Christenny 1
Christiana 1
Daisy 1
Dorothy 1
Edith 1
Elfrida 1
Elizth 1
Elizth. 1
Elizth.Cuna. 1
Emily 1
Emma 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Harriett 1
Infant 1
Janet 1
Louise 1
Margt. 1
Maude 1
Minnie 1
Phebie 1
Rebecca 1
Robina 1
Rose 1
Virginia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 21
John 16
James 14
Thomas 8
George 7
Robert 6
Henry 4
Peter 4
Alfred 3
Charles 3
Alexander 2
Richard 2
Thos. 2
Albert 1
Andrew 1
Archibald 1
Bradley 1
Edward 1
Harold 1
Horace 1
Infant 1
Joseph 1
Matthew 1
N.H.H. 1
Norman 1
Samuel 1
W. 1
W.H.D.H. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Smellie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Smellie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,329 people were recorded with the Smellie surname. That placed it at #3,088 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Smellie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 366 in 2016. That gives Smellie a modern rank of #12,690.

What does the Smellie surname mean?

A Scottish surname derived from the Old English word "smilian" meaning "to smile".

What does the Smellie map show?

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