NameCensus.

UK surname

Smetham

In the 1881 census there were 98 people recorded with the Smetham surname, ranking it #19,999 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 142, ranked #24,625, down from #19,999 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Warkworth, London parishes and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stroud, Bath and North East Somerset and Purbeck.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Smetham is 172 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 44.9%.

1881 census count

98

Ranked #19,999

Modern count

142

2016, ranked #24,625

Peak year

1911

172 bearers

Map years

6

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Smetham had 98 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,999 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 142 in 2016, ranked #24,625.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 172 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Smetham surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Smetham surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Smetham 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 50 #24,274
1861 historical 74 #24,370
1881 historical 98 #19,999
1891 historical 144 #18,842
1901 historical 132 #19,469
1911 historical 172 #16,408
1997 modern 151 #21,034
1998 modern 144 #22,221
1999 modern 142 #22,607
2000 modern 146 #22,170
2001 modern 148 #21,664
2002 modern 149 #22,001
2003 modern 138 #22,823
2004 modern 143 #22,471
2005 modern 137 #23,110
2006 modern 142 #22,724
2007 modern 143 #22,924
2008 modern 139 #23,635
2009 modern 144 #23,577
2010 modern 145 #24,031
2011 modern 139 #24,507
2012 modern 134 #25,059
2013 modern 136 #25,252
2014 modern 141 #24,855
2015 modern 140 #24,836
2016 modern 142 #24,625

Geography

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Where Smethams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Warkworth, London parishes, Toxteth Park, Battersea and Croydon, Battersea (Penge), Sanderstead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stroud, Bath and North East Somerset, Purbeck and Waveney. 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 Warkworth Northumberland
2 London parishes London 3
3 Toxteth Park Lancashire
4 Battersea London (South Districts)
5 Croydon, Battersea (Penge), Sanderstead Surrey

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stroud 015 Stroud
2 Stroud 014 Stroud
3 Bath and North East Somerset 022 Bath and North East Somerset
4 Purbeck 004 Purbeck
5 Waveney 001 Waveney

Forenames

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First names often paired with Smetham

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Smetham

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Smetham 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

Smetham 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

Smetham falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Smetham is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Smetham, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

1881 census detail

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Smetham families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Smetham 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. Middlesex leads with 13 Smethams recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.35x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 13 1.35x
Northumberland 12 8.35x
Lancashire 11 0.96x
Wiltshire 11 12.88x
Cheshire 10 4.69x
Gloucestershire 7 3.70x
Surrey 6 1.28x
Worcestershire 6 4.76x
Glamorgan 5 2.97x
Somerset 5 3.22x
Warwickshire 5 2.05x
Cornwall 2 1.83x
Norfolk 2 1.35x
Yorkshire 2 0.21x
Devon 1 0.50x
Royal Navy 1 8.69x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chelsea London in Middlesex leads with 11 Smethams recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.81x.

Place Total Index
Chelsea London 11 37.81x
Warminster 9 481.28x
Battersea 6 16.89x
Congleton 6 163.04x
East Chevington 6 1250.00x
Hauxley 6 1875.00x
Toxteth Park 6 15.46x
Uley 6 1714.29x
Swansea Town 5 36.28x
Twerton 5 312.50x
Worcester St Peter 5 209.21x
Tranmere 4 51.09x
Aston 3 4.47x
Birmingham 2 2.46x
Camborne 2 44.44x
Horton In Bradford 2 13.39x
Hulme 2 8.36x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 2 44.84x
Liverpool 2 2.87x
St Pancras London 2 2.57x
Stratton St Margaret 2 152.67x
Buckfastleigh 1 107.53x
Royal Navy 1 10.16x
Upper Mitton 1 357.14x
West Derby 1 2.98x
Wotton Under Edge 1 89.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 6
Annie 5
Emma 3
Isabella 3
Margaret 3
Sarah 3
Ann 2
Elizabeth 2
Fanny 2
Florence 2
A.B. 1
Ada 1
Adeline 1
Agnes 1
Amy 1
Arabella 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Constance 1
E.A. 1
Ella 1
Ellen 1
Harriet 1
Infant 1
Kate 1
Leah 1
Louisa 1
Maud 1
Rosina 1
Susan 1
Virginia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
Albert 4
Henry 4
William 4
Alfred 3
Charles 3
John 3
Thomas 3
Walter 3
James 2
Robert 2
Arthur 1
Augustine 1
Aurther 1
Earnest 1
Edwd.J. 1
Frank 1
Herbert 1
Hy. 1
Jno.R. 1
Leonard 1
Percy 1
Richard 1
Sidney 1
Tom 1
W. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Smetham surname: questions and answers

How common was the Smetham surname in 1881?

In 1881, 98 people were recorded with the Smetham surname. That placed it at #19,999 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Smetham surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 142 in 2016. That gives Smetham a modern rank of #24,625.

What does the Smetham map show?

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