NameCensus.

UK surname

Smiles

A surname derived from an occupation or tradesman known for amiability or cheerfulness.

In the 1881 census there were 618 people recorded with the Smiles surname, ranking it #5,698 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 924, ranked #6,176, down from #5,698 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead and Bishop Wearmouth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stockton-on-Tees, Gateshead and Sunderland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Smiles is 965 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 49.5%.

1881 census count

618

Ranked #5,698

Modern count

924

2016, ranked #6,176

Peak year

1999

965 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Smiles had 618 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,698 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 924 in 2016, ranked #6,176.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 820 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Smiles surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Smiles surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Smiles 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 304 #7,559
1861 historical 386 #6,638
1881 historical 618 #5,698
1891 historical 680 #5,752
1901 historical 767 #5,836
1911 historical 820 #5,371
1997 modern 911 #5,918
1998 modern 960 #5,857
1999 modern 965 #5,879
2000 modern 939 #5,983
2001 modern 914 #6,015
2002 modern 948 #5,933
2003 modern 898 #6,099
2004 modern 909 #6,051
2005 modern 890 #6,076
2006 modern 899 #6,049
2007 modern 884 #6,169
2008 modern 899 #6,132
2009 modern 921 #6,148
2010 modern 959 #6,080
2011 modern 932 #6,157
2012 modern 944 #6,013
2013 modern 928 #6,204
2014 modern 933 #6,218
2015 modern 934 #6,155
2016 modern 924 #6,176

Geography

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Where Smiles' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead, Bishop Wearmouth, London parishes and Stockton-on-Tees (Stockton-on-Tees), Stainton (Thornaby ), Norton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stockton-on-Tees, Gateshead and Sunderland. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Gateshead Durham
3 Bishop Wearmouth Durham
4 London parishes London 2
5 Stockton-on-Tees (Stockton-on-Tees), Stainton (Thornaby ), Norton Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stockton-on-Tees 008 Stockton-on-Tees
2 Gateshead 021 Gateshead
3 Sunderland 023 Sunderland
4 Sunderland 008 Sunderland
5 Sunderland 003 Sunderland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Smiles

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Smiles

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

Young Families in Industrial Towns

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

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, Smiles 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

Smiles is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Smiles falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Smiles is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Smiles

The surname Smiles is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "smilen," which means "to smile" or "to look cheerful." This suggests that the name may have been given as a nickname to someone with a pleasant or cheerful demeanor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land and property ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Smilere," which was likely an occupational surname given to someone whose job involved making others smile, perhaps an entertainer or jester.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the name was found in various forms, such as "Smiler," "Smylere," and "Smileman," further reinforcing its connection to the concept of smiling or cheerfulness. These variations likely arose due to regional dialects and inconsistent spelling practices of the time.

By the 16th century, the spelling had stabilized to its modern form of "Smiles." One notable bearer of the name from this period was John Smiles (1540-1612), an English merchant and Member of Parliament for the borough of Weymouth and Melcombe Regis in Dorset.

In the 17th century, Robert Smiles (1622-1679) was a Scottish minister and theologian who served as the Principal of the University of Glasgow. He was known for his writings on ecclesiastical history and theology.

The 18th century saw the emergence of Samuel Smiles (1712-1776), an English mathematician and engineer who made significant contributions to the study of hydraulics and the design of canals and waterways.

In the 19th century, the name gained wider recognition with the life and works of Samuel Smiles (1812-1904), a Scottish author and reformer best known for his self-help book "Self-Help," which promoted the values of thrift, hard work, and perseverance. His writings had a profound impact on Victorian society and were widely read both in Britain and abroad.

Another notable figure from this period was Robert Smiles (1829-1909), a Scottish civil engineer who worked on various railway projects in Britain and South America, including the construction of the Panama Railway.

Throughout its history, the surname Smiles has been associated with various locations and place names, such as Smilesby in Lincolnshire, Smilesworthy in Devon, and Smilestone in Shropshire, further indicating its widespread use across different regions of England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Smiles families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Smiles 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. Durham leads with 267 Smiles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.82x.

County Total Index
Durham 267 14.82x
Northumberland 119 13.20x
Middlesex 71 1.17x
Surrey 32 1.08x
Kent 28 1.35x
Midlothian 26 3.20x
Yorkshire 20 0.33x
Hertfordshire 13 3.11x
Brecknockshire 12 9.91x
Renfrewshire 7 1.49x
Fife 6 1.67x
Hampshire 6 0.48x
Channel Islands 3 1.67x
Cumberland 3 0.58x
Dumfriesshire 2 1.49x
Lanarkshire 1 0.05x
Perthshire 1 0.37x
Selkirkshire 1 1.82x
Stirlingshire 1 0.45x
Warwickshire 1 0.07x
Westmorland 1 0.75x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bishopwearmouth in Durham leads with 43 Smiles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.80x.

Place Total Index
Bishopwearmouth 43 27.80x
Chester Le Street 36 260.12x
Whickham 32 193.00x
Southwick 29 169.89x
Gateshead 28 20.75x
Stockton On Tees 26 29.93x
Newcastle On Tyne St 20 42.81x
Newburn 18 697.67x
Limehouse London 15 22.56x
Camberwell 12 3.10x
Moorsley 11 569.95x
Northfleet 11 60.41x
Weetslade 11 700.64x
Cheshunt 10 68.49x
Clapham 10 13.20x
Mile End Old Town 10 10.46x
Brecknock St David 9 276.92x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 9 11.53x
Kensington London 9 2.67x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 9 16.72x
Pelton 9 105.02x
Thornaby 9 40.12x
Westgate 9 16.12x
North Leith 8 21.30x
South Leith 8 8.76x
Bethnal Green London 7 2.66x
Bromley London 7 5.25x
Croydon 7 4.27x
Deptford St Paul 7 4.39x
East Brunton 6 2500.00x
Eastwood 6 20.75x
Edinburgh St Marys 6 38.02x
Enfield 6 15.09x
Kenton 6 465.12x
Alnwick 5 32.26x
Beckenham 5 18.50x
Benfieldside 5 42.19x
Elswick 5 6.95x
High Callerton 5 2380.95x
Huddersfield 5 5.72x
Islington London 5 0.85x
Portsea 5 2.05x
Darlington 4 5.75x
Hamsterley 4 392.16x
Lanchester 4 120.85x
Pittington 4 78.90x
St Giles In Fields 4 19.15x
Wemyss 4 26.37x
Winlaton 4 23.13x
Builth 3 99.34x
Chipping Barnet 3 41.10x
Cramlington 3 25.19x
Hetton Le Hole 3 13.13x
Jesmond 3 23.66x
Lambeth 3 0.57x
Lewisham 3 2.72x
Longbenton 3 7.86x
Newburn Hall 3 176.47x
Normanby In 3 18.69x
St Helier 3 5.13x
St Marylebone London 3 0.93x
St Pancras London 3 0.62x
Staindrop 3 109.49x
Stocksfield Hall 3 1304.35x
Sunderland 3 9.43x
Wigton 3 38.36x
Conside Knitsley 2 14.28x
Dumfries 2 15.15x
Edinburgh Canongate 2 9.69x
Eltringham 2 208.33x
Escomb 2 24.15x
Seaton Delaval 2 25.28x
Shotley High Quarter 2 327.87x
Acomb 1 45.66x
Dawdon 1 4.51x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.31x
Great Aycliffe 1 57.47x
Seaham 1 15.22x
Whiston 1 34.60x
Whitechapel London 1 1.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 40
Elizabeth 31
Jane 23
Margaret 21
Isabella 17
Annie 14
Sarah 12
Ann 11
Alice 8
Hannah 6
Ellen 5
Eleanor 4
Maud 4
Ada 3
Catherine 3
Edith 3
Eliz. 3
Emily 3
Helena 3
Margt. 3
Martha 3
Agnes 2
Beatrice 2
Caroline 2
Dorothy 2
Eliza 2
Elizth. 2
Emma 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Harriet 2
Janet 2
Julia 2
Lilian 2
Phoeby 2
Susannah 2
Adelaid 1
Alma 1
Amelia 1
Barbara 1
Bessie 1
Bethia 1
Daisy 1
Dinah 1
Harriette 1
Henrietta 1
Jamima 1
Jeannette 1
Jessie 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 42
William 39
James 28
Thomas 20
Robert 19
Joseph 17
Henry 10
Charles 9
George 8
Stephen 7
Arthur 6
Isaac 6
Alexander 5
Andrew 5
Nicholas 5
Alfred 4
Ralph 4
Samuel 4
Anthony 3
Edward 3
Richard 3
Clement 2
Edwin 2
Frank 2
Frederick 2
Herbert 2
Matthew 2
Oswald 2
Wm. 2
Benjamin 1
Burip 1
Ernest 1
Eustace 1
Francis 1
Fred. 1
Frederic 1
Havelock 1
Jackson 1
Jno. 1
Leon 1
Leonard 1
Luke 1
Mark 1
Michael 1
Micheal 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Septimus 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1

FAQ

Smiles surname: questions and answers

How common was the Smiles surname in 1881?

In 1881, 618 people were recorded with the Smiles surname. That placed it at #5,698 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Smiles surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 924 in 2016. That gives Smiles a modern rank of #6,176.

What does the Smiles surname mean?

A surname derived from an occupation or tradesman known for amiability or cheerfulness.

What does the Smiles map show?

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