NameCensus.

UK surname

Smiley

An English surname derived from a nickname for a person with a cheerful disposition or pleasant smile.

In the 1881 census there were 116 people recorded with the Smiley surname, ranking it #18,126 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 440, ranked #10,992, up from #18,126 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton and Govan Combination. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Suffolk Coastal, Renfrewshire Rural South and Howwood and Luton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Smiley is 443 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 279.3%.

1881 census count

116

Ranked #18,126

Modern count

440

2016, ranked #10,992

Peak year

2015

443 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Smiley had 116 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,126 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 440 in 2016, ranked #10,992.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 167 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Smiley surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Smiley surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Smiley 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 62 #22,232
1861 historical 114 #19,011
1881 historical 116 #18,126
1891 historical 113 #22,162
1901 historical 167 #16,943
1911 historical 138 #18,811
1997 modern 393 #11,144
1998 modern 410 #11,143
1999 modern 398 #11,486
2000 modern 392 #11,564
2001 modern 379 #11,676
2002 modern 406 #11,315
2003 modern 385 #11,570
2004 modern 397 #11,345
2005 modern 399 #11,206
2006 modern 383 #11,600
2007 modern 392 #11,550
2008 modern 408 #11,292
2009 modern 411 #11,480
2010 modern 424 #11,449
2011 modern 404 #11,786
2012 modern 404 #11,647
2013 modern 423 #11,422
2014 modern 436 #11,198
2015 modern 443 #10,957
2016 modern 440 #10,992

Geography

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Where Smileys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton, Govan Combination, Workington (Workington), Clossocks and Neston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Suffolk Coastal, Renfrewshire Rural South and Howwood, Luton and Allerdale. 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 Barnstaple, Bishops Tawton Devon
3 Govan Combination Lanark
4 Workington (Workington), Clossocks Cumberland
5 Neston Cheshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Suffolk Coastal 001 Suffolk Coastal
2 Renfrewshire Rural South and Howwood Renfrewshire
3 Luton 004 Luton
4 Luton 006 Luton
5 Allerdale 009 Allerdale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Smiley

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Smiley

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Smiley, 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 Smiley surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Smiley 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, Smiley 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

Smiley 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

Smiley falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Smiley

The surname Smiley is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "smil," meaning "a smile." It likely arose as a nickname in the Middle Ages, given to someone with a cheerful or smiley disposition.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Smiley dates back to the 13th century in Yorkshire, England. It was spelled in various ways, including Smyly, Smiley, and Smilie, reflecting the differing regional dialects and spelling conventions of the time.

One notable historical reference to the name Smiley appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1297, where a John Smyly is listed among the taxpayers. This record provides evidence of the name's use and spelling variation in medieval England.

In the 16th century, the surname gained prominence with the life of Sir John Smiley (c. 1545-1612), a Scottish nobleman and Lord Provost of Edinburgh. His descendants continued to play influential roles in Scottish society for generations.

Another notable figure was Thomas Smiley (1638-1700), an English Quaker minister and writer who traveled extensively throughout the American colonies, spreading the Quaker faith and publishing numerous religious works.

The surname also found its way to Ireland, where it is believed to have been introduced by Scottish settlers. One prominent Irish bearer was Samuel Smiley (1784-1857), a successful linen merchant and philanthropist from County Antrim.

In the United States, the name Smiley gained recognition through figures like Sarah Smiley (1792-1875), a renowned Quaker minister from Rhode Island who traveled extensively, preaching and advocating for social causes.

Another notable American was Alfred Smiley (1828-1903), a businessman and philanthropist from New York who founded the Mohonk Mountain House, a famous resort in the Catskill Mountains.

Throughout its history, the surname Smiley has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, spanning different countries and time periods. Its enduring presence reflects the lasting impact of this cheerful moniker and the diverse stories of those who have borne it.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Smiley families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Smiley 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. Lancashire leads with 26 Smileys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.90x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 26 1.90x
Cheshire 15 5.90x
Lanarkshire 10 2.69x
Worcestershire 10 6.65x
Durham 9 2.63x
Sussex 8 4.12x
Middlesex 7 0.61x
Angus 6 5.63x
Cumberland 6 6.05x
Essex 4 1.76x
Renfrewshire 4 4.48x
Warwickshire 3 1.03x
Northumberland 2 1.17x
Royal Navy 2 14.58x
Berkshire 1 1.16x
Buckinghamshire 1 1.44x
Hampshire 1 0.42x
Norfolk 1 0.57x
Somerset 1 0.54x
Yorkshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Poulton Cum Seacombe in Cheshire leads with 9 Smileys recorded in 1881 and an index of 308.22x.

Place Total Index
Poulton Cum Seacombe 9 308.22x
Barony 7 7.43x
Brighton 7 17.88x
Claines 6 145.28x
Dundee 6 15.07x
Great Bolton 6 33.17x
Kirkdale 6 26.11x
Oxton 6 416.67x
Toxteth Park 6 12.97x
Edmondsley 5 1351.35x
Abbey 4 29.39x
Dudley 4 21.89x
Mile End Old Town 4 22.01x
West Ham 4 7.97x
Birmingham 3 3.10x
Bishopwearmouth 3 10.21x
Carluke 3 88.76x
Hackney London 3 4.65x
Liverpool 3 3.62x
Penrith 3 81.97x
Newcastle On Tyne St 2 22.52x
Royal Navy 2 17.06x
Warrington 2 12.35x
Workington 2 35.27x
Arundel 1 91.74x
Chorley 1 13.05x
Earley 1 69.44x
Ellenborough Ewanrigg 1 144.93x
Freshwater 1 92.59x
Great Yarmouth 1 6.82x
Oulton Cum Woodlesford 1 107.53x
South Petherton 1 104.17x
Sutton 1 21.83x
Upton Cum Chalvey 1 36.10x
Westoe 1 5.15x
Windle 1 13.02x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
James 7
John 7
William 7
George 4
Samuel 4
Thomas 3
Daniel 2
Frederick 2
Henry 2
Robert 2
Arthur 1
Charles 1
David 1
Edgar 1
Francis 1
Jno. 1
Joseph 1
Mathew 1
Moses 1
Richard 1
Samson 1
Uriah 1
Walter 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Smiley surname: questions and answers

How common was the Smiley surname in 1881?

In 1881, 116 people were recorded with the Smiley surname. That placed it at #18,126 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Smiley surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 440 in 2016. That gives Smiley a modern rank of #10,992.

What does the Smiley surname mean?

An English surname derived from a nickname for a person with a cheerful disposition or pleasant smile.

What does the Smiley map show?

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