NameCensus.

UK surname

Smit

A Dutch occupational surname referring to a metalworker, blacksmith, or someone who works with metal.

In the 1881 census there were 31 people recorded with the Smit surname, ranking it #29,218 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 720, ranked #7,543, up from #29,218 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Southwark, Cornwall and Waltham Forest.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Smit is 720 in 2016. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 2222.6%.

1881 census count

31

Ranked #29,218

Modern count

720

2016, ranked #7,543

Peak year

2016

720 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Smit had 31 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #29,218 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 720 in 2016, ranked #7,543.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 96 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Smit surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Smit surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Smit 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 9 #31,675
1861 historical 47 #28,023
1881 historical 31 #29,218
1891 historical 96 #24,559
1901 historical 42 #29,487
1911 historical 73 #25,541
1997 modern 268 #14,585
1998 modern 286 #14,318
1999 modern 319 #13,420
2000 modern 334 #12,980
2001 modern 336 #12,721
2002 modern 362 #12,318
2003 modern 380 #11,689
2004 modern 421 #10,866
2005 modern 456 #10,111
2006 modern 481 #9,750
2007 modern 501 #9,552
2008 modern 539 #9,098
2009 modern 568 #8,944
2010 modern 616 #8,611
2011 modern 595 #8,748
2012 modern 612 #8,478
2013 modern 634 #8,367
2014 modern 674 #8,018
2015 modern 693 #7,783
2016 modern 720 #7,543

Geography

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Where Smits are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Southwark, Cornwall, Waltham Forest, Merton and Newham. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Southwark 008 Southwark
2 Cornwall 041 Cornwall
3 Waltham Forest 021 Waltham Forest
4 Merton 003 Merton
5 Newham 037 Newham

Forenames

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First names often paired with Smit

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Smit

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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Smit surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Smit household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Smit 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

Smit 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

Smit falls in decile 9 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.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Smit 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Smit

The surname "SMIT" is believed to have originated in the Netherlands during the late medieval period, sometime around the 13th or 14th century. It is derived from the Middle Dutch word "smit," which means "blacksmith" or "metalworker." This occupational surname was likely given to individuals who worked as blacksmiths or in a related trade involving metalwork.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname "SMIT" can be found in the Leiden Records of 1366, where a certain "Jan Smit" is mentioned. In the 15th century, the name appeared in various Dutch records, such as the Leiden Memorie en Wedde-boeken from 1428-1438, where a "Willem Pietersz Smit" is listed.

The surname "SMIT" is also found in other historical records from the Netherlands, including the Dordrecht Oud-rechterlijk Archief from the late 15th century, where a "Cornelis Smit" is mentioned. The name's association with metalworking and blacksmithing is evident in these early records, as many individuals with the surname "SMIT" were listed as working in those professions.

One notable individual with the surname "SMIT" was Hendrik Smit (1562-1629), a Dutch painter and engraver from Haarlem. Another prominent figure was Pieter Smit (1547-1600), a Dutch scholar and theologian who served as a professor at the University of Leiden.

In the 17th century, the surname "SMIT" gained wider recognition through individuals like Jan Smit (1622-1673), a Dutch Golden Age painter, and Michiel Jansz Smit (1613-1688), a Dutch East India Company officer who served as the Governor of Malacca from 1677 to 1678.

The name also spread beyond the Netherlands, with individuals bearing the surname "SMIT" appearing in other parts of Europe and eventually in North America and other regions due to Dutch emigration and colonization efforts.

While the spelling "SMIT" is the most common variation, other spellings like "SMITT," "SCHMIDT," and "SMITH" have also emerged over time, particularly in areas with strong Dutch or Germanic influences. The surname "SMIT" has a rich history rooted in the metalworking traditions of the Netherlands, and its enduring presence across generations and regions reflects its significance in Dutch culture and heritage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Smit families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Smit 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 15 Smits recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.96x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 15 4.96x
Yorkshire 7 2.34x
Aberdeenshire 5 17.86x
Cornwall 2 5.84x
Essex 2 3.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Marylebone London in Middlesex leads with 8 Smits recorded in 1881 and an index of 49.57x.

Place Total Index
St Marylebone London 8 49.57x
St Pancras London 7 28.76x
Aberdeen Old Machar 5 85.47x
Sewerby Cum Marton 5 8333.33x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 1 91.74x
Colchester St James 1 416.67x
Falmouth 1 82.64x
Potter Newton 1 188.68x
St Just In Penwith 1 151.52x
West Ham 1 7.59x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 2
Albert 1
Christian 1
Francis 1
George 1
Joseph 1
Martin 1
Petter 1
Reginald 1
Victor 1
William 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Smit households.

FAQ

Smit surname: questions and answers

How common was the Smit surname in 1881?

In 1881, 31 people were recorded with the Smit surname. That placed it at #29,218 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Smit surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 720 in 2016. That gives Smit a modern rank of #7,543.

What does the Smit surname mean?

A Dutch occupational surname referring to a metalworker, blacksmith, or someone who works with metal.

What does the Smit map show?

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