NameCensus.

UK surname

Smither

An anglicized variant of the Germanic surname Schmied, meaning smith or metalworker.

In the 1881 census there were 333 people recorded with the Smither surname, ranking it #9,038 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 331, ranked #13,735, down from #9,038 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Woolbeding, Linch, Bepton, Farnhurst, Linchmere, Steep and Woking. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Runnymede, Windsor and Maidenhead and Spelthorne.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Smither is 414 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.6%.

1881 census count

333

Ranked #9,038

Modern count

331

2016, ranked #13,735

Peak year

1861

414 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Smither had 333 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,038 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 331 in 2016, ranked #13,735.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 414 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Smither surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Smither surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Smither 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 359 #6,583
1861 historical 414 #6,200
1881 historical 333 #9,038
1891 historical 390 #9,058
1901 historical 359 #10,242
1911 historical 414 #9,062
1997 modern 331 #12,668
1998 modern 332 #12,990
1999 modern 331 #13,106
2000 modern 315 #13,495
2001 modern 295 #13,867
2002 modern 321 #13,378
2003 modern 320 #13,239
2004 modern 327 #13,094
2005 modern 316 #13,351
2006 modern 310 #13,603
2007 modern 316 #13,566
2008 modern 317 #13,632
2009 modern 317 #13,899
2010 modern 347 #13,325
2011 modern 359 #12,856
2012 modern 328 #13,625
2013 modern 329 #13,810
2014 modern 338 #13,624
2015 modern 330 #13,774
2016 modern 331 #13,735

Geography

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Where Smithers are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Woolbeding, Linch, Bepton, Farnhurst, Linchmere, Steep, Woking and Farnham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Runnymede, Windsor and Maidenhead, Spelthorne, Winchester and South Hams. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Woolbeding, Linch, Bepton, Farnhurst, Linchmere, Steep Sussex
3 London parishes London 3
4 Woking Surrey
5 Farnham Surrey

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Runnymede 002 Runnymede
2 Windsor and Maidenhead 016 Windsor and Maidenhead
3 Spelthorne 012 Spelthorne
4 Winchester 012 Winchester
5 South Hams 007 South Hams

Forenames

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First names often paired with Smither

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Smither

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

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Smither surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Smither 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Smither 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

Smither is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Smither falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Smither

The surname Smither is an English surname that originated in the county of Yorkshire, England in the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "smitan" which means "to smite" or "to strike." The name was likely given as an occupational surname to a blacksmith or metalworker who struck metal with a hammer.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Smither can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1273, where it was spelled as "Smythur." This variation in spelling was common in the Middle Ages as there were no standardized spelling rules.

In the 14th century, the Smither surname appeared in various historical records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire and the Poll Tax Returns of Lincolnshire. These records show that the Smither family had spread across different regions of England during this time period.

One notable figure with the surname Smither was William Smither, a prominent merchant who lived in the city of York during the late 15th century. He was involved in the wool trade and is mentioned in several business transactions recorded in the York Mercers' Guild.

In the 16th century, the surname Smither was found in the parish records of several villages in Leicestershire, such as Kibworth and Lutterworth. This suggests that the name had spread to other parts of England by this time.

Another significant individual with the Smither surname was John Smither, who was born in Nottinghamshire in 1632. He was a Puritan minister and author who wrote several religious treatises, including "The Spiritual Watchman" and "The Christian's Daily Practice."

In the 18th century, the Smither surname was relatively common in the northern counties of England, particularly in Yorkshire and Lancashire. One notable figure from this period was Thomas Smither, a wealthy landowner from Wakefield who served as a Justice of the Peace in the late 1700s.

As the centuries progressed, the Smither surname continued to be found throughout England, with concentrations in the northern and midland regions. Other notable individuals bearing this name include Charles Smither, a 19th-century artist from Manchester, and Henry Smither, a renowned horticulturist from Yorkshire who lived in the early 20th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Smither families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Smither 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. Surrey leads with 85 Smithers recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.37x.

County Total Index
Surrey 85 5.37x
Middlesex 84 2.59x
Kent 43 3.88x
Hampshire 30 4.51x
Sussex 25 4.56x
Yorkshire 23 0.71x
Somerset 12 2.30x
Essex 11 1.72x
Berkshire 10 4.10x
Lancashire 6 0.16x
Oxfordshire 3 1.50x
Glamorgan 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Farnham in Surrey leads with 14 Smithers recorded in 1881 and an index of 113.73x.

Place Total Index
Farnham 14 113.73x
Linch 14 12727.27x
Camberwell 12 5.78x
Bishops Hull 11 650.89x
Bethnal Green London 9 6.38x
Bow London 9 21.77x
Ecclesall Bierlow 9 13.75x
Fernhurst 9 743.80x
Shoreditch London 9 6.39x
Lewisham 8 13.54x
Basingstoke 7 91.38x
West Ham 7 4.94x
Woking 7 73.38x
Chertsey 6 58.65x
Chiddingstone 6 413.79x
Farnborough 6 85.84x
Hackney London 6 3.29x
Haslemere 6 480.00x
Paddington London 6 5.02x
Teddington London 6 81.52x
Westminster St James 6 17.97x
Mile End Old Town 5 9.75x
Romsey Extra 5 126.26x
St Luke London 5 9.60x
Stoke 5 66.93x
Battersea 4 3.35x
Bootle Cum Linacre 4 13.07x
Bradford 4 5.13x
Croydon 4 4.55x
Deptford St Paul 4 4.68x
East Ham 4 33.61x
Eltham 4 61.63x
Kingston On Thames 4 10.52x
Lambeth 4 1.41x
Thursley 4 350.88x
Westerham 4 156.25x
Chelsea London 3 3.07x
Earley 3 73.89x
Halifax 3 6.35x
Harrow 3 60.48x
Kensington London 3 1.66x
Milton In Gravesend 3 18.05x
Old Windsor 3 106.38x
Rochester St Nicholas 3 86.96x
S Stoke 3 319.15x
Albury 2 138.89x
Denton In North 2 833.33x
Elland Cum Greetland 2 13.79x
Hartley Wintney 2 100.00x
Leeds 2 1.10x
Long Ditton 2 77.52x
Reading St Giles 2 8.36x
Reading St Mary 2 10.24x
Spitalfields London 2 8.19x
St Mary Kalendar 2 143.88x
St Thomas Winchester 2 42.55x
Tonbridge 2 5.00x
Wakefield 2 8.09x
Wandsworth 2 6.40x
Woolwich 2 4.88x
Aberdare 1 2.58x
Chorlton On Medlock 1 1.63x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.30x
Cossington 1 400.00x
Dorking 1 9.41x
Eling 1 14.84x
Godalming 1 10.04x
Guildford St Nicholas 1 35.71x
Hornsey 1 2.43x
Horsell 1 100.00x
Hythe St Leonard 1 25.51x
Liverpool 1 0.43x
Newington 1 0.83x
Seaford 1 53.76x
Sevenoaks 1 11.12x
St Faith Winchester 1 32.26x
St George Hanover 1 2.36x
St George In East 1 4.53x
St Helens 1 20.66x
Westminster St John 1 2.53x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 15
Elizabeth 13
Ann 7
Annie 7
Sarah 7
Emma 6
Harriett 6
Alice 5
Charlotte 5
Louisa 5
Harriet 4
Edith 3
Ellen 3
Fanny 3
Jane 3
Margaret 3
Selina 3
Susan 3
Ada 2
Caroline 2
Daisy 2
E. 2
Eliza 2
Emily 2
Francis 2
H. 2
Hannah 2
Lucy 2
Lydia 2
Rhoda 2
Ruth 2
Allice 1
Angelina 1
Beatrice 1
Bella 1
Belle 1
Bertha 1
Elizth. 1
Elizth.M. 1
Florence 1
Georgiana 1
Grace 1
Jannette 1
Jossie 1
Kora 1
Lavinia 1
Lilian 1
Mabel 1
Maria 1
Martha 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 20
George 16
James 16
John 16
Henry 13
Charles 9
Stephen 8
Thomas 7
Arthur 6
Walter 5
Samuel 4
David 3
Frederick 3
Harry 3
Richard 3
Robert 3
Edward 2
Ephraim 2
Francis 2
Frank 2
T.W. 2
Alf. 1
Alfred 1
Archibald 1
Baxendale 1
Benjm. 1
C. 1
Chares 1
Daniel 1
Edgar 1
Edw. 1
Frederic 1
Fredk.H. 1
Fredk.J. 1
G.W. 1
Geo. 1
H. 1
Herbert 1
Isaac 1
J. 1
Joseph 1
Josiah 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Phillip 1
Reginald 1
Sidney 1
Thos. 1
Watham 1
Willie 1

FAQ

Smither surname: questions and answers

How common was the Smither surname in 1881?

In 1881, 333 people were recorded with the Smither surname. That placed it at #9,038 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Smither surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 331 in 2016. That gives Smither a modern rank of #13,735.

What does the Smither surname mean?

An anglicized variant of the Germanic surname Schmied, meaning smith or metalworker.

What does the Smither map show?

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