NameCensus.

UK surname

Smithies

A surname derived from an occupation related to blacksmithing or metalworking.

In the 1881 census there were 1,074 people recorded with the Smithies surname, ranking it #3,687 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 924, ranked #6,176, down from #3,687 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Halifax and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Burnley, Calderdale and Gwynedd.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Smithies is 1,304 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 14.0%.

1881 census count

1,074

Ranked #3,687

Modern count

924

2016, ranked #6,176

Peak year

1911

1,304 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Smithies had 1,074 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,687 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 1,304 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Smithies surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Smithies surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Smithies 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 553 #4,580
1861 historical 679 #3,954
1881 historical 1,074 #3,687
1891 historical 1,094 #3,863
1901 historical 1,167 #4,189
1911 historical 1,304 #3,654
1997 modern 1,005 #5,480
1998 modern 981 #5,766
1999 modern 999 #5,719
2000 modern 990 #5,734
2001 modern 966 #5,747
2002 modern 999 #5,691
2003 modern 957 #5,802
2004 modern 973 #5,723
2005 modern 941 #5,823
2006 modern 956 #5,760
2007 modern 966 #5,774
2008 modern 951 #5,873
2009 modern 982 #5,846
2010 modern 963 #6,058
2011 modern 940 #6,113
2012 modern 916 #6,162
2013 modern 951 #6,076
2014 modern 959 #6,081
2015 modern 940 #6,123
2016 modern 924 #6,176

Geography

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Where Smithies' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Halifax, Bradford, Middleton and Prestwich. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Burnley, Calderdale, Gwynedd, Rochdale and Redcar and Cleveland. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Middleton Lancashire
5 Prestwich Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Burnley 010 Burnley
2 Calderdale 027 Calderdale
3 Gwynedd 016 Gwynedd
4 Rochdale 023 Rochdale
5 Redcar and Cleveland 016 Redcar and Cleveland

Forenames

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First names often paired with Smithies

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Smithies

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Smithies surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Smithies household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Smithies 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

Smithies 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

Smithies 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 Smithies 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 Smithies, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Smithies

The surname Smithies is an English occupational name derived from the Old English word 'smitan', meaning to strike or smite. It originally referred to a metalsmith or blacksmith, one who worked with metals by striking them into shape.

The Smithies surname is believed to have originated in the county of Yorkshire, England during the medieval period. It was common for people to adopt surnames based on their occupation or trade, and the prevalence of blacksmiths in Yorkshire likely contributed to the early use of this surname in the region.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Smithies surname can be found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, where a William Smythies is listed. This spelling variation highlights the fluidity of surnames during that time period.

The Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive survey of landowners and tenants in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, does not contain any direct references to the Smithies surname. However, it does mention several individuals with the occupation of 'faber' or smith, suggesting that the profession was well-established in various parts of the country.

Throughout history, there have been notable individuals who carried the Smithies surname. One example is John Smithies (1760-1834), an English dissenting minister and tutor who was associated with the Presbyterian academy in Taunton, Somerset.

Another prominent figure was Sir Walter Smithies (1872-1962), a British civil engineer and industrialist who made significant contributions to the development of railway infrastructure in India during the early 20th century.

William Smithies (1830-1904) was an English landscape painter and illustrator known for his depictions of rural scenes and landscapes, particularly in the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales regions.

In the realm of literature, Edward Smithies (1912-1995) was a British author and journalist who wrote several novels, including 'A Cage for Lovers' and 'The Marsh Birds'.

Additionally, James Smithies (1832-1903) was a notable English architect who designed several notable buildings in Leeds, including the Leeds City Museum and the former Leeds Public Library.

These examples demonstrate the diverse backgrounds and accomplishments of individuals who have carried the Smithies surname throughout history, reflecting its enduring presence and significance within English culture and society.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Smithies families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Smithies 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. Yorkshire leads with 573 Smithies' recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.56x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 573 5.56x
Lancashire 435 3.53x
Middlesex 23 0.22x
Shropshire 7 0.78x
Warwickshire 7 0.27x
Derbyshire 6 0.37x
Staffordshire 4 0.11x
Westmorland 3 1.31x
Kent 2 0.06x
Worcestershire 2 0.15x
Bedfordshire 1 0.19x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.07x
Surrey 1 0.02x
Sussex 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Middleton In Oldham in Lancashire leads with 68 Smithies' recorded in 1881 and an index of 183.78x.

Place Total Index
Middleton In Oldham 68 183.78x
Stainland Cum Old 56 317.64x
Lindley Cum Quarmby 48 184.69x
Oldham 48 12.05x
Horton In Bradford 47 29.21x
Elland Cum Greetland 46 99.10x
Tonge 45 173.81x
Leeds 38 6.53x
Ovenden 35 76.32x
Bradford 33 13.23x
Bowling 22 21.56x
Halifax 22 14.54x
Clitheroe 21 57.82x
Accrington 19 16.94x
Ashton Under Lyne 17 6.30x
Downham 16 1194.03x
Little Bolton 14 8.82x
North Bierley 14 25.17x
Hovingham 13 607.48x
Crompton 12 34.15x
Hunslet 12 7.47x
Spotland 12 8.75x
Chadderton 11 18.24x
Read 11 333.33x
Great Little Marsden 10 17.69x
Kilton 9 584.42x
Pendleton In Clitheroe 9 192.72x
Rastrick 9 31.45x
Blackburn 8 2.44x
Habergham Eaves 8 7.09x
Hawsker Cum Stainsacre 8 233.92x
Heap 8 12.22x
Reddish 8 47.06x
Rotherham 8 13.77x
Thornton In Bradford 8 23.32x
Castleton 7 5.68x
Cheetham 7 7.61x
Ecclesall Bierlow 7 3.34x
Oswestry Town 7 24.33x
Pontefract 7 31.53x
Ribchester 7 150.21x
Thornton Dale 7 256.41x
Aighton Bailey 6 101.01x
Glossop Dale 6 7.87x
Knottingley 6 33.13x
Saddleworth 6 7.55x
Withnell 6 79.26x
Burnley 5 4.81x
Eskdaleside 5 98.62x
Great Bolton 5 3.06x
Linthwaite 5 23.08x
Manningham 5 3.94x
Mile End Old Town 5 3.05x
Pudsey 5 9.08x
Sheffield 5 1.52x
Skinningrove 5 79.11x
Walmersley Cum 5 25.36x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 4 4.17x
Brightside Bierlow 4 1.98x
Clayton 4 15.86x
Clayton Le Moors 4 16.71x
Edgbaston 4 4.92x
Failsworth 4 14.17x
Huddersfield 4 2.66x
Newchurch 4 3.96x
Settle 4 50.70x
Tottenham 4 2.42x
Waddington 4 251.57x
Warley 4 13.43x
Wolverhampton 4 1.48x
Barrowford Booth 3 21.98x
Birmingham 3 0.34x
Cleckheaton 3 7.90x
Eccleshill 3 11.96x
Kirkby Moorside 3 45.73x
Shipley 3 5.61x
Shoreditch London 3 0.67x
Studley Roger 3 566.04x
Tockholes 3 171.43x
York St Helen On Walls 3 177.51x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 88
Elizabeth 54
Sarah 44
Hannah 28
Ann 22
Alice 19
Emma 18
Jane 18
Martha 18
Annie 17
Eliza 17
Margaret 14
Ellen 12
Clara 9
Harriet 9
Ada 8
Betty 8
Esther 8
Maria 7
Nancy 7
Emily 6
Florence 6
Frances 5
Grace 4
Agnes 3
Amelia 3
Caroline 3
Ethel 3
Fanny 3
Henrietta 3
Isabella 3
Louisa 3
Lucy 3
Minnie 3
Rachel 3
Rebecca 3
Ruth 3
Barbara 2
Catherine 2
Charlotte 2
Eva 2
Lizzie 2
Margret 2
Rachael 2
Salina 2
Selina 2
Eda 1
Edith 1
Eizabeth 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 72
William 42
James 41
Thomas 36
Joseph 27
George 21
Richard 21
Robert 21
Henry 15
Fred 14
Samuel 14
Arthur 10
Charles 10
Harry 7
Benjamin 6
Joe 6
Walter 6
David 5
Edward 5
Tom 5
Albert 4
Alfred 4
Jonathan 4
Ernest 3
Francis 3
Frank 3
Frederick 3
Geo. 3
Herbert 3
Valentine 3
Wm. 3
Abraham 2
Benjn. 2
Daniel 2
Edgar 2
Edwin 2
Eli 2
Harold 2
Joshua 2
Richd. 2
Stephen 2
Thos. 2
Archibald 1
Charly 1
Edmond 1
Elias 1
Elisha 1
Emily 1
Hubert 1
Wright 1

FAQ

Smithies surname: questions and answers

How common was the Smithies surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,074 people were recorded with the Smithies surname. That placed it at #3,687 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Smithies surname today?

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

What does the Smithies surname mean?

A surname derived from an occupation related to blacksmithing or metalworking.

What does the Smithies map show?

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