UK surname
An occupational surname derived from the Dutch "smid" meaning blacksmith or metalworker.
In the 1881 census there were 70 people recorded with the Smitt surname, ranking it #23,670 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 21, ranked #36,596, down from #23,670 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Gateshead and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Smitt is 280 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 70.0%.
1881 census count
70
Ranked #23,670
Modern count
21
2016, ranked #36,596
Peak year
1911
280 bearers
Map years
3
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Smitt surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Smitt surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 53 | #23,739 |
| 1861 | historical | 213 | #11,419 |
| 1881 | historical | 70 | #23,670 |
| 1891 | historical | 189 | #15,547 |
| 1901 | historical | 46 | #29,047 |
| 1911 | historical | 280 | #11,982 |
| 1997 | modern | 9 | #37,214 |
| 1998 | modern | 4 | #38,082 |
| 1999 | modern | 6 | #37,696 |
| 2000 | modern | 4 | #38,004 |
| 2001 | modern | 5 | #37,652 |
| 2002 | modern | 8 | #37,206 |
| 2003 | modern | 7 | #37,397 |
| 2004 | modern | 6 | #37,655 |
| 2005 | modern | 9 | #37,302 |
| 2006 | modern | 7 | #37,634 |
| 2007 | modern | 5 | #38,004 |
| 2008 | modern | 6 | #37,883 |
| 2009 | modern | 6 | #37,953 |
| 2010 | modern | 9 | #37,654 |
| 2011 | modern | 10 | #37,504 |
| 2012 | modern | 14 | #37,078 |
| 2013 | modern | 16 | #36,955 |
| 2014 | modern | 19 | #36,740 |
| 2015 | modern | 20 | #36,653 |
| 2016 | modern | 21 | #36,596 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Gateshead, Lambeth, Birmingham Town: Birmingham and Leigh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | Gateshead | Durham |
| 3 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 4 | Birmingham Town: Birmingham | Warwickshire |
| 5 | Leigh | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Smitt surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Smitt, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Smitt surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Smitt household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Smitt is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Smitt is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Smitt, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname "Smitt" is believed to have originated in the Netherlands and Germany during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the occupational name "Smith," which referred to a metalworker or blacksmith. The name's roots can be traced back to the Old English word "smitan," meaning "to strike" or "to forge."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "Smitt" appears in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. This suggests that the surname had already spread to England by the 11th century.
In the Netherlands, the name "Smitt" has been found in various historical records dating back to the 13th century. One notable example is Jan Smitt, a prominent merchant and alderman in the city of Leiden in the late 15th century.
The surname "Smitt" has also been associated with several places in Germany, such as the town of Schmitt in the Rhineland-Palatinate region. This place name likely originated from an older spelling of the occupational surname.
Throughout history, there have been several notable individuals bearing the surname "Smitt." One such person was Hendrick Smitt, a Dutch Golden Age painter born in 1655 and known for his still-life and genre paintings.
Another significant figure was Johann Smitt, a German composer and organist born in 1592. He is credited with composing numerous sacred works, including motets and chorales, during the Baroque era.
In the 19th century, Carl Smitt was a German-American painter and lithographer who immigrated to the United States in the 1830s. He is remembered for his portraits and landscapes, many of which depicted scenes from the American West.
Gerhard Smitt, born in 1860, was a German linguist and philologist who made significant contributions to the study of Old Norse and Old English literature.
Lastly, Otto Smitt was a Swedish zoologist and explorer born in 1875. He led several scientific expeditions to the Arctic regions and published extensive research on marine fauna and polar environments.
These examples demonstrate the widespread presence and historical significance of the surname "Smitt" across various fields and regions, reflecting its enduring legacy as a occupational name with roots dating back to the Middle Ages.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Smitt surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Durham leads with 23 Smitts recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.32x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Durham | 23 | 11.32x |
| Middlesex | 17 | 2.49x |
| Cheshire | 6 | 3.98x |
| Warwickshire | 5 | 2.90x |
| Lincolnshire | 4 | 3.66x |
| Northamptonshire | 4 | 6.23x |
| Norfolk | 3 | 2.86x |
| Kent | 2 | 0.86x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.25x |
| Sussex | 2 | 1.74x |
| Buckinghamshire | 1 | 2.42x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.15x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bishopwearmouth in Durham leads with 22 Smitts recorded in 1881 and an index of 126.22x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bishopwearmouth | 22 | 126.22x |
| Westminster St John | 8 | 96.27x |
| Heswall Cum Oldfield | 6 | 2857.14x |
| Birmingham | 5 | 8.71x |
| Glanford Brigg | 4 | 1025.64x |
| Hackney London | 4 | 10.45x |
| Kensington London | 3 | 7.90x |
| Peterborough | 3 | 64.52x |
| Wymondham | 3 | 280.37x |
| Horsted Keynes | 2 | 740.74x |
| Deal | 1 | 50.25x |
| Eton | 1 | 106.38x |
| Hannington | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Hedworth Monkton Jarrow | 1 | 11.36x |
| Holy Trinity | 1 | 6.15x |
| Hornsey | 1 | 11.59x |
| Northfleet | 1 | 48.78x |
| St Marylebone London | 1 | 2.74x |
| Toxteth Park | 1 | 3.65x |
| Wavertree | 1 | 38.61x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Smitt surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Smitt surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Smitt households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 9 |
| Musician | 3 |
| Labourer | 2 |
| No Occupation | 2 |
| Railway Labourer | 2 |
| Ship Wright | 2 |
| Aprentice | 1 |
| Blacksmitt | 1 |
| Boiler Smitt | 1 |
| Cab Driver | 1 |
| Cabinet Maker | 1 |
| Circular Sawyer | 1 |
| Engine Fitter | 1 |
| Formerly Licenced Victualler | 1 |
| French Polisher | 1 |
| Gardener | 1 |
| Gen Lab | 1 |
| Genl Lab | 1 |
| Grocer | 1 |
| House Maid | 1 |
| Housekeeper To Father | 1 |
| Housemaid | 1 |
| Joiner | 1 |
| Ladys Maid (British Subject) | 1 |
| Laundress | 1 |
| Printer Machine Minder | 1 |
| Seamstress | 1 |
| Servant | 1 |
| Servant Domestic | 1 |
| Servt Out Of Emplyt (Domestic) | 1 |
| Shoemaker | 1 |
| Tea Brockers Clerk | 1 |
| Telegraph Messenger (CS) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 70 people were recorded with the Smitt surname. That placed it at #23,670 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 21 in 2016. That gives Smitt a modern rank of #36,596.
An occupational surname derived from the Dutch "smid" meaning blacksmith or metalworker.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Smitt bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.