NameCensus.

UK surname

Smythe

An occupational surname referring to a smith or metalworker, derived from a medieval variation of the name "Smith."

In the 1881 census there were 577 people recorded with the Smythe surname, ranking it #6,036 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,824, ranked #3,477, up from #6,036 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Battersea. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Caerphilly, Manchester and Warrington.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Smythe is 1,835 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 216.1%.

1881 census count

577

Ranked #6,036

Modern count

1,824

2016, ranked #3,477

Peak year

2014

1,835 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Smythe had 577 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,036 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,824 in 2016, ranked #3,477.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,024 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Smythe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Smythe surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Smythe 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 216 #9,818
1861 historical 269 #9,244
1881 historical 577 #6,036
1891 historical 748 #5,323
1901 historical 1,024 #4,662
1911 historical 879 #5,063
1997 modern 1,664 #3,571
1998 modern 1,715 #3,609
1999 modern 1,757 #3,556
2000 modern 1,745 #3,561
2001 modern 1,702 #3,576
2002 modern 1,746 #3,571
2003 modern 1,716 #3,550
2004 modern 1,694 #3,593
2005 modern 1,670 #3,599
2006 modern 1,679 #3,582
2007 modern 1,719 #3,541
2008 modern 1,727 #3,548
2009 modern 1,778 #3,545
2010 modern 1,829 #3,520
2011 modern 1,816 #3,508
2012 modern 1,786 #3,508
2013 modern 1,797 #3,534
2014 modern 1,835 #3,498
2015 modern 1,805 #3,513
2016 modern 1,824 #3,477

Geography

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Where Smythes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Battersea and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Caerphilly, Manchester, Warrington and Rochdale. 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 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Battersea London (South Districts)
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Caerphilly 019 Caerphilly
2 Manchester 042 Manchester
3 Warrington 017 Warrington
4 Manchester 051 Manchester
5 Rochdale 022 Rochdale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Smythe

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Smythe

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Smythe surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Smythe household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Smythe 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

Smythe 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

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

Meaning and origin of Smythe

The surname "SMYTHE" is of English origin and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "smitan," which means "to strike" or "to hit." This occupation-based surname was initially given to blacksmiths, metalworkers, or others who struck or hammered metal for a living.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "SMYTHE" appears in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name is listed as "Smizere," which was a variation of the spelling at that time.

In the 13th century, the surname is found in various records, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it is spelled "Smyth" and "Smythe." The latter spelling, with the "e" at the end, became more prevalent over time and was often used to distinguish the name from other similar-sounding surnames.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the name "SMYTHE" was associated with several notable individuals. One example is John Smythe, a wealthy merchant and alderman of London, who lived from around 1350 to 1430. Another is Sir Michael Smythe, a prominent English soldier and diplomat who served under King Henry V and participated in the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.

In the 16th century, the name gained further recognition with figures like Sir Thomas Smythe (1558-1625), an English merchant and politician who was instrumental in establishing the East India Company. He also served as the Governor of the Company from 1621 to 1624.

Another significant bearer of the surname was Sir John Smythe (1567-1640), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament and held various positions in the court of King James I.

During the 17th century, the name "SMYTHE" continued to be associated with notable individuals, including Clement Smythe (1598-1672), a prominent English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge.

The surname "SMYTHE" has a rich history rooted in the occupation of metalworking and has been borne by various prominent figures throughout the centuries, particularly in England. Its evolution from the Old English word "smitan" to its modern spelling reflects the linguistic and cultural changes that have shaped English surnames over time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Smythe families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Smythe 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 104 Smythes recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.84x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 104 1.84x
Lancashire 60 0.89x
Kent 46 2.38x
Warwickshire 36 2.52x
Surrey 34 1.23x
Sussex 33 3.46x
Hampshire 25 2.16x
Cambridgeshire 22 6.14x
Norfolk 17 1.95x
Cheshire 16 1.28x
Yorkshire 16 0.29x
Suffolk 14 2.03x
Somerset 13 1.43x
Staffordshire 13 0.68x
Worcestershire 11 1.49x
Hertfordshire 10 2.56x
Lanarkshire 10 0.55x
Durham 9 0.53x
Glamorgan 9 0.91x
Northumberland 8 0.95x
Devon 7 0.59x
Bedfordshire 6 2.05x
Berkshire 6 1.41x
Derbyshire 6 0.68x
Essex 6 0.54x
Monmouthshire 6 1.47x
Herefordshire 5 2.16x
Perthshire 5 1.97x
Channel Islands 4 2.39x
Gloucestershire 3 0.27x
Oxfordshire 3 0.86x
Cardiganshire 2 1.45x
Fife 2 0.60x
Isle of Man 2 1.90x
Midlothian 2 0.26x
Royal Navy 2 2.97x
Ayrshire 1 0.24x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.44x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.42x
Cumberland 1 0.21x
Lincolnshire 1 0.11x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.13x
Stirlingshire 1 0.48x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Maidstone in Kent leads with 21 Smythes recorded in 1881 and an index of 36.52x.

Place Total Index
Maidstone 21 36.52x
St Pancras London 19 4.17x
Edgbaston 15 33.91x
Aston 12 3.05x
Brighton 11 5.72x
Kensington London 11 3.50x
Little Bolton 10 11.58x
Barony 9 1.94x
Caxton 9 818.18x
Chelsea London 9 5.28x
Manningham 9 13.03x
Battersea 8 3.84x
Portsea 8 3.52x
St Marythe Less 8 366.97x
Liscard 7 31.11x
Southwark St George Martyr 7 6.15x
Toxteth Park 7 3.08x
Tynemouth 7 15.53x
Barton Upon Irwell 6 11.87x
Gelligaer 6 26.67x
Solihull 6 58.48x
St George Hanover 6 8.12x
Sutton 6 26.64x
Tranmere 6 13.07x
West Derby 6 3.05x
West Lynn 6 535.71x
Bromley London 5 4.02x
Hackney London 5 1.58x
Hentland 5 450.45x
Ipswich St Margaret 5 21.39x
Islington London 5 0.91x
Kings Norton 5 7.55x
Leeds 5 1.58x
Methven 5 134.41x
New Windsor 5 35.01x
Northfleet 5 29.39x
Portsmouth 5 18.73x
St Marylebone London 5 1.66x
Axminster 4 72.46x
Charlcombe 4 330.58x
Eastbourne 4 9.11x
Hartlepool 4 16.72x
Kirkdale 4 3.54x
Lewes St Ann 4 123.08x
Manchester 4 1.32x
Nacton 4 400.00x
Newmarket All Sts 4 151.52x
Pinner 4 80.65x
Plumstead 4 6.22x
Richmond 4 10.35x
St Saviour 4 43.15x
Stogumber 4 165.98x
Acton 3 9.04x
Broadwater 3 13.71x
Broughton In Salford 3 4.89x
Camberwell 3 0.83x
Cheslyn Hay 3 85.96x
Church Honeybourne 3 1363.64x
Derby St Werburgh 3 5.87x
Dunstable 3 33.33x
Enfield 3 8.08x
Froxfield 3 223.88x
Hammersmith London 3 2.15x
Houghton Le Spring 3 25.77x
Hove 3 7.17x
Lower Mitton 3 46.08x
Poplar London 3 2.81x
Steppingley 3 491.80x
Sunbury 3 44.12x
Swansea Town 3 3.71x
Trysull 3 270.27x
West Ham 3 1.22x
Westminster St John 3 4.35x
Witney 3 51.37x
Bermondsey 2 1.19x
Croydon 2 1.31x
Falsgrave 2 24.21x
Hartley Westpall 2 434.78x
Hertingfordbury 2 125.79x
Wolverhampton 2 1.36x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 26
William 21
Henry 19
James 19
George 15
Thomas 13
Arthur 9
Charles 9
Robert 7
Edward 6
Francis 6
Frederick 6
Walter 5
Samuel 4
Alfred 3
Chas. 3
Frank 3
Joseph 3
David 2
Edmund 2
Edwin 2
Harry 2
Hugh 2
Lewis 2
Patrick 2
Ralph 2
Wm. 2
Athelstone 1
Charley 1
Clifford 1
Curtis 1
Daniel 1
Ernest 1
Fleming 1
Frances 1
Frederic 1
Fuller 1
Geo. 1
Gerald 1
Horace 1
Jno.W. 1
Keable 1
Langley 1
Langtry 1
Leslie 1
Levi 1
Lionel 1
Louis 1
Margaret 1
Wm.W. 1

FAQ

Smythe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Smythe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 577 people were recorded with the Smythe surname. That placed it at #6,036 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Smythe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,824 in 2016. That gives Smythe a modern rank of #3,477.

What does the Smythe surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a smith or metalworker, derived from a medieval variation of the name "Smith."

What does the Smythe map show?

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