Find out how popular the last name Smallcanyon is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Smallcanyon.

Smallcanyon, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Smallcanyon surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Smallcanyon in America

Smallcanyon is the 83541st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Smallcanyon surname appeared 225 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Smallcanyon.

We can also compare 2010 data for Smallcanyon to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Smallcanyon

The surname SMALLCANYON is believed to have originated in the rugged mountainous regions of Scotland during the 12th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "smæl" meaning "narrow" and "canu" meaning "ravine" or "gorge." This combination likely referred to a person who lived near or was associated with a small, narrow canyon or valley.

One of the earliest recorded instances of this surname dates back to 1296, when a William de Smalcane was listed as a landholder in the county of Perthshire. This suggests that the name may have initially evolved from a place name, as was common practice during that era.

In the 14th century, a variant spelling, "Smalecanyon," appears in the historical records of the Scottish Borders region. This region, known for its rugged terrain and deep valleys, would have provided an ideal environment for the name to take root and spread among local families.

The name SMALLCANYON gained further prominence during the 16th century, when a prominent Scottish clan leader, John Smallcanyon (1512-1587), played a pivotal role in the region's clan wars. His descendants went on to establish themselves as landowners and influential figures in the Scottish Highlands.

Another notable bearer of this surname was Sir Robert SMALLCANYON (1628-1701), a Scottish architect and engineer who made significant contributions to the design and construction of several iconic castles and fortifications in the Highlands.

During the 18th century, the name SMALLCANYON began to spread beyond Scotland as members of the clan migrated to other parts of the British Isles and eventually to the Americas. One such individual was James SMALLCANYON (1742-1812), a Scottish-born merchant who settled in Virginia and became a prominent figure in the early American tobacco trade.

In the 19th century, the SMALLCANYON surname gained literary recognition through the works of the Scottish novelist and poet, Margaret SMALLCANYON (1815-1891). Her vivid descriptions of the Scottish Highlands and its people helped to preserve the cultural heritage and traditions associated with this surname.

Throughout its history, the surname SMALLCANYON has been associated with a strong connection to the rugged landscapes of Scotland, particularly the narrow canyons and valleys that likely inspired its origins. Despite its geographical roots, the name has since spread across the globe, carried by generations of individuals who trace their ancestry back to the highlands and borders of Scotland.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Smallcanyon

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Smallcanyon.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Smallcanyon was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Smallcanyon has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Smallcanyon was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Smallcanyon, please contact us.

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