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

Smalls, 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 Smalls surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Smalls in America

Smalls is the 2888th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Smalls surname appeared 12,435 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Smalls.

We can also compare 2010 data for Smalls 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 Smalls

The surname SMALLS is of English origin, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have originated from a descriptive nickname given to someone of small stature or diminutive size. The name likely derives from the Old English word 'smæl,' meaning 'thin' or 'slender.'

In the Domesday Book, a great survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, there are several entries of people with the surname SMALLS or variations such as Smal and Smale. These early records suggest that the name was already well-established in various parts of the country by the late 11th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname SMALLS can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1191, which mention a man named Robert Smale. Another early reference is in the Curia Regis Rolls of Northamptonshire from 1207, where a Henry Smale is mentioned.

In the 13th century, the surname SMALLS appears in various locations across England, including the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279, which lists a John le Smale. The use of the prefix 'le' before the surname was a common practice at the time, indicating the individual's personal name or descriptive characteristic.

During the medieval period, several notable individuals bore the surname SMALLS. One example is John Smalle, a member of Parliament for Northampton in 1382. Another is William Smalle, who served as the Mayor of Norwich in 1456.

In the 16th century, the surname SMALLS continued to be prevalent in England. One notable figure was Sir Robert Smalls (c. 1500-1580), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Gloucestershire. He served as the High Sheriff of Gloucestershire in 1555.

In later centuries, the SMALLS surname spread to other parts of the English-speaking world, including North America and the British colonies. One prominent individual was Robert Smalls (1839-1915), an African American slave who famously commandeered a Confederate ship during the American Civil War and later became a politician and businessman.

Other notable individuals with the surname SMALLS include David Smalls (1937-2015), an American actor and comedian, and Mike Smalls (born 1966), a former professional basketball player from the United States. Additionally, there have been several members of the SMALLS family who have made significant contributions in various fields throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Smalls

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

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 Smalls 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 Smalls 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 Smalls was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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