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

Smay, 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 Smay surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Smay in America

Smay is the 34223rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Smay surname appeared 663 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 Smay.

We can also compare 2010 data for Smay 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 Smay

The surname SMAY is of English origin, with its roots traced back to the medieval period. The name is believed to have derived from the Old English word "smæge," which referred to a slender or thin person. This suggests that the earliest bearers of the name may have been characterized by their slender physique.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire, dated 1166, where a certain Roger Smay is mentioned. This indicates that the surname was already established in parts of northern England by the late 12th century.

During the 13th century, the SMAY surname appears to have spread across various regions of England. In the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, there is a reference to a Robert Smay residing in the village of Stowood. This record provides valuable insight into the geographic distribution of the name during that era.

The SMAY surname also found its way into various historical records and manuscripts. In the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, a Thomas Smay is listed as a taxpayer, suggesting that the family had achieved a certain level of prominence and wealth by that time.

One notable bearer of the SMAY surname was Sir John Smay, a knight who lived during the 15th century. He is mentioned in the Rolls of Parliament from 1455, where he is recorded as having served in the retinue of Richard Neville, the Earl of Warwick, during the Wars of the Roses.

Another historical figure bearing the SMAY surname was William Smay, a merchant who lived in the early 17th century. He is noted in the records of the East India Company for his involvement in the spice trade between England and the East Indies.

In the 18th century, the SMAY surname can be found in various parish records across England. One notable example is John Smay, born in 1724 in the village of Bampton, Oxfordshire. He was a prominent landowner and served as a local magistrate.

The SMAY surname also made its way across the Atlantic, with several bearers of the name appearing in colonial records of North America. One such individual was Thomas Smay, who arrived in Virginia in 1636 as an indentured servant, later becoming a successful tobacco planter.

Throughout its history, the SMAY surname has been associated with various locations and place names, such as Smeaton in Yorkshire and Smayfield in Wiltshire. These place names may have influenced the spelling variations of the surname over time, including Smaye, Smaey, and Smeigh.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Smay

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

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

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

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