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

Smead, 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 Smead surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Smead in America

Smead is the 19379th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Smead surname appeared 1,395 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 Smead.

We can also compare 2010 data for Smead 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 Smead

The surname Smead is of English origin, originating in the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "smæd," meaning a small piece of land or meadow. This suggests that the name likely originated as a topographic surname, referring to someone who lived near or owned a small plot of land.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Smead can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled "Smede." This entry suggests that the surname was already established in England by the late 11th century.

During the 13th century, the name appeared in various records with different spellings, such as "Smeed" and "Smeade." These variations were common due to the inconsistencies in spelling and record-keeping at the time.

The earliest known individual with the surname Smead was John Smead, born in Hertfordshire, England, around 1380. He was a farmer and landowner, and his descendants continued to live in the area for several generations.

Another notable figure was William Smead, born in Gloucestershire in 1620. He was a merchant and trader who traveled extensively, establishing trade routes between England and the American colonies.

In the 18th century, the Smead family had a presence in various parts of England, including Berkshire, Oxfordshire, and Warwickshire. One prominent member was Thomas Smead (1725-1802), a renowned clockmaker and inventor from Oxfordshire.

The name Smead also has connections to place names in England. For example, there is a village called Smeedon in Staffordshire, which may have derived its name from the Old English word "smæd," similar to the surname's origin.

Other notable individuals with the surname Smead include:

1. John Smead (1785-1857), an English poet and writer.
2. Elizabeth Smead (1820-1892), an American educator and women's rights activist.
3. Arthur Smead (1868-1941), an English politician and Member of Parliament.
4. Robert Smead (1892-1976), an American businessman and inventor.
5. Margaret Smead (1918-2003), an Australian artist and sculptor.

While the surname Smead is not among the most common in the English-speaking world, it has a rich history dating back to the Middle Ages, with roots in Old English and connections to various regions and notable figures throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Smead

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

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

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

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