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

Smell, 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 Smell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Smell in America

Smell is the 150452nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Smell surname appeared 109 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 Smell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Smell 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 Smell

The surname SMELL is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English word "smæl," which meant "slender" or "thin." This word later evolved into the Middle English "smel," referring to a person with a slender or slim build.

In medieval times, surnames were often descriptive, referring to a person's physical characteristics, occupation, or place of origin. The surname SMELL likely originated as a nickname for someone with a slender physique. It is worth noting that the name has no direct connection to the modern English word "smell," meaning the sense of odor.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the SMELL surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, a medieval document dating back to 1273. Here, the name is listed as "Smale," an early variation of the modern spelling.

In the 14th century, the surname appears in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield, Yorkshire, where a man named John Smale is mentioned in 1345. This record provides evidence of the surname's use in northern England during that period.

The SMELL surname has also been associated with various place names in England. For example, the hamlet of Smeale in Lancashire may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the name in that region.

One notable figure bearing the SMELL surname was John Smale, an English clergyman and academic who lived from 1512 to 1567. He served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge and was a renowned scholar of his time.

Another individual of historical significance was William Smale, a 17th-century English composer and organist. Born in 1599, he held positions at various churches and cathedrals, including the Chapel Royal and Westminster Abbey.

In the 19th century, Thomas Smale (1819-1899) was a prominent English architect known for his work on churches and public buildings in London and the surrounding areas.

Among literary figures, Doreen Smale (1906-1965) was a renowned British author and playwright, best known for her novels and plays set in rural England.

Lastly, the SMELL surname gained further recognition through the accomplishments of Sir Donald Smale (1914-1998), a British diplomat and civil servant who served as the Ambassador to NATO and held various diplomatic positions throughout his career.

These examples demonstrate the long-standing presence and diversity of the SMELL surname across various fields and periods in history, highlighting its enduring legacy as a distinctly English name.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Smell

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

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

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

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