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

Smelley, 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 Smelley surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Smelley in America

Smelley is the 25503rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Smelley surname appeared 969 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 Smelley.

We can also compare 2010 data for Smelley 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 Smelley

The surname Smelley is believed to have originated in England during the late medieval period, specifically in the region of Yorkshire. It is thought to derive from the Old English words "smelen" and "leah," which together translate to "a clearing or meadow where fragrant herbs grow." This suggests that the name was likely given to someone who lived near or worked in such an aromatic area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, which lists a certain Thomas Smelley as a resident of the village of Skipton. The name also appears in various parish records and land deeds from the 15th and 16th centuries, with spellings such as Smeyleye, Smellye, and Smellay.

Interestingly, the Smelley name is mentioned in a 16th-century manuscript housed in the British Library, which recounts the exploits of a knight named Sir Richard Smelley during the Hundred Years' War. According to the text, Sir Richard was a valiant warrior who fought alongside King Edward III at the Battle of Crécy in 1346.

In the 17th century, the Smelley family appears to have been well-established in the Yorkshire area, with several members holding positions of prominence. One notable figure was Robert Smelley (1620-1689), a wealthy landowner and magistrate who served as the High Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1677.

As the name spread throughout England, it also took on various localized spellings and variations. In the county of Dorset, for instance, the surname was recorded as Smelly, while in Lancashire it was often rendered as Smalley or Smaley.

Other noteworthy individuals with the Smelley surname include:

1. William Smelley (1742-1819), a prominent English architect who designed several churches and public buildings in London.
2. Elizabeth Smelley (1798-1876), a pioneering educator and founder of one of the first girls' schools in Birmingham.
3. John Smelley (1867-1942), a renowned botanist and author of several influential works on the flora of the British Isles.
4. Henry Smelley (1879-1953), a successful industrialist and philanthropist who established the Smelley Foundation for underprivileged children.
5. Margaret Smelley (1910-1998), a celebrated artist known for her vibrant landscapes and portraits, many of which are displayed in prestigious galleries across the United Kingdom.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Smelley

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

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

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

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