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

Smithbey, 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 Smithbey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Smithbey in America

Smithbey is the 140157th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Smithbey surname appeared 119 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 Smithbey.

The history of the last name Smithbey

The surname Smithbey has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "smið" meaning "blacksmith" and "by" meaning "village" or "town." This suggests that the name originally referred to someone who lived in a village or town where blacksmiths resided.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Smithbey can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire from 1279, where it appears as "Smytheby." This document was a survey of landholders in England, providing valuable insight into the distribution and prevalence of surnames during that time.

In the 14th century, the name Smithbey appeared in various records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Cambridgeshire from 1327, where it was listed as "Smytheby." This document was a tax record, indicating that individuals with this surname were landowners or taxpayers in the region.

Interestingly, the name Smithbey shares similarities with place names such as Smithby in Lincolnshire and Smytheby in Yorkshire, both of which may have contributed to the development of the surname. These place names likely referred to villages or settlements where blacksmiths resided or worked.

Notable individuals with the surname Smithbey throughout history include:

1. William Smithbey (c. 1520 - 1586), a prominent English merchant and landowner from Northamptonshire.
2. John Smithbey (1647 - 1712), an English clergyman and author who wrote several religious texts.
3. Elizabeth Smithbey (1735 - 1812), a respected midwife and herbalist from Oxfordshire.
4. Richard Smithbey (1789 - 1868), a British soldier who served in the Napoleonic Wars and the War of 1812.
5. Mary Smithbey (1845 - 1921), an English educator and advocate for women's rights, known for establishing several schools in London.

While the surname Smithbey may have evolved over time and been influenced by various regional dialects and spellings, its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in England, where it served as a occupational and locational identifier.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Smithbey

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

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 Smithbey 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.

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

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

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