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

Smithers, 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 Smithers surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Smithers in America

Smithers is the 9320th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Smithers surname appeared 3,493 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Smithers.

We can also compare 2010 data for Smithers 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 Smithers

The surname Smithers originated in England during the medieval period, deriving from an occupational name for a skilled metalworker or blacksmith. It is believed to have evolved from the Old English words "smitan" (to smite or strike) and "isern" (iron), referring to the act of forging and shaping metal with hammer and anvil.

The name was particularly prevalent in the northern counties of England, such as Yorkshire and Lancashire, where metalworking and mining industries thrived. Early records show variations in spelling, including Smythers, Smythiers, and Smythieres, reflecting the diverse dialects and regional influences of the time.

One of the earliest known references to the name Smithers can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1166, which mention a certain Willelmus Smythers. The Domesday Book, compiled in 1086, also contains entries of individuals with similar occupational surnames, such as Faber (Latin for "smith") and Le Ferrun (Old French for "blacksmith").

Notable individuals bearing the Smithers surname include:

1. Sir Walter Smithers (c. 1590-1665), an English lawyer and politician who served as a Member of Parliament during the reign of Charles I.

2. Samuel Smithers (1718-1786), a renowned English clockmaker and inventor from Wapping, London, known for his innovative timepiece designs.

3. Henrietta Smithers (1832-1910), a British painter and illustrator whose works were exhibited at the Royal Academy and other prestigious galleries.

4. Sir Sydney Smithers (1872-1948), a prominent British civil engineer who oversaw the construction of several major railway projects in India and South Africa.

5. Reginald Smithers (1903-1987), a British playwright and screenwriter responsible for adaptations of classic works by authors like Charles Dickens and Thomas Hardy.

The Smithers surname has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Smithers Bridge in Gloucestershire and Smithers Green in Buckinghamshire, further underscoring its historical roots and geographic distribution.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Smithers

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

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

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

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