2000
#146,011
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 104
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Smithingell
An occupational surname derived from 'smith', meaning a metalworker, and 'ing', an archaic diminutive suffix.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 117 Americans carry the last name Smithingell. That puts it at #154,755 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,929,524 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Smithingell surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
117
1 in 2,929,524
Census rank
#154,755
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
102
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 102 bearers of the surname Smithingell in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 154755th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Smithingell, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.9%) and Hispanic (2.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Smithingell
The surname Smithingell originated in England during the medieval period, specifically in the region of Yorkshire. It is derived from the Old English words "smitan," meaning "to smite" or "to strike," and "gelu," meaning "a payment or offering." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a person who collected payments or tolls, possibly through the use of force or coercion.
The earliest recorded instances of the Smithingell surname can be traced back to the 13th century. In the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire from 1297, there is a mention of a John Smythyngelle, which is believed to be one of the earliest known spellings of the name. This document, which recorded taxes levied on the population, provides valuable insights into the name's origins and early distribution.
During the 14th and 15th centuries, the Smithingell surname appeared in various historical records and manuscripts, such as the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire. These documents often recorded transactions, legal disputes, and other matters involving individuals with the Smithingell name, shedding light on their activities and social standing within the local communities.
One notable individual bearing the Smithingell surname was Robert Smithingell, who lived in the village of Bramham, Yorkshire, during the late 15th century. He is mentioned in the Wakefield Court Rolls as a landowner and farmer, suggesting that the family had achieved a degree of prosperity and social standing by that time.
In the 16th century, the Smithingell surname began to spread beyond Yorkshire, with records indicating families bearing the name in other parts of England, such as Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire. This dispersion may have been driven by factors such as migration, trade, or marriage alliances.
A notable Smithingell from this period was William Smithingell, born in 1539 in the village of Wharram Percy, Yorkshire. He is recorded as a successful merchant and landowner, contributing to the local economy and community.
Another individual of note was Thomas Smithingell, born in 1612 in the town of Doncaster, Yorkshire. He was a respected scholar and theologian, known for his writings on religious matters and his involvement in the local parish church.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, the Smithingell surname continued to appear in various records, including parish registers, wills, and tax rolls. Some notable individuals from this period include John Smithingell (1674-1738), a prosperous farmer and landowner in the village of Sherburn-in-Elmet, and Mary Smithingell (1712-1792), who was known for her philanthropic efforts and support of local charities in the city of York.
As the centuries progressed, the Smithingell surname gradually evolved and adapted to different regional variations and spellings, such as Smithingale, Smythingell, and Smythyngale. However, the core elements of the name and its history remained rooted in the Yorkshire region and its medieval origins.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Smithingell
Among Census respondents with the surname Smithingell, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.9%) and Hispanic (2.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Smithingell bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Smithingell surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White93.1% · 95
- Two or more races4.9% · 5
- Hispanic or Latino2.0% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Smithingell
Smithingell appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#150,452
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 109
+5 bearers (+4.8%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 4,441 places
2020
#154,755
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 102
-7 bearers (-6.4%)
Per 100,000 0.03
Rank movement Down 4,303 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #146,011 | 104 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #150,452 | 109 | 0.04 | +5 bearers (+4.8%) | Down 4,441 places |
| 2020 | #154,755 | 102 | 0.03 | -7 bearers (-6.4%) | Down 4,303 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Smithingell surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #150,452 | #154,755 | -2.9% |
| Count | 109 | 102 | -6.4% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.03 | -14.7% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Smithingell bearers went from 109 to 102 (-6.4% change). The surname moved down 4,303 positions in the national ranking, going from #150,452 to #154,755.
FAQ
Smithingell surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Smithingell?
Name Census estimates that about 117 living Americans carry the surname Smithingell. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,929,524 residents.
How common is Smithingell?
Smithingell ranks #154,755 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.03 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 102 people with the surname Smithingell. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (117), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.03 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.03 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Smithingell.
Has Smithingell become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Smithingell went from 109 recorded bearers to 102. That is a decrease of 7 (-6.4%). In the national ranking it fell from #150,452 to #154,755.
What does the Census say about the background of Smithingell?
Among Census respondents with the surname Smithingell, the largest self-reported group is White at 93.1%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (4.9%) and Hispanic (2.0%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Smithingell in the 2020 Census, accounting for 93.1% (95 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Smithingell appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (93.1%), Two or More Races (4.9%), Hispanic (2.0%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Smithingell (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Smithingell mean?
An occupational surname derived from 'smith', meaning a metalworker, and 'ing', an archaic diminutive suffix. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Smithingell (0.03 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many Americans have the surname Smithingell?
For a quick modern estimate, our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers that in one glance, with the living-bearer count front and centre.