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

Smithson, 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 Smithson surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Smithson in America

Smithson is the 5032nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Smithson surname appeared 6,978 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Smithson.

We can also compare 2010 data for Smithson 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 Smithson

The surname Smithson is of English origin, derived from the Anglo-Saxon occupational name "Smith" and the suffix "-son" meaning "son of." The name first emerged in the regions of Yorkshire and Lancashire in the 13th century.

The name Smithson is thought to have originated from the Old English word "smitan," which means "to strike" or "to forge." It was a common occupational surname given to blacksmiths, metalworkers, and those involved in the forging and shaping of metal objects.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Smithson can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which listed a William Smytheson in Lincolnshire. The name also appeared in the Yorkshire Poll Tax of 1379, where a John Smytheson was listed.

In the 15th century, the Smithson family was well-established in Yorkshire, particularly in the area around Wakefield. Notable members of the family during this time include Richard Smithson (b. 1470 - d. 1535), who served as a magistrate and sheriff of Yorkshire.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Smithson family gained prominence and landholdings in various parts of England. Hugh Smithson (b. 1598 - d. 1670) was a wealthy landowner in Yorkshire and served as a Member of Parliament for Boroughbridge.

Perhaps the most famous bearer of the Smithson name was James Smithson (b. 1765 - d. 1829), an English chemist and mineralogist. He is best known for his bequest to the United States, which ultimately led to the establishment of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.

Other notable individuals with the surname Smithson include Sir Hugh Smithson, 4th Duke of Northumberland (b. 1715 - d. 1786), a prominent aristocrat and landowner, and Alison Smithson (b. 1928 - d. 1993), a renowned English architect and writer.

The name Smithson has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Smithson in Yorkshire and Smithson's Yard in London, which further reflects the historical significance and widespread use of this surname.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Smithson

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

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

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

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