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

Smithwick, 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 Smithwick surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Smithwick in America

Smithwick is the 16150th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Smithwick surname appeared 1,791 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 Smithwick.

We can also compare 2010 data for Smithwick 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 Smithwick

The surname Smithwick is of English origin, and it is believed to have originated in the county of Lancashire during the medieval period. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English words "smitan" and "wic," which together mean "the dwelling or farm of the blacksmith."

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century, when it appeared in various forms such as Smythwyk and Smythewyke. One of the earliest known bearers of the name was John de Smythewyke, who was mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Lancashire in 1285.

During the Middle Ages, the Smithwick family was concentrated in the northwestern regions of England, particularly in Lancashire and Cheshire. The name was often associated with villages and settlements where blacksmiths plied their trade, and it is likely that many of the early Smithwicks were involved in metalworking and other related crafts.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the Smithwick name began to spread to other parts of England as families migrated in search of new opportunities. One notable bearer of the name was William Smithwick (1572-1633), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Monken Hadley in Middlesex.

Another prominent figure was Sir Hugh Smithwick (1615-1670), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire. He was also a colonel in the Royalist army during the English Civil War and was knighted by King Charles I in 1644.

In the 18th century, the Smithwick name continued to be associated with various professions, including clergymen, soldiers, and merchants. One notable example is John Smithwick (1712-1786), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War.

The 19th century saw the Smithwick name spread beyond England, as many families emigrated to other parts of the British Empire, including Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. One notable bearer of the name from this period was John Smithwick (1828-1901), an Irish-born Australian politician who served as the Premier of New South Wales from 1886 to 1887.

Throughout history, the Smithwick surname has been associated with various place names and locations, such as Smithwick Vale in Gloucestershire and Smithwick Moor in Lancashire. The name has also undergone various spelling variations, including Smythwick, Smythwicke, and Smethwick.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Smithwick

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

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

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

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