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

Smoaks, 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 Smoaks surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Smoaks in America

Smoaks is the 154907th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Smoaks surname appeared 105 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 Smoaks.

The history of the last name Smoaks

The surname SMOAKS has its origins in the Old English word "smocas," which referred to a person who worked as a smoker or curer of meats and fish. The name is believed to have first emerged in the region of East Anglia, England, during the 11th century.

One of the earliest known records of the surname SMOAKS can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landowners and tenants in England compiled in 1086 under the orders of William the Conqueror. The name is listed as "Smocas" in this historical document.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in various forms, including "Smokes," "Smok," and "Smoakes," as evidenced by records from the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk in East Anglia. This region was known for its thriving fishing and meat-curing industries, which likely contributed to the prevalence of the surname.

One notable bearer of the SMOAKS surname was Sir William Smoaks (1567-1631), a prominent merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers in London. He played a significant role in the development of the city's fish trade and was granted a coat of arms by the College of Arms in 1612.

In the 17th century, the name appeared in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk. One entry from 1642 mentions the baptism of John Smoaks, son of Thomas and Elizabeth Smoaks.

Another notable figure with the SMOAKS surname was Robert Smoaks (1712-1789), an English poet and playwright from Norfolk. His most famous work, "The Smoker's Lament," was a satirical poem that criticized the tobacco industry and its impact on public health.

During the 18th and 19th centuries, the SMOAKS surname began to spread beyond East Anglia as families migrated to other parts of England and eventually to other countries, such as the United States and Canada. One prominent individual from this period was Sarah Smoaks (1789-1867), an American educator and advocate for women's rights, who established one of the first schools for girls in Boston, Massachusetts.

While the SMOAKS surname is relatively uncommon today, it has a rich history that can be traced back to medieval England and the occupational roots of its bearers as smokers and curers of meats and fish.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Smoaks

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

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

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

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