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

Smock, 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 Smock surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Smock in America

Smock is the 7485th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Smock surname appeared 4,452 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 Smock.

We can also compare 2010 data for Smock 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 Smock

The surname Smock has its origins in England, originating in the 14th century. It is derived from the Old English word "smoc," which referred to a type of undergarment or shift worn by both men and women. This garment was typically made of linen or wool and was worn as a protective layer beneath outer clothing.

In medieval times, the name Smock was likely used as a descriptive surname, referring to individuals who were involved in the production or trade of these undergarments. It may have been applied to those who wove or sold smocks, or to those who were known for wearing particularly notable or distinctive smocks.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Smock can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex, dating back to 1296. This document lists a certain William Smock as a taxpayer in the county of Sussex.

Another early reference to the name appears in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield, Yorkshire, from the year 1345. In these records, a man named Richard Smock is mentioned in relation to a legal dispute over land ownership.

During the 16th century, the surname Smock was particularly prevalent in the counties of Sussex, Kent, and Essex, which were known for their thriving textile industries and production of linen and wool fabrics.

One notable individual with the surname Smock was John Smock, a 17th-century English composer and organist who lived from 1642 to 1707. He served as the organist at St. Alban's Church in London and is remembered for his contributions to church music.

In the 18th century, a prominent figure with the surname Smock was Thomas Smock, a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War. He was born in 1742 and participated in several important naval engagements against the French and Spanish fleets.

Another individual of note was William Smock, an English politician who lived from 1766 to 1832. He served as a Member of Parliament for the borough of Hastings in Sussex and was involved in various political and social reforms during his lifetime.

In the 19th century, a famous bearer of the surname Smock was Samuel Smock, an American inventor born in 1812. He is credited with developing and patenting several important agricultural innovations, including an improved hay-rake and a grain-drill.

Throughout its history, the surname Smock has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Smockville in Kent and Smock Alley in London. These place names likely originated from individuals with the surname Smock who lived or worked in those areas.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Smock

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

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

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

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