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

Smokey, 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 Smokey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Smokey in America

Smokey is the 145220th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Smokey surname appeared 114 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 Smokey.

The history of the last name Smokey

The surname "SMOKEY" is believed to have originated in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is thought to be a descriptive name derived from the Old English word "smocan," which means "to smoke" or "to emit smoke."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where a person named Richard Smokey was listed as a resident of Oxfordshire. This suggests that the name was in use in England during the medieval period.

The name "SMOKEY" may have been initially used as a nickname or occupational surname for someone who worked with smoke, such as a blacksmith, baker, or chimney sweep. It could also have been given to someone who lived near a smoky area or had a particularly smoky complexion.

In the 16th century, there are records of a William Smokey who was born in Gloucestershire, England, in 1548. He was a notable figure in the local community and served as a constable in his town.

During the 17th century, the name "SMOKEY" appeared in various parish records across England. One notable individual was John Smokey, who was born in Wiltshire in 1632 and served as a soldier during the English Civil War.

In the 18th century, the surname "SMOKEY" spread to other parts of the British Isles. There are records of a family by the name of Smokey living in County Antrim, Ireland, in the late 1700s.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname "SMOKEY" was Sir Richard Smokey (1800-1879), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars and later became an influential politician.

Another notable figure was Elizabeth Smokey (1844-1912), an English author and poet who published several works during the Victorian era, including a collection of poems titled "Smoke and Embers."

In the 20th century, the name "SMOKEY" continued to be found in various parts of the English-speaking world. One prominent individual was James Smokey (1920-2005), an American artist and painter known for his abstract expressionist works featuring smoky, hazy compositions.

Overall, the surname "SMOKEY" has a rich and diverse history, with roots dating back to medieval England and connections to various occupations, locations, and prominent individuals throughout the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Smokey

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

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

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

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