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

Smythe, 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 Smythe surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Smythe in America

Smythe is the 7591st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Smythe surname appeared 4,379 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 Smythe.

We can also compare 2010 data for Smythe 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 Smythe

The surname "SMYTHE" is of English origin and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "smitan," which means "to strike" or "to hit." This occupation-based surname was initially given to blacksmiths, metalworkers, or others who struck or hammered metal for a living.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name "SMYTHE" appears in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name is listed as "Smizere," which was a variation of the spelling at that time.

In the 13th century, the surname is found in various records, such as the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it is spelled "Smyth" and "Smythe." The latter spelling, with the "e" at the end, became more prevalent over time and was often used to distinguish the name from other similar-sounding surnames.

During the 14th and 15th centuries, the name "SMYTHE" was associated with several notable individuals. One example is John Smythe, a wealthy merchant and alderman of London, who lived from around 1350 to 1430. Another is Sir Michael Smythe, a prominent English soldier and diplomat who served under King Henry V and participated in the Battle of Agincourt in 1415.

In the 16th century, the name gained further recognition with figures like Sir Thomas Smythe (1558-1625), an English merchant and politician who was instrumental in establishing the East India Company. He also served as the Governor of the Company from 1621 to 1624.

Another significant bearer of the surname was Sir John Smythe (1567-1640), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament and held various positions in the court of King James I.

During the 17th century, the name "SMYTHE" continued to be associated with notable individuals, including Clement Smythe (1598-1672), a prominent English clergyman and academic who served as the Master of Magdalene College, Cambridge.

The surname "SMYTHE" has a rich history rooted in the occupation of metalworking and has been borne by various prominent figures throughout the centuries, particularly in England. Its evolution from the Old English word "smitan" to its modern spelling reflects the linguistic and cultural changes that have shaped English surnames over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Smythe

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

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

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

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