2000
#7,142
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 4,314
First available Census row
Per 100,000 1.60
Rare Last name
Smythe
An occupational surname referring to a smith or metalworker, derived from a medieval variation of the name "Smith."
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 4,791 Americans carry the last name Smythe. That puts it at #7,636 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 1.40 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 71,541 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Smythe surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
For British records, Name Census UK has a British surname profile for Smythe with 1881 census detail, origin facts and modern UK distribution where available.
Bearers in the US
4.8K
1 in 71,541
Census rank
#7,636
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
1.4
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
4.2K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 4,178 bearers of the surname Smythe in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 1.40 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 7636th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Smythe, the largest self-reported group is White at 78.5%. The next largest groups are Black (9.3%) and Hispanic (5.1%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of 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.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Smythe
Among Census respondents with the surname Smythe, the largest self-reported group is White at 78.5%. The next largest groups are Black (9.3%) and Hispanic (5.1%).
The bar chart below shows how Smythe bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Smythe surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White78.5% · 3,280
- Black or African American9.3% · 390
- Hispanic or Latino5.1% · 214
- Two or more races4.5% · 190
- Asian and Pacific Islander2.1% · 87
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.4% · 17
Timeline
Historical Census data for Smythe
Smythe appears in 3 published Census surname files: 2000, 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2010
#7,591
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 4,379
+65 bearers (+1.5%)
Per 100,000 1.48
Rank movement Down 449 places
2020
#7,636
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 4,178
-201 bearers (-4.6%)
Per 100,000 1.40
Rank movement Down 45 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | #7,142 | 4,314 | 1.60 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2010 | #7,591 | 4,379 | 1.48 | +65 bearers (+1.5%) | Down 449 places |
| 2020 | #7,636 | 4,178 | 1.40 | -201 bearers (-4.6%) | Down 45 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Smythe surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #7,591 | #7,636 | -0.6% |
| Count | 4,379 | 4,178 | -4.6% |
| Per 100K | 1.48 | 1.40 | -5.6% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Smythe bearers went from 4,379 to 4,178 (-4.6% change). The surname moved down 45 positions in the national ranking, going from #7,591 to #7,636.
FAQ
Smythe surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Smythe?
Name Census estimates that about 4,791 living Americans carry the surname Smythe. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 71,541 residents.
How common is Smythe?
Smythe ranks #7,636 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 1.40 per 100,000 residents, which is about 1 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 4,178 people with the surname Smythe. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (4,791), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 1.4 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 1.40 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 1 of them to have the surname Smythe.
Has Smythe become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Smythe went from 4,379 recorded bearers to 4,178. That is a decrease of 201 (-4.6%). In the national ranking it fell from #7,591 to #7,636.
What does the Census say about the background of Smythe?
Among Census respondents with the surname Smythe, the largest self-reported group is White at 78.5%. The next largest groups are Black (9.3%) and Hispanic (5.1%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Smythe in the 2020 Census, accounting for 78.5% (3,280 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Smythe appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (78.5%), Black (9.3%), Hispanic (5.1%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Smythe (2000, 2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Smythe mean?
An occupational surname referring to a smith or metalworker, derived from a medieval variation of the name "Smith." The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Smythe (1.40 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people share the surname Smythe?
For a faster, more casual read, check HowManyOfMe.org — our sister site built around that single question.