Explore the Family Name Smay
The meaning of Smay
1. Americanized form of German Schmeh: nickname for a slight or small person, from Middle High German smaehe ‘small, insignificant, despicable’. 2. Americanized form of Slovenian Smej: nickname from dialect smej ‘laugh(ter)’. History: The majority of the Smays are descendants of Johannes Schmeh, a German who in the middle of the 18th century settled in MD.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Smay in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Smay has seen a slight increase in popularity between the years 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked as the 34,554th most popular name, while by 2010 it had risen slightly to rank 34,223rd. The number of individuals bearing the surname also increased during this period, from 620 in 2000 to 663 in 2010, representing a growth rate of approximately 6.94 percent. However, when measured as a proportion per 100,000 people, there was a subtle decrease of around 4.35 percent.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #34,554 | #34,223 | 0.96% |
| Count | 620 | 663 | 6.94% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.23 | 0.22 | -4.35% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Smay
In terms of ethnic identity, the Decennial U.S. Census data indicates that the majority of individuals with the surname Smay identified as White in both 2000 and 2010, although there was a slight decrease of about 3.7 percent over this decade. In 2000, a minor portion (0.81 percent) identified as Asian/Pacific Islander but this category was not represented in the 2010 census data. Additionally, some new ethnic identities appeared in 2010: 1.66 percent of those with the Smay surname identified as belonging to two or more races, and 3.17 percent identified as Hispanic. No individuals identified as Black or American Indian and Alaskan Native in either year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 97.58% | 93.97% | -3.7% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 3.17% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 1.66% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.81% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |