Explore the Family Name Smedley
The meaning of Smedley
English (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Yorkshire, and Lancashire): habitational name, mostly from Smithley in Wombwell (Yorkshire) but also from Smedley (Lancashire). The placenames probably mean ‘wood or woodland clearing of the smiths’, from Old English smitha, genitive plural form of smith ‘smith’, + lēah ‘woodland clearing’.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Smedley in the United States?
The surname Smedley, based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, experienced a slight decrease in popularity between the years 2000 and 2010. The rank of the surname fell from 7178 to 7605, marking a -5.95% change over the decade. However, the number of individuals bearing the Smedley surname rose marginally from 4286 in 2000 to 4371 in 2010, indicating a growth of 1.98%. Consequently, the proportion of this surname per 100k people declined by -6.92%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #7,178 | #7,605 | -5.95% |
| Count | 4,286 | 4,371 | 1.98% |
| Proportion per 100k | 1.59 | 1.48 | -6.92% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Smedley
In terms of ethnic identity, the census data reveals some interesting shifts among those with the Smedley surname from 2000 to 2010. There was an increase in the percentage of those identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander (from 0.51% to 0.69%) and those identifying with two or more races (from 1.49% to 2.45%). On the other hand, there was a notable rise in those identifying as Hispanic, from 1.96% to 3.00%. The proportion of those identifying as White saw a small decrease from 84.04% to 82.61%, while the proportion of those identifying as Black also dropped slightly from 11.39% to 11.05%. The biggest change occurred in the American Indian and Alaskan Native category, where the percentage dropped significantly from 0.61% to 0.21%. This data is collected from the Decennial U.S. Census and helps illuminate the rich tapestry of ethnic identities associated with the Smedley surname.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 84.04% | 82.61% | -1.7% |
| Black | 11.39% | 11.05% | -2.99% |
| Hispanic | 1.96% | 3% | 53.06% |
| Two or More Races | 1.49% | 2.45% | 64.43% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.51% | 0.69% | 35.29% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.61% | 0.21% | -65.57% |
Smedley ancestry composition
23andMe computes an ancestry breakdown for each customer. People may have ancestry from just one population or they may have ancestry from several populations. The most commonly-observed ancestry found in people with the surname Smedley is British & Irish, which comprises 57.2% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (22.7%) and Scandinavian (4.1%). Additional ancestries include Eastern European, Spanish & Portuguese, Italian, Indigenous American, and Nigerian.
Ready to learn more about your ancestry? Get the most comprehensive ancestry breakdown on the market by taking our DNA test. Shop 23andMe
| ANCESTRY BREAKDOWN | COMPOSITION |
|---|---|
| British & Irish | 57.2% |
| French & German | 22.7% |
| Scandinavian | 4.1% |
| Other | 16.0% |
Possible origins of the surname Smedley
Your DNA provides clues about where your recent ancestors may have lived. Having many distant relatives in the same location suggests that you may all share common ancestry there. Locations with many distant relatives can also be places where people have migrated recently, such as large cities. If a large number of individuals who share your surname have distant relatives in a specific area, it could indicate a connection between your surname and that location, stemming from either recent ancestral ties or migration.
Based on 23andMe data, people with last name Smedley have recent ancestry locations all within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 87.80% |
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 87.80% |
| Tyne And Wear, United Kingdom | 87.80% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 87.80% |
| Lancashire, United Kingdom | 87.80% |
What Smedley haplogroups can tell you
Haplogroups are genetic population groups that share a common ancestor on either your paternal or maternal line. These paternal and maternal haplogroups shed light on your genetic ancestry and help tell the story of your family.
The top paternal haplogroup of people with the surname Smedley is R-L2, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-L2 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-U152 and I-M253, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Stauffer, Leeper, Dodson, Stovall, Lillard, Pelton, Higginbotham, Fordham, Whetstone, Fortier.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Smedley surname are: H1, N, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343Your maternal lineage may be linked to Marie Antoinette
Because it is so dominant in the general European population, haplogroup H also appears quite frequently in the continent's royal houses. Marie Antoinette, an Austrian Hapsburg who married into the French royal family, inherited the haplogroup from her maternal ancestors. So did Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, whose recorded genealogy traces his female line to Bavaria. Scientists also discovered that famed 16th century astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus traced his maternal lineages to haplogroup H.
What do people with the surname Smedley have in common?
Spoiler alert: it's complicated. People with the same last name are usually no more genetically similar than a randomly sampled group of people from the same population. That said, people with the same surname are more likely to have similar ancestries than randomly sampled individuals. The reason is the tendency of people with similar cultural or geographical backgrounds to preferentially mate with one another. That's why people who share a surname may be more likely to share traits and tendencies in common than people within the general population. Check out the percentages below to see the prevalences of tastes, habits, and traits of people with your surname compared with prevalences among 23andMe users.
Preferences
Chocolate Ice Cream
Prefers chocolate flavored ice cream over other flavors.
"Smedley" Surname 21.3%
23andMe Users 41.3%
Traits
Misophonia
When sounds made by others, like the sound of chewing or yawning, provoke strong emotional reactions in an individual.
"Smedley" Surname 31.7%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Smedley" Surname 32.6%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Migraine
A severe headache characterized by intense pain, sensitivity to light and sound, and often accompanied by nausea and vomiting.
"Smedley" Surname 19.8%
23andMe Users 16.4%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Smedley?
The short answer is that, if there is an association between surname and health, it's usually more about your ancestry than your name. Individuals with a given surname are no more genetically similar than the general population but often have similar ancestries. The populations of people associated with those shared ancestries often have sets of genetic variations, also known as alleles, in common. Some of those alleles are associated with a greater likelihood of developing certain diseases.
Disease variant frequency by ancestry
Disease allele frequencies in populations associated with the surname Smedley are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition