Explore the Family Name Smithson
The meaning of Smithson
1. English (Yorkshire): from Middle English smith ‘smith’ + -son, for a son of a smith. 2. Irish (Dublin) and Scottish: in Scotland and Ireland, sometimes adopted for Mac Gobhann, Mac a’ghobhainn ‘son of the smith’ (see McGowan). History: The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, DC, was founded (1846) with a bequest from the English chemist and mineralogist James Smithson (1765–1829). He was born James Lewes Macie, the illegitimate son of Hugh Smithson Percy, Duke of Northumberland. His mother, Elizabeth Macie, a widow, was a direct descendant of Henry VIII; through her family James Smithson inherited a fortune.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Smithson in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Smithson saw a slight decline from 2000 to 2010. While it was ranked 4763 in 2000, it dropped to 5032 in 2010, showing a decrease of 5.65%. However, the actual count of individuals with this surname increased by 2.54% during the same period, from 6,805 to 6,978. The proportion per 100k people also decreased by 5.95%, from 2.52 to 2.37.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #4,763 | #5,032 | -5.65% |
| Count | 6,805 | 6,978 | 2.54% |
| Proportion per 100k | 2.52 | 2.37 | -5.95% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Smithson
From an ethnic identity perspective, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals some shifts between 2000 and 2010. The percentage of Smithsons identifying as Asian/Pacific Islander increased by 39.47%, though they only represent 0.53% of all Smithsons in 2010. Similarly, those reporting two or more ethnicities rose slightly to 1.53%, an increase of 4.08%. Meanwhile, the proportion of white Smithsons declined by 1.17% but still represented a dominant 88.68% in 2010. There was also a notable increase of 40.98% in the Hispanic population, taking their share to 1.72%. The percentage of Black Smithsons increased modestly by 6.70% to 6.69%. Finally, the American Indian and Alaskan Native group witnessed a decrease of 8.60%, making up 0.85% of Smithsons in 2010.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 89.73% | 88.68% | -1.17% |
| Black | 6.27% | 6.69% | 6.7% |
| Hispanic | 1.22% | 1.72% | 40.98% |
| Two or More Races | 1.47% | 1.53% | 4.08% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0.93% | 0.85% | -8.6% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0.38% | 0.53% | 39.47% |
Smithson 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 Smithson is British & Irish, which comprises 57.6% of all ancestry found in people with the surname. The next two most common ancestries are French & German (21.6%) and Eastern European (3.7%). Additional ancestries include Scandinavian, Italian, Spanish & Portuguese, Nigerian, and Indigenous American.
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 | 57.6% |
| French & German | 21.6% |
| Eastern European | 3.7% |
| Other | 17.1% |
Possible origins of the surname Smithson
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 Smithson have recent ancestry locations all within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
| RECENT ANCESTRY Location | Percentage |
|---|---|
| Greater London, United Kingdom | 88.10% |
| Greater Manchester, United Kingdom | 88.10% |
| West Midlands, United Kingdom | 88.10% |
| Merseyside, United Kingdom | 88.10% |
| West Yorkshire, United Kingdom | 87.50% |
What Smithson 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 Smithson is R-S3933, which is predominantly found among people with European ancestry. Haplogroup R-S3933 is descended from haplogroup R-M343. Other common haplogroups include R-P312 and R-CTS241, which are predominantly found among people with European and European ancestry. Other surnames with similar common haplogroups are: Timmons, Kirby, Sprague, Jenks, Spriggs, Duck, Waddell, Fultz, Hightower, Shackelford.
The most common maternal haplogroups of people with Smithson surname are: H1, T2b, H. These most commonly trace back to individuals of European ancestry.
Paternal Haplogroup Origins R-M343
Your paternal lineage may be linked to King Louis XVI
The rule of France by men of the House of Bourbon began with King Henri IV in 1589 C.E. and continued until the beheading of his direct paternal descendant King Louis XVI in 1793. Several years ago, researchers analyzed a mummified head and a blood-soaked cloth that they believed might belong to the two kings, and concluded that the royal paternal line belonged to haplogroup G. In a more recent study, however, a different set of researchers tested three living men who are direct descendants of the Bourbon kings. Their efforts revealed that the male lineage of the House of Bourbon is actually a branch of haplogroup R-M405.
Your 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 Smithson 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.
"Smithson" Surname 42.4%
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.
"Smithson" Surname 26.6%
23andMe Users 27.9%
Habits
Sugary Drink
Drinks one or more sugary drinks per day.
"Smithson" Surname 25.0%
23andMe Users 21.1%
Wellness
Cat Allergy
An allergic reaction to cats, characterized by symptoms such as sneezing, itching, and difficulty breathing.
"Smithson" Surname 43.8%
23andMe Users 36.7%
Are health conditions linked to the last name Smithson?
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 Smithson are shown below. Important Note: not everyone with a disease allele will develop these health condition