Explore the Family Name Smurthwaite
The meaning of Smurthwaite
English (Durham and Yorkshire): 1. habitational name from any of several places called with Old Norse smjǫr ‘butter’ + thveit ‘clearing’, for example Smorthwaite (Sedbergh, Yorkshire) and a lost place called Smerthwayt in Guiseley (Yorkshire). 2. habitational name from either of two places in Cumbria named Smaithwaite, one in Saint John’s in the Vale (now in Keswick), which is recorded as Smathwaitis c.1280, the other in Lamplugh, which is recorded as Smaithait in 1596. The placenames probably derive from Old Norse smá(r) ‘small, little’ + thveit ‘clearing, meadow, paddock’. This surname may have been absorbed into 1 through confusion of the two names.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Smurthwaite in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the surname Smurthwaite has experienced minor fluctuations in popularity over a decade. In 2000, Smurthwaite ranked 82,019 in popularity but slightly dipped to rank 82,317 in 2010, marking a subtle change of -0.36%. However, the count of people bearing the surname increased from 214 in 2000 to 229 in 2010, indicating a growth rate of 7.01%. Interestingly, the proportion per 100k remained consistent at 0.08 in both years.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #82,019 | #82,317 | -0.36% |
| Count | 214 | 229 | 7.01% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.08 | 0.08 | 0% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Smurthwaite
When it comes to ethnicity, the Decennial U.S. Census data reveals that individuals with the Smurthwaite surname predominantly identify as White. A considerable drop was noted, however, from 98.60% in 2000 to 96.07% in 2010. The Hispanic representation among those named Smurthwaite saw a rise to 3.49% in 2010 from no previous percentage in 2000. As for other ethnic identities such as Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, and American Indian and Alaskan Native, there were no recorded changes between the two census years. The category of Two or more races also displayed no change, suggesting no individuals identified with multiple ethnicities.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 98.6% | 96.07% | -2.57% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 3.49% | 0% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Two or More Races | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |