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Smailes Family History

Smailes Name Meaning

English (Northumberland and Durham): perhaps a habitational name from Smailes in Ryton (Durham) or more likely from a lost place similarly named in Wolsingham (Durham) from Old English smæl ‘narrow thin’ + lǣs ‘pasture’.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: Smiles, Smiley, Smail, Swailes, Maines, Hailes, Smale, Bailes, Saile

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

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Where is the Smailes family from?

You can see how Smailes families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Smailes family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Smailes families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 261 Smailes families living in Durham. This was about 48% of all the recorded Smailes's in United Kingdom. Durham had the highest population of Smailes families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Smailes surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Smailes ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Smailes. 21% of Smailes men worked as a General Labourer and 81% of Smailes women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Smailes were At School and Domestic Servant. .

View Census Data for Smailes | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    21%
  • Police Constable
    11%
  • Motor Driver
    8%
  • At School
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    81%
  • Private Means
    3%
  • Shop Assistant
    3%
  • Domestic Servant
    2%
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What Smailes family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 8,000 census records available for the last name Smailes. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Smailes census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Smailes

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Smailes. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Smailes immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 797 military records available for the last name Smailes. For the veterans among your Smailes ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Smailes military records

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What is the average Smailes lifespan?

Between 1948 and 2004, in the United States, Smailes life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1948, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Smailes in 1948 was 42, and 94 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Smailes

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