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Smurthwaite Family History

Smurthwaite Surname Meaning

English (Durham and Yorkshire):: 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).

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.

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


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Where is the Smurthwaite family from?

You can see how Smurthwaite families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Smurthwaite family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1841 and 1920. The most Smurthwaite families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 300 Smurthwaite families living in Durham. This was about 47% of all the recorded Smurthwaite's in United Kingdom. Durham had the highest population of Smurthwaite families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Smurthwaite 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 Smurthwaite 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 Smurthwaite. 32% of Smurthwaite men worked as a General Labourer and 73% of Smurthwaite women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Smurthwaite were Nurseryman and Unpaid House Duties.

View Census Data for Smurthwaite | 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
    32%
  • Bricklayer
    16%
  • Farm Labourer
    11%
  • Nurseryman
    11%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    73%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Unpaid House Duties
    3%

What Smurthwaite family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search UK census records for Smurthwaite

Passenger Lists

There are 745 immigration records available for the last name Smurthwaite. 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 Smurthwaite immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 712 military records available for the last name Smurthwaite. For the veterans among your Smurthwaite ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Smurthwaite military records

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What is the average Smurthwaite lifespan?

Between 1963 and 2004, in the United States, Smurthwaite life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1989, and highest in 1982. The average life expectancy for Smurthwaite in 1963 was 73, and 75 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Smurthwaite

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Smurthwaite ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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