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Smethurst Family History

Smethurst Surname Meaning

English (Lancashire): habitational name from Smethurst in Middleton by Oldham (Lancashire).

The placename is from Old English smēthe ‘smooth level’ + hyrst ‘hillock copse’.

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


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Smethurst family from?

You can see how Smethurst families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Smethurst family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Smethurst families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 2,104 Smethurst families living in Lancashire. This was about 85% of all the recorded Smethurst's in United Kingdom. Lancashire had the highest population of Smethurst families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Smethurst 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 Smethurst 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 Smethurst. 12% of Smethurst men worked as a General Labourer and 74% of Smethurst women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Smethurst were Cotton Spinner and Private Means.

View Census Data for Smethurst | 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
    12%
  • Motor Driver
    6%
  • Incapacitated
    5%
  • Cotton Spinner
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    74%
  • Cotton Weaver
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Private Means
    2%

What Smethurst family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 29,000 census records available for the last name Smethurst. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Smethurst census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Smethurst

Passenger Lists

There are 3,000 immigration records available for the last name Smethurst. 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 Smethurst immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 2,000 military records available for the last name Smethurst. For the veterans among your Smethurst ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Smethurst military records

You've only scratched the surface of Smethurst family history

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What is the average Smethurst lifespan?

Between 1956 and 2004, in the United States, Smethurst life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1956, and highest in 1993. The average life expectancy for Smethurst in 1956 was 47, and 66 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Smethurst

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Smethurst 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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