Smiley

The surname Smiley is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is a locational name, typically from a place called Smeley in Derbyshire or Smiley in Northumberland. It may also have been derived from the Old English word smalan, meaning "smooth" or "level", and the suffix -ey, which is indicative of a place.

The name has been recorded in various spellings over the centuries, including Smailli, Smaly, and Smiley. The first documented use of the name dates back to the 13th century in England.

Notable bearers of the surname include the British author and playwright Jane Smiley, known for her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel A Thousand Acres, as well as British TV presenter Joe Swash, who gained fame through his appearances on shows like EastEnders and I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!

The Smiley surname is relatively uncommon in the United Kingdom but has a rich history rooted in the landscapes of Derbyshire and Northumberland.

There are approximately 601 people named Smiley in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around nine in a million people in Britain are named Smiley.

Surname type: Location or geographical feature

Origin: English

Region of origin: British Isles

Country of origin: England

Religion of origin: Christian

Language of origin: English

Typical given names associated with the surname

Male

  • Andrew
  • Christopher
  • Darren
  • David
  • Hugh
  • James
  • John
  • Mark
  • Paul
  • Robert
  • William

Female

  • Ann
  • Arabella
  • Claire
  • Elizabeth
  • Emma
  • Helen
  • Margaret
  • Mary
  • Michelle
  • Sarah
  • Sharon
  • Vivien

Similar and related surnames

Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.

BritishSurnames.uk is a Good Stuff website.