History of your Surname
Get access to Small family records.Start a free trial

Small Family History

Small Name Meaning

English and Scottish (Angus): nickname for a person of slender build or diminutive stature from Middle English smal(e) smel(e) ‘small slender thin’ (Old English smæl). Irish (Down): adopted for Beag ‘small’; see Begg . Americanized form (translation into English) of any of various European surnames meaning ‘small’ e.g. German Klein and Schmal Polish Mały Czech and Slovak Malý (see Maly ).

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


Similar surnames: Sale, Sall, Smull, Gall, Still, Smail, Fall, Stall, Maul, Hall

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Black & white image of a young woman scientist

Where is the Small family from?

You can see how Small families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Small family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Small families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 655 Small families living in Ontario. This was about 55% of all the recorded Small's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Small families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Small surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.

What did your Small ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Farmer and Operator were the top reported jobs for men and women in the Canada named Small. 30% of Small men worked as a Farmer and 14% of Small women worked as an Operator. Some less common occupations for Americans named Small were Fisherman and Bookkeeper. .

View Census Data for Small | 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 1921

  • Farmer
    30%
  • Labourer
    9%
  • Laborer
    6%
  • Fisherman
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1921

  • Operator
    14%
  • Income
    14%
  • Nurse
    10%
  • Bookkeeper
    8%
Black & white image of two construction labourers

What Small family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 391,000 census records available for the last name Small. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Small census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Small

Passenger Lists

There are 43,000 immigration records available for the last name Small. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Small immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 74,000 military records available for the last name Small. For the veterans among your Small ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Small military records

You've only scratched the surface of Small family history

Discover More

What is the average Small lifespan?

Between 1941 and 2004, in the United States, Small life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1942, and highest in 2004. The average life expectancy for Small in 1941 was 35, and 76 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Small

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Small family tree

Explore Your Tree

Browse profiles of historical people with the Small last name

Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial