This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Smay family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Smay Family History

Smay Surname Meaning

Americanized form of German Schmeh: nickname for a slight or small person from Middle High German smaehe ‘small insignificant despicable’.

Americanized form of Slovenian Smej: nickname from dialect smej ‘laugh(ter)’.

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


Similar surnames: 

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

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Smay family from?

You can see how Smay families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Smay family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Smay families were found in and USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 3 Smay families living in Alberta. This was about 43% of all the recorded Smay's in Canada. Alberta and 1 other province had the highest population of Smay families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Smay surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Smay ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Smay. 26% of Smay men worked as a Laborer and 25% of Smay women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Smay were Farming and Teacher.

View Census Data for Smay | 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.

United States shown, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    26%
  • Miner
    16%
  • Farmer
    10%
  • Farming
    8%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    25%
  • Housework
    25%
  • Housekeeper
    25%
  • Teacher
    25%

What Smay family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2,000 census records available for the last name Smay. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Smay census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Smay

Passenger Lists

There are 149 immigration records available for the last name Smay. 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 Smay immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Smay. For the veterans among your Smay ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Smay military records

You've only scratched the surface of Smay family history

Discover More

What is the average Smay lifespan?

Between 1949 and 2004, in the United States, Smay life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1959, and highest in 1982. The average life expectancy for Smay in 1949 was 40, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Smay

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Smay 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Smay family tree

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