Surname Smile - Meaning and Origin

Smile: What does the surname Smile mean?

The surname Smile is of Scottish origin and is a loose Anglicized form of the Gaelic surname "MacGille Smiol." This last name can be broken down into three parts: "Mac," which means son of, "Gille," which translates to servant or follower, and "Smiol," which means smile or cheerful one. So, the whole surname roughly means "son of the follower of the cheerful one." The original bearer of the name likely worked for or was a follower or devotee of a religious figure known for his cheerfulness or goodwill. It's also possible that it was a nickname for a person who was known for their cheerful demeanor. As with many surnames, over time and through emigration, the name evolved into a more English sounding name – Smile. However, it's not a common surname and there are very few people with this surname living today.

Smile: Where does the name Smile come from?

The surname Smile is most commonly found in England today. In England, the name Smile is found in counties such as Essex, Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Hampshire, and Hertfordshire. The name Smile is also found in England’s large cities such as London, Birmingham, and Manchester.

The exact origin of the surname Smile is unknown. Most researchers believe that the name Smile is derived from the Old English or Anglo-Saxon word “smilan”, which means “smiling”. This is why the surname Smile might be most commonly associated with those who have cheerful dispositions or bearers of good news.

The Smile surname wasn’t frequent in England until the approximate year of 1525, when it became more widespread and the frequency began to remain steady throughout the Victorian period. It was also common in countries around the British Isles during this period, such as Scotland, Wales, and Ireland.

The modern-day distribution for the Smile surname places England still at the top spot. Other countries with a presence of the Smile surname include Australia, Canada, and the United States. That said, the surname Smile is unlikely to be found elsewhere outside of these few countries.

Variations of the surname Smile

The surname Smile has multiple variant spellings and surnames that have the same origin. These include Smail, Smale, Smyle, Smil(e), Smailes, Smell, Smel(l), Smill, Smile(y), Smill(e) and Smal(e).

The variations of Smile stem from the Middle English word ‘esmille’, which is linked to the Old English ‘smyllan’, meaning ‘to laugh or smile’. This surname therefore dates back to portraying someone who was known to smile or laugh often. It is thought to have been in use as a given name in England before the Norman Conquest of 1066 as a descriptive name to the person's character.

Smile was most commonly found as a given name in Yorkshire, Lancashire, Dorset and Somerset, and then became adopted as a surname in the 16th century. Surnames developed from a given name were rare in England (compared to Scotland and Ireland), so it is likely that the surname derived from the further use of the given name as a nickname.

The popularity of the surname Smile has declined over time, with it now being a relatively rare name. It is now mainly found in the British Isles, particularly England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. The growth of other spellings such as Smal(e), Smill(e) and Smail(es) has meant that over the years surnames with a variant spelling of Smile have become more commonplace.

Famous people with the name Smile

• Katherine Smile: English Marine Biologist and Deputy Head of the Marine Life Practitioners Group at the London Zoological Society.
• Camille Smile: British-Antiguan singer, songwriter, and actress, known for her roles in the series Carnival Row and Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.
• Joe Smile: American contemporary landscape painter and muralist, graduate of The School of the Art Institute of Chicago and The University of Arizona.
• Evan Smile: Canadian animator, storyboard artist, and director, known for his work on the series Rick and Morty, Invader Zim, and The Powerpuff Girls.
• John Smile: British actor, writer, director, and producer, best known for his work in films such as The Avengers and Thor.
• Makiko Smile: Japanese makeup artist, special effects designer, and movie makeup designer most famous for her work on the epic film The Last Samurai.
• Richard Smile: American entrepreneur, investor, and television personality, founding executive of the venture capital firm Business Angels Equity.
• Sian Smile: British stand-up comedian and author, known for her work on BBC Two's Mock the Week, along with a number of other television and radio appearances.
• Tom Smile: Australian entrepreneur and investor, founding partner of the venture capital firm Smile Capital, and one of the panelists on Shark Tank Australia.
• Diego Smile: Spanish actor and director known for his work in films and television, most notably as the lead in the HBO series Semilunar.

Other surnames

SmileySmillzerSmiltzerSmily