Surname Smoots - Meaning and Origin

Smoots: What does the surname Smoots mean?

The last name Smoots is of English origin and it is primarily found in the United States. However, its exact meaning is not clear. This is because many surnames have evolved over time and their original meanings may have altered or even been lost. It is also common that surnames have several possible origins and meanings. For Smoots, it could possibly be a patronymic surname derived from the given name 'Smoot', or it could be a topographic name, denoting someone who lived in an area that was smooth or flat. The spelling variations for this name include Smoot, Smooth, and others. Therefore, without specific genealogical research pertaining to a particular family lineage, it's hard to definitively state what the surname Smoots means.

Smoots: Where does the name Smoots come from?

The last name Smoots is derived from the Dutch word "smout," which means lard. The family name is most likely of Dutch, Irish, and Scottish origin. Today, the Smoots name is most prominently used in the United States. According to the U.S. Census, in 2020 there were 8,072 Americans who used the Smoots name. The largest numbers are found in Maryland (1,196), Virginia (888), Washington (637), and Pennsylvania (636). The states in which Smoots are relatively fewer in number are Missouri (42), New Jersey (72), and California (187).

It is important to note that, while the Smoots name is much less common outside of the United States, it is still found in small numbers in Ireland, Australia, and the United Kingdom. It is also noted among the Dutch population in the Netherlands, primarily in the provinces of Gelderland and Overijssel.

In conclusion, the last name Smoots is most common today in the United States, particularly the East Coast. Smaller numbers of Smoots can also be found in smaller countries, such as the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Netherlands, and even Australia.

Variations of the surname Smoots

The variants, spellings and surnames for the same origin of the surname Smoots include Smote, Smotee, Smoot, Smooote, Smootte, Smootes, Smootson, and Smotts. The Smoots surname is an English patronymic surname meaning “son of Smoot”, originating from an old English or German personal name Smoot, Smot, or Smote. Smote or Smoot in old English was an occupational name for a worker who cut planks for shipbuilding.

The Smoots surname has been recorded as far back as the mid-13th century in Yorkshire, England. It is a habitational surname derived from the places named “Smoot” in the West Midlands, England. Smoot is derived from the old English “smote”, meaning either “smeared”; referring to a muddy place, or “cleared”; referring to a clearing in a wood.

The earliest record of the Smoot surname was in the 1262 Yorkshire poll tax rolls, where a Hugh de Smote appears. In Scotland, the earliest recorded spelling is most likely that of William Smoot, which was dated 1545, in the Records of the Burgh of Glasgow, Scotland. Smootson is an alternate spelling and is also found in various records dating from the late 1500’s.

The Smoots surname is also found in North America, where many of the original spellings were Anglicized. Smoot in North America can be found mainly in Virginia and North Carolina, but can also be found in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and other Southern states.

Surnames such as Smoote, Smotte, Smogt, Smootson, Smotes, Smotts and others have also been used to represent the Smoots family name. These variants are found mainly in land records, parish registers, military records and other legal documents.

Famous people with the name Smoots

• Robert Smoots: Robert Smoots is a former American football player who was a defensive lineman for the Washington Redskins of the National Football League between 1970 and 1973.
• Roberta Smoot: Roberta Smoot is a musician, producer and engineer who has worked on albums such as Miguel's War & Leisure, Free Nationals' Free Nationals and The Internet's Hive Mind.
• Jevon Smoot: Jevon Smoot is an American football cornerback who has played for The Ohio State Buckeyes as well as the:: Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL.
• Ray Smoot: Ray Smoot is a former American football player and coach who served as the head football coach at the University of Tennessee from 1951 to 1954.
• Nathan Smoots: Nathan Smoots is a former professional American football player who played wide receiver for the Buffalo Bills from 2002 to 2004.
• Barry Smoot: Barry Smoot is a former American football linebacker who played for the Baltimore Colts from 1978 to 1981.
• Thomas Smoot: Thomas Smoot is an American actor who is best known for his role in the film Dolittle, starring Robert Downey Jr..
• Sheree Smoot: Sheree Smoot is an American professional dancer, salsa instructor and choreographer who was featured on the hit ABC television show Dancing with the Stars.
• Jimmy Smoots: Jimmy Smoots is a former American football offensive lineman who played in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins and Miami Dolphins between 1976 and 1987.
• Lawrence Smoot: Lawrence Smoot is a former American football coach and player who served as the head coach of the Houston Oilers from 1988 to 1992.

Other surnames

SmootSmoote