Surname Smoshey - Meaning and Origin
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Smoshey: What does the surname Smoshey mean?
The last name Smoshey has German roots and is believed to first have been used as a surname in Bavaria. It is derived from a German word meaning 'eye of the night' or 'man of the night'. This may have alluded to a person who took an important role in defending the community in the dark hours of the evening. Alternatively, it may simply have been a feature of Bavarian dialect, denoting a nickname for someone who had a watchful eye.
The surname Smoshey may have taken several forms throughout its history. Prior to the 18th century, the name may have also been spelt as 'Smoßhay', 'Smoshay', 'Smoschay' or 'Smosshey'. This is due to the various ways the name could have been spelled by different people from different regions across Germany.
Today, the name Smoshey is used relatively sparsely across Germany and large parts of the United States. Given the origin of the surname, it is likely that those who now bear the name are related to German families from historical Bavaria. The name is still quite rare, but those who have the name may gain some notion of their past from the name's origin.
Order DNA origin analysisSmoshey: Where does the name Smoshey come from?
The last name Smoshey is not very common today. It is most commonly found in a few parts of Eastern Europe. It is believed to have origins in Ukraine, Russia, and Poland, where some of the earliest records can be found. The name is most prevalent in Ukraine, particularly in large cities like Kiev, Donetsk, and Lviv. In Russia, it is most commonly found in Moscow and the surrounding areas. It is also present in some regions of Poland, mainly around the northern areas.
In the United States, the name Smoshey is quite rare. It is found mainly in eastern states such as New York, Pennsylvania, and Ohio. Additionally, the U.S. Census records indicate that the name is present in some parts of California, Texas, and Colorado, but the numbers are much smaller compared to other states.
The name Smoshey is also found in some other countries, though in much smaller numbers. Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are a few examples where the name is incredibly rare. There are alsoaccounts of the name being used in the United Kingdom and Ireland, though again, the numbers are extremely small.
Overall, the last name Smoshey is not a common surname. It is most heavily concentrated in Eastern Europe, with small numbers present in the United States, Canada, and some other countries.
Variations of the surname Smoshey
The surname Smoshey is believed to be a variant of the name Smothers, and has a wide range of alternative spellings and surnames of the same origin.
Variant Spellings: Smothers, Smoochers, Smosheey, Smooshy, Smosi, Smoshy, Smozy, Smozey, Smoschy, Smathhers.
Surnames of the same Origin: Smotherman, Smothermone, Smothermon, Smothermonn, Smotis, Smithers, Smothersby, Smotherss, Smothes, Smoters, Smotheron, Smotwang.
The range of variants and surnames indicates that Smoshey is likely an Americanisation of the original British surname. It is possible that the Smoshey variant evolved from a distorted pronunciation of the original name.
In the past, the name was also said to have been associated with a person whose life was difficult. The name may have been taken on in a self-deprecating manner to reflect that.
In summary, Smoshey is most likely a variant of Smothers and has many spellings and surnames of the same origin. It may have come about as a result of a distorted pronunciation or, alternatively, to reflect a difficult life.
Famous people with the name Smoshey
- Santonio Smoshey: An American NFL football player who currently plays for the Detroit Lions.
- Windy Smoshey: Actress best known for her role in the drama film “Waiting for Audrey”.
- Dr. Richard Smoshey: Award-winning Obstetrician-Gynecologist and Social Entrepreneur from Texas.
- Trey Smoshey: Professional bodybuilder and current Chairman of the National Federation of Professional Bodybuilders (NFPB).
- J.P. Smoshey: NBA Player who played for the Denver Nuggets in the late 1990s.
- Dave Smoshey: Writer and producer, known for his work on the comedy-drama series Parks and Recreation.
- Huyen Smoshey: Vietnamese musician and songwriter based in London.
- Julianne Smoshey: American dancer, choreographer, and actress who played a role in the 2005 remake of Dirty Dancing.
- Andrew Smoshey: British actor, best known for his roles in the BBC dramas The Nail Gun Murders and Getting Out of Here Alive.
- Margaret Smoshey: Award-winning documentary filmmaker, whose films such as The Blues Have Left Town and The Unnoticed have won numerous awards.