Surname Smyley - Meaning and Origin
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Smyley: What does the surname Smyley mean?
The last name Smyley is a variation of the surname Smiley. This surname has Irish origins and is derived from the Gaelic name "O'Smailin". The prefix "O" indicates "descendant of" while "Smailin" is a personal nickname which comes from "smal", meaning "humble" or "small". Therefore, a possible interpretation of the surname Smyley could be "descendant of the humble one". It's also suggested that this surname is a form of Smalley, originating from placenames in Lancashire and Derbyshire, England, literally meaning ‘small lea’, referring to a ‘small clearing’. However, the surname seems to have spread across several continents and might have varying interpretations or points of origin. For instance, in the U.S., Smileys are reported in Georgia in the late 18th century of Scottish, Irish, and English ancestry. Like many surnames, a direct and sole meaning can be hard to pin down due to the evolution of language and movement of populations over time.
Order DNA origin analysisSmyley: Where does the name Smyley come from?
The last name Smyley is primarily associated with Ireland where it's estimated that six in every 10,000 people share the last name. The spelling of the name in Ireland indicates that it originates from the Gaelic word "Mac an Laoigh" or “son of Laoigh”, as Laoigh is a masculine given name used mainly in the west of Ireland.
Outside of Ireland, the last name is slightly less common, but the name is still found in the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, and the United States. Records indicate that some of the earliest bearers of the Smyley last name were from Cumberland, England, where researchers traced the origin of the name to families living in the 17th century.
More recently, the last name has spread to the United States, where records indicate at least 106 people with the Smyley last name living in the United States today. In addition, the First Name Finder lists Yarmouth, Massachusetts as the city with the largest concentration of its bearers in the United States.
The surname continues to be found in many countries around the world, though other variants of the spelling including 'Smiley', 'Smealey' and 'Smallie' may also be found today.
Variations of the surname Smyley
The variants and surnames of the same origin for the surname Smyley include Smiley, Smaly, Smail, Smalley, Smale, Smeal, and Smailes. These surnames are all derived from the original Scots word "Smail" or "smale" which means "little" or "small".
The surname Smiley first appeared in Scotland as early as the 1380s. It is believed that the initial bearer of the surname was a man named Ergne of Smail, in which "Smail" is the Scots word for "small". This surname was likely adopted by many other Scottish families.
In England, the earliest record of the surname Smiley (and related forms) dates back to 1457. This record is of a family named John Smyley who resided in Yorkshire, England.
Over time, the spelling of the surname has changed. While the original spelling of "Smyley" is still used in Scotland, the surname often appears with the spelling of "Smiley." Variations of the spelling also exist, such as "Smail" and "Smalley".
The surname is becoming increasingly popular in the United States and Ireland as well. Immigrants from Scotland and England are often credited with helping to spread the surname to the U.S. Today, it is estimated that the surname Smyley (and its variants) can be found in nearly every corner of the globe.
Famous people with the name Smyley
- Jameka Smyley: American actress, known for her roles in the TV series My Crazy Ex and Orange Is the New Black.
- Chris Smyley: American football player, who played college football in the New England Football League.
- Herbert Smyley: American five-star Admiral of the World War II era, who oversaw the invasions of North Africa and Sicily.
- Valerie Smyley: Australian author, whose works include successful novels such as Looking for Grace and Hot Summer Nights.
- John Smyley: American doctor and physician credited with pioneering the first successful vaccination against measles.
- Zedric Smyley: American figure skater, who won a bronze medal at the 1976 Winter Olympics as a member of Team USA.
- Gregory Smyley: American bishop in the United Church of Christ, most notably serving Baltimore for over two decades and helping to bring Christianity to the city.
- Randall Smyley: English actor, known for his work on Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest and the television fortnight series, Disorder.
- Richard Smyley: British politician, who served as Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire from 1984 to 2015.
- Michael Smyley: American news anchor and reporter, best known for his work as the face of the network's daytime news programming.