Smailes History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Smailes was derived from the Old English word "smael" and the Middle English word "smel" which both mean "small, slender, thin" 1

Early Origins of the Smailes family

The surname Smailes was first found in Derbyshire at Smalley, a chapelry, in the parish of Morley, union of Belper, hundred of Morleston and Litchurch. 2

However, early records of the name are scattered throughout England: William Smale was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcester in 1275; Alexander le Smele was listed in the Assize Rolls of 1221; and William le Smale was listed in 1294. 1

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list the following entries: Robert le Small in Huntingdon; and Henry Smale in Cambridgeshire. Later Willelmus Smale was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379, and in 1468, Thomas Smale was listed as rector of Lerling in Norfolk. 3

We would be remiss if we didn't mention the Scottish connection to the name. "A deed of 1283 runs in the name of 'Oliverus et Ricardus Smally prepositi et ceteri prepositi ac cives Glasguenses congregati in placitis burgi que tenebantur apud Glasgu.' " 4 At about the same time, Ricardus Smaley witnessed a sale of land in Glasgow, c. 1280-1290.

Early History of the Smailes family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Smailes research. Another 96 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1438, 1440, 1458, 1530, 1577, 1578, 1596, 1615 and 1665 are included under the topic Early Smailes History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Smailes Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Smale, Smail, Smalley, Smaley and others.

Early Notables of the Smailes family

Another 35 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Smailes Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Smailes migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Smailes Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John Smailes, who arrived in America in 1809 5
Mary Smailes, aged 35, who landed in Massachusetts in 1812 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Smailes (post 1700) +

Thomas Francis Smailes (1910-1970), English cricketer
Matthew Smailes (b. 1899), English footballer
Arthur Smailes, Professor

Citations +

Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)