Smill History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• England
• Scotland
• Ireland

Etymology of Smill

Scotland's western coastal mountains and the desolate Hebrides spawned the line of the Smill family. The name Smill was originally a nickname for a person who was small in stature. Smill is a nickname surname, which belongs to the category of hereditary surnames. Nicknames form a broad and miscellaneous class of surnames, and can refer directly or indirectly to one's personality, physical attributes, mannerisms, or even their habits of dress. The surname Smill derived from the Old English word smal, which means narrow, thin, or small, and referred to a person who was of slender build, or of small stature. This surname was established in Renfrew (now part of the Strathclyde region), prior to the Norman invasion of England, in 1066.

Early Origins of the Smill family

Early History of the Smill family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Smill research. Another 96 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1326, 1329, 1407, 1447, 1503, 1625, 1714 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Smill History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Smill Spelling Variations

Spelling and translation were not standardized practices until the last few centuries. Spelling variations are extremely common among early Scottish names. Smill has been spelled Small, Smalle, Smal and others.

Early Notables of the Smill family

Another 50 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Smill Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Smill family to Ireland

Some of the Smill family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Smill family

Settlers from Scotland put down roots in communities all along the east coast of North America. Some moved north from the American colonies to Canada as United Empire Loyalists during the American War of Independence. As Clan societies and highland games started in North America in the 20th century many Scots rediscovered parts of their heritage. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Smill were among those contributors: Edward and Francis Small, who settled in Maine in 1620; the same year as the "Mayflower"; Elizabeth Small, who settled in Virginia in 1639; Henry Small, who settled in Virginia in 1636.