RootsChat.Com

General => The Common Room => Topic started by: JMB1943 on Monday 14 August 23 15:35 BST (UK)

Title: Percentage of “Smith” surname in 1911
Post by: JMB1943 on Monday 14 August 23 15:35 BST (UK)
We know that “Smith” is the most common surname in England.

For a specific research purpose, I am trying to determine just what % of the population it was in the 1911 Census of Eng. & Wales,

a) in England alone,

b) in Wales alone,

c) in England & Wales together.

Are these data published somewhere that I have yet to locate?

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Regards,
JMB

Title: Re: Percentage of “Smith” surname in 1911
Post by: ShaunJ on Monday 14 August 23 15:49 BST (UK)
You can work it out.

In the 1911 census there were 34,043,076 people in England and 2,032,193 in Wales.

Doing exact searches for Smith (not Smyth or Smythe) in various services brings up broadly similar results:

Ancestry: England 511,488 Wales 16,545
FindMyPast: England 501,002 Wales 16,326
The Genealogist: England and Wales together 519,788
Title: Re: Percentage of “Smith” surname in 1911
Post by: JMB1943 on Monday 14 August 23 16:05 BST (UK)
ShaunJ,

You replied almost before I had posted—-many thanks!

Since “Jones” is the quintessential Welsh surname, would you care to repeat the exercise?

My last request for now—-honest!

If I had a sub. to any of the services I would do it for myself.

Regards,
JMB
Title: Re: Percentage of “Smith” surname in 1911
Post by: ShaunJ on Monday 14 August 23 16:22 BST (UK)
Jones:

Ancestry: England 234236 Wales 212579
FindMyPast: England 233238 Wales 211372
Genealogist: E&W 438992
Title: Re: Percentage of “Smith” surname in 1911
Post by: JMB1943 on Monday 14 August 23 16:56 BST (UK)
ShaunJ,

You are both a scholar & a gentleman!

Again, many thanks for your help.

Regards,
JMB
Title: Re: Percentage of “Smith” surname in 1911
Post by: SMJ on Tuesday 15 August 23 22:16 BST (UK)
You could also try https://your-family-history.com (https://your-family-history.com) where someone has done the work for you.
Title: Re: Percentage of “Smith” surname in 1911
Post by: JMB1943 on Wednesday 16 August 23 00:02 BST (UK)
SMJ,

Thanks for that very useful site, I have it safely bookmarked!

Regards,

JMB