Origin of the surname Smellie

This unusual and interesting name is a dialectal variant of a name of Scottish origin, although it is thought that it was introduced into Scotland by an Englishman from "Smalley" in Derbyshire. The name "Smalley" appears early in Scottish records in the form of one "Ricardus Smaley", a witness in the Glasgow Church Registers of circa 1280 - 1290. The placename means "narrow grove" or "wood", derived from the Olde English pre 7th Century "smael", meaning "narrow", and "leah", a grove or clearing in a wood.

"Smillie", or "Smiley" can also derive from a medieval nickname for someone of a cheerful disposition, from the Middle English word "smile", meaning "smile" or "grin". Examples of church recordings include Alexander Smelley at the church of St. Mary Somerset on April 12th 1574, Simon Smiley at St. Margarets, Westminster, on September 11th 1681, and Margaret Smellie, at St. Dunstans, Stepney, on October 5th 1648. An interesting mis-spelt recording is that of John Smallie, a passenger to the "Plantacon of New England" on March 15th 1631 in the reign of Charles 1st. The Coat of Arms granted in London in 1744 has a blue field, charged with a gold bend between a lion rampant in chief and a silver buckle in base. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Thomas Smelie, which was dated 1612, Glasgow, during the reign of King James V1 of Scotland and 1 of England, 1603 - 1625. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

The surname Smellie. Genealogy, origin, history, meaning, and significance

The history of the surname smellie is, like that of most surnames, a complex and fascinating journey to ancient times with the aim of unraveling the origin of smellie. The origin, the coat of arms or the different heraldic shields, and the bibliography in which the surname smellie is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation. Adhering to what we know about the way surnames originated, it is possible to offer a realistic explanation of the origins of smellie.

The surname Smellie around the world

It is common for surnames like smellie to become known in places far removed from their country or region of origin. Discover which ones. The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname smellie provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations.

History of Smellie

The historical journey of the surname smellie can be traced back to those who were the first bearers of smellie. For those like you, who are interested in the history hidden behind the surname smellie, it is essential to find all kinds of information, both direct and tangential, that helps to construct a solid narrative of how the birth and expansion of smellie developed. In the following lines, you will find everything we have been able to gather about the surname smellie.

You can visit us regularly to get more information about the origin of the surname smellie, as we frequently accept significant contributions from other individuals interested in heraldry and the history of surnames. We keep our website updated through our own research and also thanks to contributions from people like you, after verification; so if you have information about smellie and send it to us, we will update it on this website.

Notable Figures Named Smellie

Unfortunately, it's highly probable that not all smellies who performed notable deeds have been included in historical chronicles and records. Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname smellie were recorded by the chroniclers of the time. If you or someone you know bears the surname smellie, you could potentially build illustrious lineages through your efforts and virtues.

The surname Smellie and its bibliographic sources

It goes without saying that consulting bibliographic and documentary sources is essential when accessing information about the origins of the surname smellie. The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of smellie are recorded in a wide variety of sources and documents that are essential to know for better compilation. Accessing the archives of the town or towns where your ancestors were born and lived is, of course, a good way to trace the origins of smellie.

SOURCES

These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of smellie, and at the same time, of surnames in general.

Origin of Smellie