This rare surname is now unique to the English-speaking world. It is of Jewish origin, found in the Dutch provinces from the mid-seventeenth century, as part of the Ashkenazi, or German Jewish, population. It was imported to Britain from Holland in 1844; the beginning of a period of large Jewish immigration, which commenced due to the end of civil discrimination. The family originally settled in London, before moving to Lancashire, from where they spread further afield. There are now around 150 Smajes living in Britain, concentrated in central England. Its unusual form comes from Holland, where 'y' in Jewish names was often substituted for 'j' on account of the Dutch pronunciation being 'je.' Other examples include Maijer, instead of Mayer. That the name did not change upon arrival suggests the family were literate. Instead the pronunciation has changed to the English phonetic.

The name originates from the Hebrew forename, Shmaya, or Shemaiah (שמעיה), which means 'heard by Yahweh.' Yahweh was one of scores of gods worshiped by the Canaanites, who inhabited what is now known as the Holy Land. Yahweh later became the sole god in the Judaic religion, and is the Jehova, or God, of the Christian Bible. Shemaiah is mentioned in the Bible, which gives him as a descendant of Adam and Eve. He was a prophet whose message from God stopped war between the kingdoms of Judah and Israel.Stolen from Fore-bears

As a surname it means, 'descendant of the one who is heard by God.' It can be found in its original form, Shmaya, predominately in small pockets in Israel.