[3] The village is mentioned in the Domesday Book, along with Little Smeaton, with the land being tenanted by Ilbert of Lacey.

[4] In 1840, Earl Fitzwilliam donated land for the foundation of Kirk Smeaton CE J&I Primary School.

This derives from Old English words smiþ (in its genitive plural form smiþa) and tūn ('farm, estate'), and thus once meant 'smiths' farm'.

A footbridge links the two, providing both villages with walks to Brockadale Nature Reserve[7] and Wentbridge.

A railway from the Leeds–Doncaster line past Drax Power Station used to run close to the south of the village.