The name originally derives from smio or smip, the old english term meaning one who works in metal, related to the word smitan, the. An example of this was the common irish surname mac gabhann, which meant son of a smith. Henry smith, born in kentucky, arrived in texas in 1817, and became the leader of the proindependence party. It is the most common surname in most of the englishspeaking world. However, many people have taken the surname smith for a variety of reasons see smith history so having the surname. The origins of the surname smith can be traced back to the mists of time when man discovered how to extract precious metals from ores and. Linkpendium s goal is to index every genealogy, geneology. As metal worker was such a common and important profession in medieval times, this name and its cognates are extremely widespread throughout the british isles and europe. When you find a useful new resource, go to the right linkpendium page and click on the add your favorite websites to this page link. Here youll find current best sellers in books, new releases in books, deals in books, kindle ebooks, audible audiobooks, and so much more. You can see how aitken smith families moved over time by selecting different census years.
The thomas genealogy and family tree page surname finder at. James clinch smith descendant of john bull smith, of saint james, died in the sinking of the titanic mr james clinch smith, 56, was born on 3 april 1856. Meaning of smith last name surname family name smith. This was about 20% of all the recorded smith s in the usa. Meaning, origin and history of the surname smith behind the. The archive includes histories of families, county and local histories, howto books on genealogy, genealogy. New york had the highest population of smith families in 1840. Smith family genealogy my genealogy hound home page.
A free guide to help you discover thomas ancestors in online databases, funeral cards, surname histories, census records, war ration books, naturalization petitions, and message boards conveniently organized into a printable surname checklist. Derived from the anglosaxon smitan, meaning to smite or strike, smith and its derivations are an occupational name for a man who works with metal smith or blacksmith, one of the earliest jobs for. It is particularly prevalent among those of english descent,2 the name being mainly english itself, but has often been taken by nonenglish natives or immigrants to the above countries in order to blend into. The surname smith was first found in durham, in present day northumbria northeastern england where an olde english version of the name is cited in circa 975, almost 100 years before the normans. When you find a useful new resource, go to the right linkpendium. In 1861 there was 1 aitken smith family living in lanarkshire.
The county seat of government is located in carthage also, the county government website is unknown. However, he lost out to sam houston and died in a mining camp in california. A free guide to help you discover smith ancestors in online databases, funeral cards, surname histories, census records, war ration books, naturalization petitions, and message boards conveniently. Smith was already a common name by the 1500s in britain and many who emigrated to ireland brought the name with them. This was 100% of all the recorded aitken smith s in scotland.
The archive includes histories of families, county and local histories, howto books on genealogy, genealogy magazines and periodicals including some international, medieval books including histories and pedigrees, and gazetteers. Surnames can reveal much about your family history, but they can also be a. The aitken smith family name was found in scotland in 1861. Some of the family moved to mount thoydon in essex. The name originally derives from smio or smip, the old english term meaning one who works in metal, related to the word smitan, the old english form of smite, which also meant strike as in early 17th century biblical english. Many scottish who later emigrated to ireland also brought this surname with. Uncover the smith surname history for the english origin. A resident of st james, long island, new york, mr smith boarded the titanic at cherbourg as a first class passenger 17764. The surname smith is a common surname in the united kingdom, the united states, canada, and other english speaking countries. Early origins of the smith family the surname smith was first found in northern england and scotland, where they held a family seat from ancient times. Smith is the most common family name surname in the united kingdom, australia and the united. Another 240 words 17 lines of text covering the years 1853, 1620, 1668, 1660, 1665, 1720, 1699 and are included under the topic early smith history in all our pdf extended history products and printed products wherever possible. As a legacy, family surname searches which are given free to us online, last a lifetime and beyond. This was about 15% of all the recorded smith s in the uk.
The name originally derives from smitan, the anglo saxon term meaning to smite. Other surnames mentioned within a biography are not included in these lists of surnames. This web page shows only a small excerpt of our smith research. And i might go further afield and trace out the history of smithcraft from the days of tubalcainexpatiate upon the labours of vulcan, of icarus, of wayland smith, and of st. Willis coat of arms willis family crest this surname willis was a. The most smith families were found in the usa in 1880. The old english word smip comes from the protogermanic word smi. Browse for all the origins, histories, and meanings of smith and almost 2,000,000 other surnames. As a small child, he worked in the fields pulling turnips alongside his mother. Bordering counties are macon county, jackson county, putnam county, dekalb county, williamson county and trousdale county. The family history archive is a collection of published genealogy and family history books. He was illiterate as a child because of his labors.
Dec 14, 2012 smith was already a common name by the 1500s in britain and many who emigrated to ireland brought the name with them. Enter your last name to learn its meaning and origin. Mitchell is the 44th most popular surname in the united states. In the 1842 novel zanoni, lytton articulates a variation on this by suggesting people changing surname from smith to smithe may well be trying to increase the stature of their surname by approaching ever so slightly a purported surname of the god apollo. Many large databases are available to search covering from births, deaths and marriages. This was about 47% of all the recorded smith s in canada. A famous bearer was the scottish economist adam smith 17231790. Others outside that area resisted, but the spelling became anglicized and they became macmcgowans. This is the most frequent of all american surnames. Ancestry is a major source of information if you are filling out your smith family tree. Means metalworker, blacksmith from old english smi.
There is more to smith family history than the origin of your surname. Many printed county history books are available for purchase on our hearthstone legacy publications website. Interestingly, the third most popular surname in modern germany is meier, which means mayor. It is derived from the old english word smid, probably derived form smitan, which meant to strike with a hammer. Smith is the most common family name surname in the united kingdom, australia and the united states,1 representing more than 1 out of every 100 persons in each of these countries. Smith last name meaning search the free name dictionary. Smith surname meaning, origin, etymology and distribution in. What your german surname says about your ancestors. Smith was an important name in early texas history. Please keep in mind that this is a list of only the primary biography surnames. The name was originally given to a metalworker the blacksmith. Long island surnames has been an active resource for the long island family history community since 1993. It is the most prevalent surname in the united kingdom, australia, canada, new zealand and the united states, and the fifth most common surname in the republic of ireland.
The smith family name was found in the usa, the uk, canada, and scotland between 1840 and 1920. The mitchell surname is a common form or corruption of the given name michael, meaning big or one who is like god. Familysearch digital library browse collections from. The surname smith is particularly prevalent among those of english, scottish and irish descent, but is also a common surname among african americans, which can be attributed either to. In 1891 there were 60,270 smith families living in.
Thus, smith is a classic example of a polygenetic surname that was developed in a number of different locations and adopted by various families independently. Searching for surnames by j titford countryside books, 2002. The books homepage helps you explore earths biggest bookstore without ever leaving the comfort of your couch. Just begin your family tree with what you already know. Mitchell is the 44th most popular surname in the united states and the 15th most common surname in scotland. Linkpendiums goal is to index every genealogy, geneology. Of pre 7th century anglosaxon origins, it derives from the word smitan meaning to smite and as such is believed to have described not a worker in iron, but a.
Lanarkshire had the highest population of aitken smith families in 1861. Smith authors with the most common surname in the u. In 1840 there were 7,086 smith families living in new york. Some mac gabhanns, living in county cavan, had their name translated to smith and it remained that way. Derived from the anglosaxon smitan, meaning to smite or strike, smith and its derivations are an occupational name for a man who works with metal smith or blacksmith, one of the earliest jobs for which specialist skills were required. Many large databases are available to search covering from births, deaths and marriages, military records, census records and immigration records with many other smaller collections too. In 1911 there were 27,695 smith families living in. The second most common surname in modern germany is schmidt, which is the german version of smith, meaning being a smith of any kind blacksmith, silversmith, goldsmith, coppersmith, etc. Ontario had the highest population of smith families in 1911. Mar 19, 2019 the mitchell surname is a common form or corruption of the given name michael, meaning big or one who is like god. In the 1842 novel zanoni, lytton articulates a variation on this by suggesting people changing surname from smith to smithe may well be trying to increase the stature of their surname by approaching ever. This surname probably originated with smith one who works metals and is of old english origin. Through the help of hundreds of long time regional researchers we have compiled a searchable. It is a craft that was practiced in all countries, making the surname and its derivations the most common.
In 1911 there were 27,695 smith families living in ontario. Browse for all the origins, histories, and meanings of smith and almost. London had the highest population of smith families in 1891. Surname search guide provides a single source for finding your family tree and researching your family names, meaning of surnames origin and family descent. Some of these are original books from the 1880s while others are reprints. This section makes it possible to view all the biographies currently available for the smith family surname. What does smith mean smith means one who worked with metal.
It is a craft that was practiced in all countries, making the surname and its derivations the most common of all surnames. Entire books have been written about the great english name of smith. A black shield with three silver crosses and a silver chevron engrailed on which there are three. Jf ptak science books post 1987 i found these extraordinary magic squares lurking in the. Here youll find current best sellers in books, new. A free guide to help you discover smith ancestors in online databases, funeral cards, surname histories, census records, war ration books, naturalization petitions, and message boards conveniently organized into a printable surname checklist. English german, irish, dutch also available smith origin. Smith coat of arms, family crest free image to view smith name origin.
Smith wigglesworth was born on 8 june 1859 in menston, yorkshire, england, to an impoverished family. Smith is an englishlanguage surname originating in the british isles. Alexander mccall smith, british writer, creator of a series of novels about precious ramotswe, a fictional female detective in botswana. In 1891 there were 60,270 smith families living in london. Many scottish who later emigrated to ireland also brought this. In addition, there also some modern day county history books available. Recorded in the spellings of smith, smithe, smythe, and the patronymics smiths, and smithson, this is the most popular surname in the english speaking world by a considerable margin. The surname smith was first found in durham, in present day northumbria northeastern england where an olde english version of the name is cited in circa 975, almost 100 years before the normans would invade this part of england.