Genealogical fact sheets about tennessee counties maury. The name smyth is the almost invariable spelling in early rolls, so that it cannot exactly be styled a modern affection. In the new world he soon became john smith and migrated to the western slopes of the carolina appalachians and raised a family of eleven children, six boys and five girls. Smith is an occupational surname the smith common to every village in england, north, south, east and west. Enter your last name to learn its meaning and origin. 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. How are you supposed to trace your familys history if the names keep changing from generation to generation. Surname distribution maps genealogy familysearch wiki. 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. If you are a family history enthusiast then you will want to subscribe using the box below. Smith surname 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. A famous bearer was the scottish economist adam smith 17231790. According to colonial families of america, volume 1 by frances m.
Not smith and jones rare british surnames on the cusp of extinction. This was about 15% of all the recorded smiths in the uk. Ontario had the highest population of smith families in 1911. John smith has become a generic name for the average man.
Smith is the most common family name surname in the united kingdom, australia and the united. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations. 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. There are already over 5,000 users and over 5,000 genealogy profiles with the smith surname on geni. I have ancestors kerbyjones from smith county in the 1800s. 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. It is a craft that was practiced in all countries, making the surname and its derivations the most common. William juckers smith family history book smith, velma on. This web page shows only a small excerpt of our smith research. The meaning, origin and history of the given name smith names. It is the most common surname in most of the englishspeaking world.
Sometimes it is possible to guess where a surname originated through surname distribution maps. Smith authors with the most common surname in the u. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household. Smiths from derbyshire to the coal mines of the northeast. In 1911 there were 27,695 smith families living in ontario. Metalworking was one of the earliest occupations for which specialist skills were required, and its importance ensured that this term and its equivalents were perhaps the most widespread of all occupational surnames in europe. This surname probably originated with smith one who works metals and is of old english origin. The smith a family name was found in the usa in 1920. We hope you will participate on the smith forums, it is a great place to find or post information on smith genealogy and is completely free to participate. Research smith in the surnames forums on, the new genforum. This was about 20% of all the recorded smiths in the usa. Meaning, origin and history of the name smith behind the. Meaning, origin and history of the surname smith behind the. From whence comes smith, all be he knight or squire, but from the smith that forgeth at the fire.
The name originally derives from smitan, the anglo saxon term meaning to smite. Find the meaning, history and origin of surnames, also called last names or family names, as well as famous bearers and usage statistics. The surname smith is particularly prevalent among those of english, scottish and irish descent. Means metalworker, blacksmith from old english smi. Family search tips and surname origins to get five guides that will help you unpuzzle the origins, meanings and clues within your family names. Searching for surnames by j titford countryside books, 2002. The most smith families were found in the usa in 1880. Not smith and jones rare british surnames on the cusp of. The meaning and history of surnames behind the name. Smith family genealogy my genealogy hound home page. In 1920 there was 1 smith a family living in illinois. Welcome to the smith family page at surname finder, a service of genealogy today. Other instances appear in genealogical resource searches, but associated with the general population.
It is derived from the old english word smid, probably derived form smitan, which meant to strike with a hammer. Discover the meaning and history behind your last name your last name gives you a sense of identity and helps you discover who you are and where you come from. Our editors have compiled this checklist of genealogical resources, combining links to commercial databases along with usercontributed information and web sites for the smith surname. Media in category smith surname the following 48 files are in this category, out of 48 total. Im trying to find out if the history book is wrong or if. Meaning of smith last name surname family name smith. The surname smith was first found in northern england and scotland, where they held a family seat from ancient times.
In addition to our database we also curate the most interesting genealogy and family history stories from around the web into our biweekly newsletter. We have collected some of the best resources from across the web to do research on smith history, smith ancestory, and smith family connections. Smithe is a rare surname related to the common surname smith. Other surnames mentioned within a biography are not included in these lists of surnames. Explore smith genealogy and family history in the worlds largest family tree. Learn about the history of this surname and heraldry from our database and. This surname is in the top 162,000 names in the us census from 2010. This was 100% of all the recorded smith as in the usa. 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. The word is derived from the anglosaxon smitan, to smite or strike. This was about 47% of all the recorded smith s in canada.
The surname smith was first found in durham, in present day northumbria north eastern england where an olde english version of the name is cited in circa. Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the smith a surname lived. 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. Among notable people sharing this surname is william smithe.
These maps graphically display locations where surnames occurred at different periods in time. In 1891 there were 60,270 smith families living in london. Schmidt is a common german occupational surname derived from the german word schmied meaning blacksmith andor metalworker. We are a business venture established to provide you with a fascinating range of high quality, surname history scrolls. Yet the name is far from generic and has a rich and complicated history.
You can see how smith a families moved over time by selecting different census years. This name appears in the records from the 1066 domesday book onwards. Allaben genealogical company, 1909, the oldest surname is possibly smith. The name was originally given to a metalworker the blacksmith. What does smith mean smith means one who worked with metal. Birth, death and marriage records for the smith family history. Birth, death and marriage records are often the best method of making the links to the smith genealogy that will form part of your family tree. This was about 47% of all the recorded smiths in canada. Please keep in mind that this is a list of only the primary biography surnames. It is the most common surname in the united states, australia, and the united kingdom, there being over three million smiths in the united states and five.
Meaning, origin and history of the surname smith behind. This surname is the german equivalent of smith in the englishspeaking world. Bishop nutts book serves as an excellent vehicle for doing that. Illinois had the highest population of smith a families in 1920. This page has a lot of good information concerning smith c. New york had the highest population of smith families in 1840. For, since the birth of time, throughout all ages and nations, has the craft of the smith been held in repute by the people. Check out house of names to investigate the origins of the smith surname or get a copy of the smith family crest a great gift idea. 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. The smith family name was found in the usa, the uk, canada, and scotland between 1840 and 1920. This is the most frequent of all american surnames.
His son, my grt grt grandfather richard marshall kerby fought for the confederacy and shortly after married ruth caron catherine jones. It is a craft that was practiced in all countries, making the surname and its derivations the most common of all surnames. 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. From an english surname meaning metal worker, blacksmith, derived from old english smitan to smite, to hit. This strategy provides genealogists with a starting point for research in the birth country, when that information cannot be discovered through sources. University of nottingham, cambridge university, scottish clans, open book. The family surname history of smith is of scottish origins.
Although records vary from country to country, they are normally the most formal record of a persons relations. In 1840 there were 7,086 smith families living in new york. History of the surname is quite hard to pin down but there is a knited crest. There are 2442977 smith records listed in the 2010 us census, and it is the number 1 ranked name.
England 18421887 william smithe, emigrated to canada. This was about 15% of all the recorded smith s in the uk. A book s total score is based on multiple factors, including the number of people who have voted for it and how highly those voters ranked the book. Smith family history johann schmidt was born in germany and migrated west due primarily to religious upheaval. Recorded in the spellings of smith, smithe, smythe, and the patronymics smiths, and smithson, this is the most popular surname in. Browse for all the origins, histories, and meanings of smith and almost 2,000,000 other surnames. This section makes it possible to view all the biographies currently available for the smith family surname. This was about 20% of all the recorded smith s in the usa. Genealogy queries by surname smith looking for family history. Adam smith, famous for his book the wealth of nations, was born in. Pussmaid last appeared in the severnside telephone book. Smith has long been the most common surname in both the united states and great britain. Because of its origins, there are smiths everywhere in scotland, although the earliest recorded instance of its use as a surname is in aberdeen in 98.
Surnames can reveal much about your family history, but they can also be a. The meaning and history of surnames behind the name names. Smith family of joseph smith surs10 book smith genealogy of micah pearce smith and others 6101266 fiche smith john george smith, sr. So, im trying to find out if the history book is wrong or if. Smith is in fact the leading surname in terms of numbers in both england and america. His approach is not exclusively or narrowly genealogical. Rikers islands role in ny correction history warrants our providing material on its precorrection background that is so bound up with rikers family history. Smith genealogy, smith family history geni family tree. The most common of all surnames, and might of itself furnish matter enough for a volume. Apr 26, 2011 not smith and jones rare british surnames on the cusp of extinction. London had the highest population of smith families in 1891. Some of the family moved to mount thoydon in essex. Smith coat of arms smith family crest the surname of smith was derived from. Occupational surnames linked to common professions such as smith and baker enjoyed a natural headstart when last names first.
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