What is the origin of Smith?
Derived from the Anglo-Saxon 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.
Why is the last name Smith so common?
Fast forward to the 1600s, and the first settlers to New England, America were ‘Smiths’. Blake then explains how Native Americans adopted the name to become more Anglicized and slave owners gave the name “Smith” to African slaves. Now 20 per cent of all Smiths in the US today are black Americans.
Is Smith a common last name?
Smith is the most common last name in the United States, followed by Johnson, Miller, Jones, Williams, and Anderson, according to genealogy company Ancestry.com. … The name Smith was likely derived from blacksmiths.
How old is the last name Smith?
Early Origins of the Smith family
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 975, almost 100 years before the Normans would invade this part of England.
What clan does Smith belong to?
Clan Smith was also associated with Clan Macpherson and in the old days was one of of the allied clans under Clan Chattan. Although the Gaelic name for Smith is Gow, Gowan, or MacGowan, the anglicized form of the name has been used in Scotland since the twelfth century. Today Smith is the most common name in Scotland.
What is the Smith Crest?
The Smith family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland.
Is Smith a black last name?
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 black slaves having been given the surname of their masters, or to being an occupational name, as some southern American black people …
Is Smith a white name?
In 2000, there were 2.4 million Smiths, 1.9 million Johnsons, and 1.5 million Williamses in the U.S. Those were the top three names, in the same order, in the 1990 census as well. Census data tells us that 73 percent of Smiths are white,and 22 percent are black.
What are some good French last names?
Popular French Last Names
- Lavigne. Pronunciation: La-veen-ye. Meaning: Vine.
- Monet. Pronunciation: Mon-ay. …
- Blanchet. Pronunciation: Blan-shay. …
- Garnier. Pronunciation: Gar-nee-yay. …
- Moulin. Pronunciation: Moo-lan. …
- Toussaint. Pronunciation: Too-san. …
- Laurent. Pronunciation: Lor-onn. …
- Dupont. Pronunciation: Dew-pon.
Is Smith a gypsy name?
Common Gypsy names. You may have Gypsy ancestry if your family tree includes common Gypsy surnames such as Boswell, Buckland, Codona, Cooper, Doe, Lee, Gray (or Grey), Hearn, Heron, Hodgkins, Holland, Lee, Lovell, Loveridge, Smith, Wood and Young.
What is Smith in Irish?
Answer. Smith in Irish is Gabhann.
What’s another word for Smith?
What is another word for smith?
What’s the most common surname in the world?
Wang is a patronymic (ancestral) name that means “king” in Mandarin, and it’s shared by more than 92 million people in China, making it the most popular last name in the world.