Surname Smid - Meaning and Origin

Smid: What does the surname Smid mean?

The last name Smid is derived from the Middle Dutch word “smid”, which simply means “smith”. In other words, it is a surname derived from a trade or profession, in this case being a blacksmith. Back in the day when populations were small and many of the same names were used, names were adopted from trades and professions to better distinguish between individuals.

The term “smid” was commonly used in the Netherlands and Germany to refer to a blacksmith and was later adopted as a surname, most likely indicating that an individual’s family performed, or at least relied upon, the profession of blacksmithing. Today, the surname is still quite common, especially in the Netherlands.

In modern times, the Smid family name is often associated with strong characteristics such as craftsmanship, hard work, and the ability to create something out of nothing. This is because, historically, blacksmithing was essential to both the manual and agricultural labor of a community. Smiths were even seen as craftsmen and innovators whose work provided the foundation for a range of industries. This is why the Smid surname is often seen as a symbol of strength and resilience.

Smid: Where does the name Smid come from?

The last name Smid is common today primarily in Czech Republic, Slovakia, and parts of Germany. It is also common in other countries with large populations of Czech or Germanic descent, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and South Africa.

In Czech Republic and Slovakia, the last name Smid is one of the most common surnames, ranking 5th and 8th, respectively. There are currently over 130,000 people with the last name living in those two countries.

In Germany, the last name Smid is more common in the western and northern parts of the country. It ranks in the Top 400 surnames in Germany, with over 10,000 people having that last name.

In the rest of the world, specifically the United States, Canada, Australia, and South Africa, the last name Smid is not nearly as common. In the US, there are fewer than 5,000 people with the name, while in Canada the number is around 2,000. In Australia and South Africa, the last name is more unusual, with fewer than 1,000 people having it in both countries.

Overall, the last name Smid is quite common in certain areas of the world, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe, but still quite rare in other parts of the world.

Variations of the surname Smid

The surname Smid is a patronymic form of the masculine given name Smid, which is derived from the Dutch spelling of the German being ‘Schmidt’. In general, the surname Smid is found more often in the Netherlands, Denmark, and Sweden, while the spelling Schmidt is more commonly found in Germany.

Variants, spellings, and surnames of Smid can include:

• Smidt

• Schmid

• Schmidt

• Schmitt

• Smith

• Smitt

• Smyth

• Smithe

• Smidth

• Smits

• Smethurst

• Schmidth

• Smetts

• Smethurst

• Schmidtke

• Smithen

• Smeth

• Smythe

• Schmied

• Smidley

• Schmidl

• Smidl

• Schmedl

• Smidly

• Smidt.

The spelling and sound of the surname is altered in each country based on the alphabet and how it is pronounced. For example, the surname ‘Smid’ has become more popular in some countries, such as the Netherlands, as the phonetics of the 'd' are more common than the German 't' in other countries. This makes the name Smid more commonly used in these countries. Additionally, in some areas, the variant Schmedl has become more popular due to local dialects as the pronunciation is more gentle and uses simpler phonetics.

Famous people with the name Smid

• Stan Smidt, an American politician from Maryland.
• Pim Smid, a Dutch entrepreneur and investor.
• Willem Smid, a Dutch National Reformed theologian.
• Henk Smid, a Dutch sculptor and painter best known for his abstract sculptures.
• Jappe Smid, a Dutch visual artist and illustrator.
• Irv Smid, an experienced business executive and a major league baseball agent.
• Jan Smid, a Czechoslovakian artist and illustrator.
• Victor Smid, a prominent Estonian sculptor and musician.
• Maarten Smid, a Dutch former professional football player.
• Niko Smid, a Slovenian professional footballer.
• Robert Smid, a Slovak professional ice hockey player.
• Jiří Smid, a Czech figure skater and coach.
• Libor Smid, a Czech classical guitarist and composer.
• Zdeněk Smid, a prominent Czech technical writer.
• Dan Smidt, an American documentary filmmaker.
• Richard Smid, a Czech producer and songwriter.
• Pavel Smid, a renowned Czech concert flutist and orchestra leader.
• Tom Smid, a Hungarian former professional ice hockey player.
• Petr Smid, a Czech professional ice hockey player and coach.
• Miroslav Smid, a Czech professional ice hockey player.

Other surnames

SmidaSmidekSmidlSmidlovaSmidtSmietanaSmileSmileySmillzerSmiltzerSmilySmirnoffSmirnovSmirnovaSmirnovsSmirnowSmirnowaSmitSmithSmith-SligoSmitheSmithemanSmitherSmithermanSmithersSmitheySmithhartSmithlinSmiths