Surname Smythe - Meaning and Origin
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Smythe: What does the surname Smythe mean?
The surname Smythe is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is a variant spelling of the surname Smith. It is derived from the Old English word "smið", meaning "smith" or "metalworker", a term referring to blacksmiths or other workers in metal. Historically, surnames often reflected an individual's occupation, and so "Smythe" or "Smith" would likely have been adopted by those who worked as blacksmiths or in similar roles. It can also represent someone who lived near a smithy. The addition of a "y" in Smythe is a phonetic spelling reflecting a regional variation in the pronunciation of the word. Despite its occupational ties, the surname became one of the most recorded surnames from the Middle Ages onwards, given the essential role of a blacksmith in every village and town. It is now widespread throughout the English-speaking world. In England, the name Smythe is most common in the southern and eastern regions.
Order DNA origin analysisSmythe: Where does the name Smythe come from?
The surname Smythe is most commonly found in the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, and Australia. Specifically in the UK, Smythe is most popular in England, followed by Scotland, Wales, and then Northern Ireland. This is due to its etymology, being a nickname for Smith which was derived from the Old English smeþe, meaning “smiter” or “one who works with a hammer”.
In the United States, the surname is most common in the western states of California, Utah, and Arizona. In Canada, it is most common in British Columbia and Ontario. Lastly, the surname is increasingly more common in the Australian states of New South Wales and Victoria.
The ancestry of those possessing the surname Smythe can trace its origin to the medieval era in Scotland, where the name was first recorded in 1275. However, there is also evidence that suggests the smithe variant was in use as early as 1086 in London, England. Consequently, it is not known which was the original spelling of the name.
In modern times, the surname Smythe is quite common, so chances are if someone is looking for an individual with the surname, they will have some success.
Variations of the surname Smythe
The surname Smythe is an English surname belonging to an old Anglo-Saxon surname, which means ‘of the Smith family’. The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the name Smythe include Smith, Smit, Smithe, Smythe, Smithe, Smithson, Smithers, Smitheman, Smitherman, Smytherman, and Smithersone.
The Smith surname is the most recognized form of this name and is derived from the old English word ‘smyte’, which means ‘to smite, or strike with a weapon or tool’. In the Middle Ages, Smiths were highly prized due to their importance in making weapons for warfare. The Smith is the most common of the Smythe variants and is found in many countries throughout the world.
The Smit and Smithe variants are more uncommon and are an anglicized variation of the Dutch smet and German smid which were the names of people who worked with metal. The Smit spelling of the name is most common in the Netherlands and the Smithe spelling is most commonly found in England and Scotland.
The other variants of the name include Smithson, Smithers, Smitheman, Smitherman, Smytherman, and Smithersone. These names are all derived from Smith but have slightly different spellings and meanings. Smithson means ‘son of Smith’, Smithers is an occupational surname meaning ‘maker of physical objects’, Smitheman and Smitherman mean ‘a man who works with metals’, Smytherman is an anglicized form of the Dutch and German names, and Smithersone is an occupational surname meaning ‘one who makes objects’.
Overall, the surname Smythe and its variants like Smith, Smit and Smithe have been around for centuries and are found in many countries throughout the world, with Smith being the most common.
Famous people with the name Smythe
- Sir John Smythe: an English politician who served as Governor of the Virginia Company of London from 1609 to 1620.
- Robert Smythe: originally a Victorian photographer who later became a painter of Victorian landscapes.
- William Smythe: a renowned 18th century English bookseller and publishing magnate.
- Sir Sidney John Smythe: a British First World War soldier and recipient of the Victoria Cross.
- William Henry Smythe: a British naturalist and explorer who published several accounts of his travels.
- Henry Guy Smythe: an early 20th century American diplomat and journalist who served as Secretary of State for the Southeastern United States.
- Sir Francis Edwin Smythe: a British colonial administrator who served as Governor of British Honduras and the Windward Islands.
- Randolph Smythe: an English cabinetmaker in the late 18th and 19th centuries who designed and constructed popular furniture pieces.
- Edmund Smythe: a clergyman and missionary who served Anglican churches around Australia in the 19th century.
- George Smythe: a Canadian industrialist who founded several key industrial companies in Toronto during the 19th century.