Surname Smither - Meaning and Origin
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Smither: What does the surname Smither mean?
The last name Smither is derived from an old English word meaning one who works with metal, and is believed to be an occupational name. The majority of people with this name are thought to have originally been blacksmiths or metalworkers. It is also possible that 'smite' (to strike) could have been part of the word's origin, since it was believed that a smith's job was to beat metals into shape.
The Smithers family is steeped in history, with records dating back to the 11th century. By the 19th century, there were numerous Smiths families across the UK and America, with many taking up various trade professions and occupation.
One of the most famous people with the last name Smither is Sir George Smithers, an English physician, surgeon, and medical researcher. He completed a number of expeditions in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, which documented his discoveries and findings.
The last name Smither is still common today, and there are now many people across the world with this iconic surname. Whether they are merchants, blacksmiths, surgeons, or any other profession, the name Smithers is certain to stand the test of time and will live on for generations to come.
Order DNA origin analysisSmither: Where does the name Smither come from?
The last name Smither is an English surname believed to be derived from the Old English term “smithere”, which is a verb meaning “to hammer out” or “forge”. It was most commonly associated with blacksmiths in medieval Britain, thus likely served as an occupational surname.
Today, the last name Smither is still somewhat common in primarily English-speaking countries. The most heavily concentrated areas appear to be in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada. In these countries, the last name Smither ranked around 250,000 in the 2020 US Census and similarly in other countries.
The distribution of the last name Smither is especially notable in the United States. According to the 2020 US Census, it was most frequently located in the Southern region of the country - Alabama had the highest concentration of the name, followed closely by Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Mississippi.
In summary, the last name Smither is still somewhat common in English-speaking countries today, with its highest concentrations appearing in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada. It is particularly common in the Southern region of the United States, with Alabama having the highest density of the last name.
Variations of the surname Smither
The surname Smither is an Anglo-Saxon and medieval English variation of Smith. It is derived from the Olde English 'smitan' meaning "to smite or shapne."
The Smither surname has several variants and spelling including Smid, Smithers, Smitt, Smethurst, Smit, Smitherson, Smithen, Smitherman and Smitherson.
In some cases, the surname has been modified over time to other forms such as Smedley, Smellie and Smalley.
The most common spelling of the surname is Smither, however it can also be found spelled as Smithere, Smethers and Smithero.
Other spellings and variations of the surname may continue to exist, as many families chose to keep records of family trees in the form of books or memorials, making it possible to trace the origin of certain surname spellings.
In addition to the regular spelling of the name Smither, there are also several surnames derived from its Anglo-Saxon origins, including Smithery, Smitham, Smuthers and Smothers.
In some cases, the variants of the Smither surname have been adopted to fit local languages or dialects, such as Schmieder in German, Smiters in Dutch, Schnieder in Danish or Smidt in Swedish. These variants may have then been simplified or Anglicized as part of immigration over time.
With such a wide variety of spellings, it is important to remember to check a variety of spellings when researching the origin of the Smither surname.
Famous people with the name Smither
- Dave Smithers: English soccer player and manager
- Elaine Smithers: English actress
- Heather Smithers: British singer and songwriter
- Tom Smithers: British sprint athlete
- Rachel Smithers: Canadian public speaker and entrepreneur
- Neal Smithers: admitted to Harvard from the US
- Diana Smithers: British multi-instrumentalist
- Peter Smithers: Governor General of Canada
- Gary Smithers: American television producer
- Victoria Smithers: Australian Olympic swimmer
- Mike Smithers: Major League Baseball pitcher
- Lisa Smithers: British novelist and journalist
- William Smithers: American actor
- Amelia Smithers: English Astronomer Royal
- Laura Smither: American model
- Richard Smither: barrister at the English Bar
- Thomas Smithers: British playwright
- Paul Smithers: American journalist
- Hilary Smithers: British Human Rights Activist
- John Smithers: former Governor of the Bank of Ireland