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Smithers History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Smithers History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The saga of the name Smithers follows a line reaching back through history to the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes in Britain. It was a name for someone who worked as a person who worked as a smith or smitty (blacksmith). 1 2 During the Middle Ages smiths were important for their skill in making horseshoes, ploughshares as well as swords, other weapons and armour. Occupational names that were derived from the common trades of the medieval era transcended European cultural and linguistic boundaries.

Early Origins of the Smithers family

The surname Smithers was first found in Warwickshire where John Smythiere was listed in the Assize Rolls for 1379. 3

Early History of the Smithers family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Smithers research. Another 39 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Smithers History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Smithers Spelling Variations

Before the last few hundred years, the English language had no fast system of spelling rules. For that reason, spelling variations are commonly found in early Anglo-Saxon surnames. Over the years, many variations of the name Smithers were recorded, including Smithers, Smithies, Smythies, Smither and others.

Early Notables of the Smithers family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

Smithers of Yorkshire

Smithers Ranking

In the United States, the name Smithers is the 5,522^nd most popular surname with an estimated 4,974 people with that name. 4

Smithers migration to the United States +

To escape oppression and starvation at that time, many English families left for the "open frontiers" of the New World with all its perceived opportunities. In droves people migrated to the many British colonies, those in North America in particular, paying high rates for passages in cramped, unsafe ships. Although many of the settlers did not make the long passage alive, those who did see the shores of North America perceived great opportunities before them. Many of the families that came from England went on to make essential contributions to the emerging nations of Canada and the United States. Research into various historical records revealed some of first members of the Smithers family emigrate to North America:

Smithers Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Christopher Smithers, who arrived in Maryland in 1666-1750 5

Smithers Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Christopher Smithers, who settled in Maryland in 1704
John Smithers, who landed in Georgia in 1738 5

Smithers Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

J L Smithers, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1851 5

Smithers migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Smithers Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mrs. Smithers, who landed in Canada in 1799

Smithers migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Smithers Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

John Smithers, English convict from Warwick, who was transported aboard the "Arab" on July 3, 1822, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 6
Mr. Richard Smithers, English convict who was convicted in Bristol, England for life, transported aboard the "Claudine" on 19th August 1829, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
Mr. William Smithers, English convict who was convicted in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Claudine" on 19th August 1829, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
John Smithers, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Caroline" in 1851 8
Samuel Smithers, aged 46, who arrived in South Australia in 1855 aboard the ship "Magdelana" 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Smithers migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Smithers Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Henry Smithers, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Cashmere" in 1851 10
George Smithers, aged 18, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Howrah" in 1874
Dr. Smithers, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Rangitiki" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 25th March 1875 11
Mrs. Smithers, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Rangitiki" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 25th March 1875 11

Contemporary Notables of the name Smithers (post 1700) +

William T. Smithers, American Republican politician, Secretary of State of Delaware, 1909-11 12
Nathaniel Barratt Smithers (1818-1896), American Republican politician, Secretary of State of Delaware, 1863; U.S. Representative from Delaware at-large, 1863-65; Member of Republican National Committee from Delaware, 1866-68 12
George F. Smithers, American politician, U.S. Consul in Chungking, 1896-99 12
Enoch J. Smithers, American politician, U.S. Consul in Smyrna, 1867-80; Chinkiang, 1880-84; Tientsin, 1884, 1886-89; Osaka, 1889-93; Hiogo, 1889-93; U.S. Charge d'Affaires to China, 1885 12
Clarence G. Smithers, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Virginia, 1904, 1912, 1916, 1924, 1928; U.S. Collector of Customs, 1909 12
Charles K. Smithers, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Virginia, 1948 12
Andrew Smithers, American Republican politician, Postmaster at Dover, Delaware, 1878-86 12
William Smithers (b. 1927), American actor, best known for his recurring role as Jeremy Wendell in the television series Dallas
Nathaniel Barratt Smithers (1818-1896), American lawyer and politician, Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Delaware (1863-1865)
Karin Jan Smithers (b. 1949), American former television and film actress, best known for playing Bailey Quarters on the television series WKRP in Cincinnati
... (Another 10 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Arab voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1822 with 155 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/arab/1822
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 18th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/claudine
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CAROLINE 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Caroline.gif
South Australian Register Wednesday 17th January 1855. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Magdelana 1855. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/magdalena1855.shtml
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 5th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 2) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html