Smurthwaite History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Early Origins of the Smurthwaite family

The surname Smurthwaite was first found in Cheshire at Brereton, with Smethwick, a parish, in the union of Congleton, hundred of Northwich. "The church, a stately structure in the later style of English architecture, with a roof of carved oak, was formerly a chapel of ease to the church at Astbury, but was made parochial, and endowed with the tithes of Brereton cum Smethwick, in the reign of Henry VIII.; it contains monuments of Lord Brereton and the Smethwick family." 1

Smethwick, is a hamlet and manufacturing district, in the parish of Harborne, union of King's-Norton, in Staffordshire. 1 "The Staffordshire Smethwick was Smedewich (d for th, CH as k) in Domesday Book: it "lies on a plain at the foot of the Rowley Hills." 2

Another source has a different spelling for the Domesday Book entry, that of "Smedeuuich" which is not uncommon as entries were a translation for Latin and Middle English. This same source notes that the place name literally means "dwelling or building of the smiths." 3

Early History of the Smurthwaite family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Smurthwaite research. Another 83 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1400 is included under the topic Early Smurthwaite History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Smurthwaite Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Smethwick, Smithwick, Smithick and others.

Early Notables of the Smurthwaite family

More information is included under the topic Early Smurthwaite Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Smurthwaite family to Ireland

Some of the Smurthwaite family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 41 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Smurthwaite migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Smurthwaite Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Alfred Smurthwaite, aged 28, who landed in America, in 1894

Smurthwaite Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Elizabeth Smurthwaite, aged 49, who landed in America from Durham, England, in 1908
George Smurthwaite, aged 53, who settled in America from Durham, England, in 1908
George William Smurthwaite, aged 21, who immigrated to the United States from Sunderland, England, in 1914
Frances Yaks Smurthwaite, aged 42, who immigrated to the United States from W. Hartlepool, England, in 1915
Henry Smurthwaite, aged 37, who landed in America from London, England, in 1918
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Smurthwaite (post 1700) +

Gerard James "Ged" Smurthwaite, birth name of James Gerard, American actor and producer, known for Lapsus (2013), Rugbystar (2007) and Grand Star (2007)
Thomas Smurthwaite, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Circuit Judge in Michigan 19th Circuit, 1899, 1917; Candidate for Presidential Elector for Michigan, 1928 4
H. H. Smurthwaite, American Republican politician, Mayor of Marland Heights, West Virginia, 1941-45 4
C. B. Smurthwaite, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Utah, 1944 4
Norman Smurthwaite (b. 1960), English businessman and former football club chairman from Coventry
James Smurthwaite (1916-1989), English first class cricketer who played seven matches for Yorkshire County Cricket Club in 1938 and 1939
Kate Smurthwaite (b. 1975), British comedian and political activist who has appeared on British television and radio, known for her work on The Squeakies (2014), Monster (2010) and The Revolution Will Be Televised ... Best of Series 1-3 (2015)

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 2) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html