| ![Show Contents]() Smead Surname History
The Smead history begins in Cornwall, a rugged coastal region in southwestern England. Quite distinct from Devon, the adjoining county, Cornwall had its own spoken language until the late 18th century. The Smead history began here. The manner in which hereditary surnames arose is interesting. Local surnames were derived from where the original bearer lived, was born, or held land. Unlike most Celtic peoples, who favored patronymic names, the Cornish predominantly used local surnames. The Smead family originally lived at the village of Smeeth, in the county of Kent. Early Origins of the Smead familyThe surname Smead was first found in Cornwall, where they held a family seat during the Middle Ages. Early History of the Smead familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Smead research. Another 110 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1202, 1275, 1279, 1573 and 1746 are included under the topic Early Smead History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Smead Spelling VariationsCornish surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. The frequent changes in surnames are due to the fact that the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules. The official court languages, which were Latin and French, were also influential on the spelling of a surname. Since the spelling of surnames was rarely consistent in medieval times, and scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings of their surname in the ancient chronicles. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into England, which accelerated and accentuated the alterations to the spelling of various surnames. Lastly, spelling variations often resulted from the linguistic differences between the people of Cornwall and the rest of England. The Cornish spoke a unique Brythonic Celtic language which was first recorded in written documents during the 10th century. However, they became increasingly Anglicized, and Cornish became extinct as a spoken language in 1777, although it has been revived by Cornish patriots in the modern era. The name has been spelled Smeed, Smead, Smee, Smeeth, Smethe, Smeath, Smye and many more. Early Notables of the Smead familyMore information is included under the topic Early Smead Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Smead RankingIn the United States, the name Smead is the 15,660th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1  Migration of the Smead family to Ireland
Some of the Smead family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 33 words (2 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Smead migration to the United States | + |
Early records show that people bearing the name Smead arrived in North America quite early:
Smead Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Mr. Smead of Essex who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet 2
- Mrs. Judith Smead of Essex who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet 2
- Mr. William Smead of Essex who arrived in Salem, Massachusetts in 1630 aboard the ship "Ambrose" as part of the Winthrop Fleet 2
- William Smead, who landed in Dorchester, Massachusetts in 1658 3
Smead Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Mary S. Smead, aged 26, who landed in America, in 1895
Smead Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Delia Smead, aged 68, who settled in America, in 1905
- Edna Smead, aged 19, who immigrated to the United States, in 1906
- Mrs. A.D.B. Smead, who landed in America, in 1906
- A.D.B. Smead, who immigrated to the United States, in 1906
- Rose Smead, who settled in America, in 1910
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Contemporary Notables of the name Smead (post 1700) | + |
- William L. Smead, American politician, Member of Montana State Senate 6th District, 1895-96 4
- C. F. Smead, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Ohio, 1856 4
- Benjamin Smead, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Steuben County, 1837 4
- Smead Powell Jolley (1902-1991), American outfielder in Major League baseball
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved January 6th 2023 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
- 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)
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 20) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
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Smead migration to the United States 
England
Ireland
