Smithe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland
Ireland

The name Smithe is from the ancient Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name was given to a person who was a metalworker (the blacksmith). It is derived from the Old English word smid, probably derived form "smitan," which meant "to strike with a hammer." As metal worker was such a common and important profession in Medieval times, this name and its cognates are extremely widespread throughout the British Isles and Europe. However, there is some debate as to why the occupation of blacksmith would lead to such a populous surname. One might expect that Farmer, also an occupational name, but with far more people involved in the profession in the Middle Ages, would today be a much more populous surname than Smith. It is probably a futile exercise to try to establish a single source for this amazing, monumentally prolific surname.

Early Origins of the Smithe family

The surname Smithe was first found in Durham, in present day Northumbria (North-Eastern England) where an Olde English version of the name is cited in circa 975, almost 100 years before the Normans would invade this part of England.

Some of the family moved to Mount Thoydon in Essex. "The church [of Mount Thoydon] is a handsome edifice, containing many fine monuments to the family of Smyth, among which is one to Sir Thomas Smyth, chancellor of the garter, and principal secretary of state, in the reigns of Edward VI. and Elizabeth." 1

"Wootton Hall [in Wooton-Wawen, Warwickshire] was early the seat of the Smythe family, of whom was Lord Carrington, who, at the battle of Edge-Hill, bravely redeemed the royal standard, as is recorded on his monument in Christ-Church, Oxford. Over the front entrance of the Hall are the arms, finely executed in relief, of Lord Carrington. " 1

"The extensive manor of Mitchell-Morton, which stretches into the parishes of Kilkhampton, Moorwinstow, and Jacobstow, in Cornwall, and Week St. Pancras in Devonshire, is generally denominated from this parish. This large manor belonged, about the year 1660, to the family of Smith." 2

Early History of the Smithe family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Smithe research. Another 94 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1100, 1279, 1559, 1568, 1608, 1611, 1616, 1617, 1621, 1631, 1640, 1644, 1649, 1650, 1652, 1653, 1655, 1657, 1658, 1661, 1662, 1663, 1665, 1675, 1679, 1681, 1691, 1696, 1699, 1701, 1717, 1720 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Smithe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Smithe Spelling Variations

Sound was what guided spelling in the essentially pre-literate Middle Ages, so one person's name was often recorded under several variations during a single lifetime. Also, before the advent of the printing press and the first dictionaries, the English language was not standardized. Therefore, spelling variations were common, even among the names of the most literate people. Known variations of the Smithe family name include Smith, Smyth, Smythe and others.

Early Notables of the Smithe family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Richard Smith (1568-1655), officially the Bishop of Chalcedon, the second Catholic bishop for England, Wales and Scotland after Catholicism was banned in England in 1559; John Smith (c. 1608-1657), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 to 1644, supported the Royalist cause in the English Civil War; John Smith (died 1663) English-born immigrant to the Massachusetts Bay Colony c. 1631, 3rd President of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (1649-1650), 6th President of Providence and Warwick (1652-1653); William Smyth (died 1658), Doctor of Divinity (DD), an...
Another 110 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Smithe Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Smithe family to Ireland

Some of the Smithe family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 88 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Smithe migration to the United States +

For political, religious, and economic reasons, thousands of English families boarded ships for Ireland, the Canadas, the America colonies, and many of smaller tropical colonies in the hope of finding better lives abroad. Although the passage on the cramped, dank ships caused many to arrive in the New World diseased and starving, those families that survived the trip often went on to make valuable contributions to those new societies to which they arrived. Investigation of the origins of family names on the North American continent has revealed that early immigrants bearing the name Smithe or a variant listed above:

Smithe Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Roger Smithe, who arrived in Virginia in 1630 3
Samuell Smithe, aged 32, who arrived in New England in 1634 3
Thomas Smithe, who arrived in New England in 1635 aboard the ship "James" 3

The Smithe Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Benigno Numine
Motto Translation: By Divine Providence.

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
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)