Naesmyth History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Scotland
• England

Etymology of Naesmyth

The surname Naesmyth is thought to be an occupational name for a maker of knives or nails, deriving from the Old English "cnif," meaning "knife," or "noegel," meaning "nail" combined with "smith." 1

One source notes, the name is derived from "Nail-smith; but they bear two broken hammers in their Arms, as if the name were No smith !" 2

Naesmyth Coat of Arms Creation

In his autobiography, James Nasmyth, the engineer, tells that in the reign of James III. of Scotland the Earl of Douglas was a rebel, and crossed from England determined to resist the Royal power. He was met by the Earl of Angus, the Maxwells, the Johnstones, and the Scotts. In one of the encounters with them Douglas was victorious, and an ancestor of the Nasmyths, who fought for the King, took refuge in a village smithy. The smith offered him protection, dis-guised him as a hammerman with a leathern apron, and asked him to lend a hand at his work.

While thus at work, several of the Douglas followers entered the smithy. The disguised hammerman saw that they suspected him, and in his agitation struck a false blow with his sledgehammer and broke the shaft in two. On seeing this, one of the pursuers rushed at him, calling out, " Ye're nae smyth." The hammerman turned upon his assailant, and, wrenching a dagger from him, speedily overpowered him. The smith also helped to drive out the Douglas men. A party of the King's soldiers appeared, Nasymth rallied them, and turned defeat into victory. For this he got a grant of lands, and as armorial bearings he took a right hand with a dagger between two broken hammer shafts. The motto was, " Non arte sed marte " (Not by art but by war): Since then the motto has been reversed, and stands " Non marte sed arte," and instead of the broken hammer shafts there is the device of the famous Nasmyth steam hammer. 3

Early Origins of the Naesmyth family

Early History of the Naesmyth family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Naesmyth research. Another 129 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1400, 1552, 1579, 1619, 1626, 1630, 1684, 1720, 1730, 1740, 1741, 1758, 1760, 1764, 1765, 1767, 1771, 1778, 1779, 1797, 1808, 1820, 1840 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Naesmyth History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Naesmyth Spelling Variations

Scribes in Medieval Scotland spelled names by sound rather than any set of rules, so an enormous number of spelling variations exist in names of that era. Naesmyth has been spelled Naismith, Naysmith, Naesmyth, Nesmith, Nasmyth and others.

Early Notables of the Naesmyth family

John Nasmith or Naysmith (d. 1619?), Scottish "surgeon to James VI of Scotland and I of England, was second son of Michael Naesmith of Posso, Peeblesshire, and Elizabeth Baird. The family trace their descent to a stalwart knight, who while in attendance on Alexander III was unable to repair his armour, but so atoned for his lack of skill as a smith by his bravery in the fight that after its conclusion he was knighted by the king with the remark that, although ‘he was nae smith, he was a brave gentleman.’ Sir Michael, who was chamberlain to the Archbishop of...
Another 212 words (15 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Naesmyth Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Naesmyth family

The number of Strathclyde Clan families sailing for North America increased steadily as the persecution continued. In the colonies, they could find not only freedom from the iron hand of the English government, but land to settle on. The American War of Independence allowed many of these settlers to prove their independence, while some chose to go to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Scots played essential roles in the forging of both great nations. Among them: James Nesmith, who settled in New Hampshire in 1718; as well as John Nesmith, who settled in Maryland in 1747.