Smerdon History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Smerdon

What does the name Smerdon mean?

The name Smerdon comes from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It was a name for a person who was referred to as smeart which meant that the original bearer was quick and active. A broad and miscellaneous class of surnames, nickname surnames referred to a characteristic of the first person who used the name. They can describe the bearer's favored style of clothing, appearance, habits, or character. Nickname surnames were frequently the result of a spontaneous reaction to a particular occasion or event.

Early Origins of the Smerdon family

The surname Smerdon was first found in Suffolk, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Smerdon family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Smerdon research. Another 114 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1422, 1488, 1569, 1612, 1624 and 1652 are included under the topic Early Smerdon History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Smerdon Spelling Variations

Only recently has spelling become standardized in the English language. As the English language evolved in the Middle Ages, the spelling of names changed also. The name Smerdon has undergone many spelling variations, including Smart, Smert, Smarte, Smartt and others.

Early Notables of the Smerdon family

Another 33 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Smerdon Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Smerdon migration to Australia +

Smerdon Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. John Smerdon, English convict who was convicted in Devon, England for life, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 27th April 1833, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 1

Contemporary Notables of the name Smerdon (post 1700) +

David Craig Smerdon (b. 1984), Australian chess grandmaster, the fourth Australian to become a Grandmaster, awarded the General Sir John Monash Award in 2010

The Smerdon 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: Virtus pre nummis
Motto Translation: Virtue is preferable to money.

Sources +

Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas