Show ContentsSmitham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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  • England
Smitham Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Smitham

What does the name Smitham mean?

The Anglo-Saxon name Smitham comes from when its first bearer worked as a person who worked as a smith or smitty (blacksmith). 1 2 During the Middle Ages smiths were important for their skill in making horseshoes, ploughshares as well as swords, other weapons and armour. Occupational names that were derived from the common trades of the medieval era transcended European cultural and linguistic boundaries.

Early Origins of the Smitham family

The surname Smitham was first found in Warwickshire where John Smythiere was listed in the Assize Rolls for 1379. 3

Early History of the Smitham family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Smitham research. Another 39 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Smitham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Smitham Spelling Variations

Until quite recently, the English language has lacked a definite system of spelling rules. Consequently, Anglo-Saxon surnames are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. Changes in Anglo-Saxon names were influenced by the evolution of the English language, as it incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other languages. Although Medieval scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, so it is common to find one person referred to by several different spellings of his surname, even the most literate people varied the spelling of their own names. Variations of the name Smitham include Smithers, Smithies, Smythies, Smither and others.

Early Notables of the Smitham family

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

Smitham migration to the United States +

Searching for a better life, many English families migrated to British colonies. Unfortunately, the majority of them traveled under extremely harsh conditions: overcrowding on the ships caused the majority of the immigrants to arrive diseased, famished, and destitute from the long journey across the ocean. For those families that arrived safely, modest prosperity was attainable, and many went on to make invaluable contributions to the development of the cultures of the new colonies. Research into the origins of individual families in North America revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Smitham or a variant listed above:

Smitham Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Smitham, (b. 1817), aged 25, Cornish miner departing from Penzance aboard the ship "Triton" arriving in the United States on 11 May 1842 4
  • Mrs. Ann Smitham, (b. 1821), aged 21, Cornish settler departing from Penzance aboard the ship "Triton" arriving in the United States on 11 May 1842 4

Smitham migration to Australia +

Smitham Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Joseph Smitham, (b. 1823), aged 18 born in Camborne, Cornwall, UK convicted in Cornwall on 4th August 1841, sentenced for death reduced to life then 15 years, transported aboard the ship "Susan" in 1842 to Van Diemen's Land, Tasmania, Australia 5
  • Mr. Joseph Smitham, (b. 1823), aged 18, Cornish settler convicted in Cornwall, UK on 4th August 1841, sentenced for 15 years, transported aboard the ship "Susan" on 21st April 1842 to Van Diemen's Land, Tasmania, Australia 6
  • Mr. James Smitham, (b. 1843), aged 34, Cornish miner travelling aboard the ship "La Hogue" arriving in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 15th November 1877 7
  • Mrs. Emma Smitham, (b. 1841), aged 36, Cornish settler travelling aboard the ship "La Hogue" arriving in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 15th November 1877 7
  • Miss Emma Smitham, (b. 1863), aged 14, Cornish dress maker travelling aboard the ship "La Hogue" arriving in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia on 15th November 1877 7
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
  1. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  2. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to New York 1820 - 1891 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_new_york_1820_1891.pdf
  5. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 30th May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/tasmanian_convicts_cornish.pdf
  6. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 30th May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_convicts.pdf
  7. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 19). Emigrants to Australia NSW 1860 -88 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/nsw_passenger_lists_1860_88.pdf

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