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Is the name Smith Irish or Scottish?
The Smith surname derives from the Irish Gaelic name Mac an Ghabhain, which means “son of the blacksmith.” As such, the name was probably originally occupational. It has often appeared in its Anglicized form Smith.
How rare is the last name Smith?
| name | rank | People Per 100,000 population |
|---|---|---|
| name SMITH | rank 1 | People Per 100,000 population 828.19 |
| name JOHNSON | rank 2 | People Per 100,000 population 655.24 |
| name WILLIAMS | rank 3 | People Per 100,000 population 550.97 |
| name BROWN | rank 4 | People Per 100,000 population 487.16 |
Is Smith a Scottish surname?
Although every clan had its smiths, the Smiths also had their own clan in old Scotland in the area around Loch Lomond. Although the Gaelic name for Smith is Gow, Gowan, or MacGowan, the anglicized form of the name has been used in Scotland since the twelfth century. Today Smith is the most common name in Scotland.
What ethnicity is Smith?
The surname Smith is particularly prevalent among those of English, Scottish, and Irish descent, but is also a common surname among African Americans, which can be attributed either to black slaves having been given the surname of their masters, or to being an occupational name, as some southern American black people …
Where did the Smith family come from?
Smith is a surname originating in England and Ireland….Smith (surname)
| Origin | |
|---|---|
| Word/name | Old English |
| Meaning | derived from smitan, meaning “to smite” |
| Region of origin | England |
| Other names |
Where did the Smith family originated?
On Christmas eve 1922, five businessmen walked into a Sydney orphanage carrying armfuls of toys and sweets. They walked out inspired by a single goal: to improve the lives of disadvantaged children in Australia. When asked who the children could thank, one of the men, preferring to remain anonymous, said “Smith”.
What is the origin of the last name Smith?
Smith (surname) Smith is a surname originating in England. It is the most prevalent surname in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and the United States, the second most common surname in Canada, and the fifth most common surname in the Republic of Ireland.
Is Smith an Irish name?
The surname Smith was first found in County Cavan , where they were recorded as a family of great antiquity. The Irish name MacGowan (not to be confused with the Scottish, which roots from MacGoun) is most often hidden under the ubiquitous name Smith.
What is the meaning of the last name Smith?
Smith Last Name Meaning. English: occupational name for a worker in metal, from Middle English smith (Old English smið, probably a derivative of smītan ‘to strike, hammer’).