Smith

An English surname originating as an occupation (the most common in Britain, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand).

Proper noun

  1. An English surname originating as an occupation (the most common in Britain, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand).
    • Patingham selmonger, who, as it was reported, reneuced the Arians opinion before he dyed. The xvi. daye were burned [at the stake], at Staines. Robert Smith[,] painter, who in the tyme of his imprisonment, wrate byuers...
    • This ſyſtem, as it was much eſteemed by many antient fathers of the chriſtian church, ſo after the reformation it was adopted by feveral divines of the moſt eminent piety and learning and of the moſt amiable manners;...
    • John is a most excellent name, and Smith is a surname which is worthy of respect and honor, but wo to the man on whom they are conjoined! For John Smith to aspire to senatorial dignities or to the laurel of a poet is...
  2. A male given name transferred from the surname.
  3. Several places in the United States:

    1. An unincorporated community in LaPorte County, Indiana.

    2. An unincorporated community in Harlan County, Kentucky.

    3. An unincorporated community in York County, South Carolina.

    4. A small unincorporated community in Lyon County, Nevada, named for an early settler family.

    5. A ghost town in Humboldt County, California.

      Synonyms: Smiths Turnout

    6. A number of townships in the United States, listed under Smith Township.

  4. A hamlet in the Municipal District of Lesser Slave River, northern Alberta, Canada.
  5. Several rivers:

    1. A river in Douglas County, Oregon, United States, a tributary of the Umpqua River.

    2. A river in Montana, United States, a tributary of the Missouri.

    3. A river in Yukon and British Columbia, Canada, a tributary of the Liard River.

    4. A river in Virginia and North Carolina, United States, a tributary of the Dan River.

    5. A river in California, United States, flowing from the Klamath Mountains into the Pacific.

    6. A river in New Hampshire, United States, a tributary of the Pemigewasset River.

    7. A river in Linn County, Oregon, United States, a tributary of the McKenzie River.

    8. A river in Quebec, Canada, a tributary of the Montmorency River.

  6. Smith College (a women's college in Massachusetts, U.S.)

Origin

From smith or Middle English Smith (“a surname”), alternative form of Smyth, itself from smyth (“smith”). Doublet of Schmidt, Smid, and Smit.

Forms

Smiths Smithe Smyth Smythe

Derived

Aase-Smith syndrome Deaf Smith County Fort Smith IDS John Smith Kingsford Smith Lorrain Smith effect Marshall-Smith syndrome Riley-Smith syndrome Ruvalcaba-Myhre-Smith syndrome Smith & Wesson Smith Center Smith County Smith-Fineman-Myers syndrome Smithian Smith-Magenis syndrome Smith-Martin-Dodd syndrome Smithsburg Smiths Creek Smiths Falls Smith squat Smith system Smithton Smithtown