William J. Smith

21 December 1852–9 April 1853
Crawford Township, Madison, Iowa, United States

The Life Summary of William J.

When William J. Smith was born on 21 December 1852, in Crawford Township, Madison, Iowa, United States, his father, David Simpson Smith, was 25 and his mother, Jane Cason, was 18. He died on 9 April 1853, in his hometown, at the age of 0, and was buried in Brush Ridge Cemetery, Patterson, Madison, Iowa, United States.

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Family Time Line

David Simpson Smith
1827–1914
Jane Cason
1834–1890
Permelia A. Smith
1850–1850
Margaret E. Smith
1850–1855
Ida Smith
1874–
William J. Smith
1852–1853
Mary Ann Smith
1854–1930
Charles Marion Smith
1856–1924
Alice J. Smith
1858–1869

Parents and Siblings

Siblings

(7)

+2 More Children

Name Meaning

(1997: 831783;2007: 1725054; 2010: 2442977)English and Scottish: occupational name denoting a worker in metal, especially iron, such as a blacksmith or farrier, from Middle English smith ‘smith’ (Old English smith, probably a derivative of smītan ‘to strike, hammer’). Early examples are also found in the Latin form Faber . Metal-working was one of the earliest occupations for which specialist skills were required, and its importance ensured that this term and its equivalents in other languages were the most widespread of all occupational surnames in Europe. Medieval smiths were important not only in making horseshoes, plowshares, and other domestic articles, but above all for their skill in forging swords, other weapons, and armor. This is also the most frequent of all surnames in the US. It is very common among African Americans and Native Americans (see also 5 below). This surname (in any of the two possible English senses; see also below) is also found in Haiti. See also Smither .English: from Middle English smithe ‘smithy, forge’ (Old English smiththe). The surname may be topographic, for someone who lived in or by a blacksmith's shop, occupational, for someone who worked in one, or habitational, from a place so named, such as Smitha in King's Nympton (Devon). Compare Smithey .

Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.

Possible Related Names

Smithe
Smither
Smithey
Smyth
Smythe
McGowan
Smead
Faber

Sources (2)

  • William J. Smith, "Find A Grave Index" (Patterson, Madison, Iowa: 1853)
  • William J. Smith, "Iowa Gravestone Photo Project" (Madison County: 1853)

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