Brief Life History of John W.
When John W. SMITH was born on 18 February 1804, in Passenham, Northamptonshire, England, United Kingdom, his father, Henry Smith, was 34 and his mother, Mary Bailey, was 26. He married Elizabeth HARWOOD on 13 October 1823, in Calverton, Buckinghamshire, England, United Kingdom. They were the parents of at least 2 sons and 2 daughters.
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Family Time Line
Sources (7)
- John Smith in household of Henry Andrews, "England and Wales Census, 1881"
- Legacy NFS Source: John W. SMITH - Baptism record or certificate: birth-name: John Smith
- John Smith in entry for Mary Anne Smith, "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975"
Spouse and Children
1804– Male
– Female
Children (4)
about 1827–1828 Male
1828– Female
1834– Female
1838– Male
Parents and Siblings
1770– Male
1778– Female
Siblings (9)
1804– Male
1805– Female
1807– Male
1810– Male
1812– Female
+4 More Children
World Events (8)
1808 · The British West Africa Squadron
Age 4
1815
Age 11
1843
Age 39
Name Meaning
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 .
Irish and Scottish: sometimes adopted for Gaelic Mac Gobhann, Irish Mac Gabhann ‘son of the smith’. See McGowan .
Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.
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