Brief Life History of Thomas
Thomas Smith was christened on 28 September 1688, in West Hendred, Berkshire, England, United Kingdom. He had at least 4 sons and 1 daughter with Sarah.
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Family Time Line
Sources (7)
- Legacy NFS Source: Thomas Smith - Church record: Christening record or certificate: birth-name: Thomas Smith
- Thomas Smith, "England, Berkshire, Parish Registers, 1515-1993"
- Thomas Smith, "England, Berkshire, Parish Registers, 1515-1993"
Spouse and Children
1688– Male
1693– Female
Children (5)
1719–1780 Male
1721– Male
1723– Male
1726– Male
1728– Female
World Events (2)
1801 · The Act of Union
1808 · The British West Africa Squadron
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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