Matthew Smith

Brief Life History of Matthew

When Matthew Smith was born on 26 February 1722, in Lyme, New London, Connecticut Colony, British Colonial America, his father, Matthew Smith, was 23 and his mother, Sarah Rogers, was 21.

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Family Time Line

Matthew Smith
1698–
Sarah Rogers
1700–
Thomas Smith
1720–1813
Mary Smith
1741–
Matthew Smith
1722–
Jane Smith
1724–
Rachal Smith
1729–1754
Sarah Stevens Smith
1733–1822
James Rogers Smith
1733–
Briant Smith
1735–

Sources (2)

  • Matthew Smith, "Connecticut, Births and Christenings, 1649-1906"
  • Matthew Smith, "Connecticut, Vital Records, Prior to 1850"

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.

Possible Related Names

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