Origin
Smith : 1: 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.2: 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.3: Irish and Scottish: sometimes adopted for Gaelic Mac Gobhann Irish Mac Gabhann ‘son of the smith’. See McGowan.4: Americanized form (translation into English or assimilation) of various European surnames meaning ‘smith’ or ‘blacksmith’ for example German and Jewish Schmidt Dutch Flemish and North German Smit Ukrainian Rusyn or other Slavic Koval Slovak Kováč Slovenian Serbian and Croatian Kovač (see Kovac) and Jewish Kuznetz (see Kuznetsov).5: Native American: from English smith adopted as an occupational name for a smith often as a translation into English of a personal name based on an equivalent occupational name from any of the Native American languages such as Navajo atsidí ‘smith’ (see Atcitty). In most cases however the surname Smith was probably chosen because it is the most common (English) surname in North America (see 1 above). It is also the most common surname among Native Americans. Compare Blacksmith.
Addleton : possibly like the surname Adlington from one of the places called Adlington. Sarah Ann Addleton birth recorded 1882 in Dudley (Staffs) appears to be the same as Annie Smith formerly Haddleton born Cradley Heath (Census 1901) and Sarah Ann Smith formerly Addlington child's birth recorded 1904.
Adgie : reduced form of Algeo; compare Algie. This is clear from correlations between various spellings of the names in the Lanarks parishes of Glasgow Govan and Barony reinforced in the IGI lists for Barony for example where husbands and wives named James Agie and Margaret Logine (1692) and Bartholomew Aja and Margaret Smith (1696) are probably identical with James Algea and Margarat Logan (1699) and Bartholomew Algeo and Margaret Smyth (1698).
Ambos : German: metonymic occupational name for a smith from Middle High German ambōz ‘anvil’.
Anker : 1: German and Dutch: from Middle High German and Middle Dutch anker ‘anchor’ applied either as an occupational name for a smith who made ships' anchors or as a topographic or habitational name referring to a house identified by the sign of an anchor.2: Swedish and Norwegian (of Swedish origin): soldier's name meaning ‘anchor’.3: Danish: from a personal name of which the first element means ‘eagle’ and the second (probably) ‘violent’.4: English: from the Old Norman French personal name Anker Old French Anchier. Its source is the ancient Germanic name Anskari a variant of Ansgari. Compare Anchor.
Arrowsmith : English: occupational name for a maker of iron arrowheads from Middle English arwe ‘arrow’ + smith (Old English arwe ‘arrow’ + smith ‘smith’).
Atcitty : Native American (Navajo): from an American English altered (and shortened) form of a Navajo personal name based on the occupational name atsidí denoting a smith and later also a silversmith. See also Etsitty Silversmith 2 and Smith.
Barquin : Spanish (Barquín): metonymic occupational name for a smith from barquín ‘bellows’. In Spain it is found mainly in Cantabria.
Bean : 1: English: nickname for a pleasant person from Middle English bēne ‘friendly amiable’.2: English: metonymic occupational name for a grower or seller of beans from Middle English bene ‘bean’ (Old English bēan ‘beans’ a collective singular). The broad bean Vicia faba was a staple food in Europe in the Middle Ages. The green bean Phaseolus vulgaris came from South America and was not introduced to Europe until the late 16th century. The word bene was commonly used to denote something of little worth and occasionally it may have been applied as a nickname for someone considered insignificant.3: English: possibly a habitational or topographic name. Redmonds Dictionary of Yorkshire Surnames cites Adam del Bene of Harrogate (1351) as evidence to suggest that in the Harrogate area where the Yorkshire name later proliferated it may have been derived from a place where beans grew.4: English: perhaps a variant of Benn. Compare Benney.5: Scottish and Irish: shortened Anglicized form of the patronymic Mac B(h)eathain ‘son of Beathán’ from the Gaelic personal name Beathán a diminutive of beatha ‘life’ see McBain. In Ireland Bean is also found also a shortened form of Ó Beachain see Behan.6: Americanized form (translation into English) of German Bohne or an altered form of Biehn. See also Bihn.7: Americanized form (mistranslation into English) of French Lefebvre. As the vocabulary word fèvre ‘smith’ was replaced by forgeron in modern French the meaning of the old word for a smith became opaque and the surname was reinterpreted as if it were La fève from fève ‘bean’.
Blacksmith : 1: English: occupational name for a smith from Middle English blaksmith ‘blacksmith’ denoting one who worked in iron (‘black metal’) as opposed to tin (‘white metal’). This was never common as a surname in England or Scotland.2: Native American (e.g. Sioux): from English blacksmith (see 1 above) adopted as an occupational name for a blacksmith (compare Smith).3: Americanized form of German Blechschmidt.4: Americanized form (translation into English) of various European surnames meaning ‘blacksmith’ (see Smith).
Blick : 1: English (southwest Midlands): nickname from an unrecorded Middle English blik(e) probably related to Middle English bliken ‘to shine gleam’ also ‘to grow pale’ present participle blikande which was still current in the 19th-century Wiltshire and Somerset word blicant ‘shining bright’. It may therefore have had a similar sense to Bright ‘bright good-looking fresh-faced’ or to Blake 2 Blatch and Block ‘pale-skinned’ ‘fair-haired’ or ‘white-haired’.2: German: nickname from Middle High German blic ‘shine gleam glitter’ for someone of that appearance perhaps with similar connotations to the English name in 1 above. In the north an occupational name for a tin smith from Middle Low German blick.3: German: from a short form of the ancient Germanic personal name Bligger Blickhart based on blic ‘gleam shine’ later ‘pale’.4: Jewish (Ashkenazic): artificial name from German Blick or Yiddish blik ‘glance look’.
Braunagel : German: metonymic occupational name for a nail smith from braun ‘brown’ + nagel ‘nail’.
Brockschmidt : German: distinguishing name for a smith (see Schmidt) who lived by a bog Middle Low German brook.
Coopersmith : Americanized form of German Kupferschmied an occupational name for a smith. Although the literal meaning is ‘coppersmith’ during the Middle Ages the term was also used to denote a blacksmith.
De Sloover : Flemish (also Desloover): occupational name for a manufacturer or smith of sloven i.e. rings and toggles for doorbeams and tollbars from an agent derivative of Middle Dutch singular slove + the definite article de ‘the’. See also Selover.
De Smith : Americanized form of Dutch or Flemish De Smit De Smidt or De Smet occupational names for a smith (see Smit Smet).
Downsborough : late variant of Darnbrook with intrusive -s-. Compare Grace Darnbrough 1773 Jereh Downbrough 1821 Smith Darnbrook 1823 Nancy Downbrook 1827 Edward Downborough 1873 in IGI (Bradford WR Yorks).
Eisen : German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): metonymic occupational name for an ironworker or smith or an ironmonger from Middle High German īsen ‘iron’ German Eisen Yiddish ayzn. It may also have been used as a nickname with reference to the strength and hardness of iron or to its color while as a Jewish name it is also an artificial name.
Eisner : German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): occupational name for an ironworker smith or ironmonger from an agent derivative of Middle High German īsen and German Eisen ‘iron’ (see Eisen).
Fabbro : Italian: occupational name for an ironworker or smith from Latin faber ‘smith’ or (more broadly) ‘craftsman’.
Fabrizio : Italian:: 1: from the medieval personal name Fabrizio Latin Fabricius a Roman surname of unknown possibly Etruscan origin. Already in the Roman period the name was associated by folk etymology with faber and Latin forms of the name were extensively used in the late Middle Ages as equivalents of vernacular terms denoting a smith or other craftsman.2: habitational name from Fabrizio a locality of Corigliano Calabro in Cosenza province.
Farrow : English (northern): hypercorrected form of Farrar an occupational name for a smith or worker in iron. The original -ar or -er ending of this name came to be regarded as an error and was changed to -ow.
Ferreiro : Galician and Portuguese: occupational name for a smith or worker in iron.
Ferrier : 1: Scottish and English: occupational name for a smith one who shoed horses from Old French ferrier ‘blacksmith ironworker’ (medieval Latin ferrarius from ferrus ‘horseshoe’ from Latin ferrum ‘iron’). Compare Farrier Farrar.2: Scottish and English: occupational name for a ferryman from Middle English ferier(e) ‘ferryman’. Black reports that lands called Ferrylands in Dumbarton by a ferry across the Clyde belonged to Robert Ferrier in 1512.3: French: occupational name from Old French ferrier ‘blacksmith farrier’ (see 1 above).
Feuereisen : German: metonymic occupational name for a smith or steelmaker from Middle High German viurīsen ‘fire iron’.
Feyereisen : Luxembourgish: cognate of German Feuereisen ‘fire iron’ a metonymic occupational name for a smith or steelmaker. The surname Feyereisen is also found in the province of Luxembourg and elsewhere in Wallonia (Belgium).
Forge : 1: English and French: from Middle English and Old French forge ‘forge smithy’ (from Latin fabrica ‘workshop’ a derivative of faber ‘smith workman’; compare Lefevre) in most cases a metonymic occupational name for a smith or someone employed by a smith. It can also be a topographic name for someone who lived near a forge or smithy. Compare French Deforge and Laforge.2: North German: variant of Forke.
Fragua : Spanish: metonymic occupational name for a smith from fragua ‘forge’. In the US it is most common among Native Americans (Jemez Pueblos) in NM.
Furno : Italian: metonymic occupational name for a baker or smith from furno ‘oven’ (from Latin furnus).
Goldsmith : 1: English: occupational name for a worker in gold from Middle English goldsmith Old English goldsmith ‘goldsmith’ a compound of gold ‘gold’ + smith ‘smith’.2: Americanized form (translation into English) of Jewish (Ashkenazic) and German Goldschmidt and also of its Dutch equivalent Goldsmit.
Greensmith : probably for a coppersmith from Middle English grene ‘green’ + smith although the compound is not independently recorded with this sense. Compare Brownsmith.
Hamernik : Czech (Hamerník): occupational name for a smith an agent derivative of hamr ‘forge’ which is from German Hammer ‘hammer’ (see Hammer).
Hammerschmidt : German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): occupational name for a smith or for the owner of a forge from Middle High German hamer ‘hammer’ + smit ‘smith’ German Hammer + Schmidt.
Hamor : 1: English: probably a variant of Hamer.2: Slovak (Hámor): metonymic occupational name for a smith from hámor ‘smithy forge’ a term of German origin (from Hammer ‘hammer’; see Hammer).
Highsmith : English: occupational name for a smith with the distinguishing epithet high probably denoting one whose forge was at a higher location than another nearby smith.
Izer : Americanized form of German Eiser or its Dutch equivalent Ijzer a metonymic occupational name for a smith or a merchant of hardware from Dutch ijzer ‘iron’.
Klempner : North German and Jewish (Ashkenazic): occupational name for a tin smith or plumber from an agent derivative of klempern ‘to hammer tin’.
Klepach : 1: Americanized form of Czech Slovak and Rusyn (from Slovakia) Klepáč Croatian and Slovenian Klepač (see Klepac) Polish Jewish (from Poland) and Rusyn (from Poland) Klepacz.2: Ukrainian Jewish (from Ukraine) and Rusyn: metonymic occupational name for a smith from klepach ‘hammer’.3: Jewish (from Belarus): habitational name for someone from the village of Klepachi (now in Belarus).
Klepacki : Polish:: 1: habitational name for someone from Klepacze in Podlaskie Voivodeship.2: occupational name for a smith from klepacz (see Klepacz).
Klepacz : Polish Jewish (from Poland) and Rusyn (from Poland): occupational name for a smith from Polish klepacz ‘smith’ a derivative of klepać ‘to hammer’. Compare Klepach.
Knocker : 1: from Middle English knokken knocken ‘to hammer knock (at a door) strike (someone)’ perhaps referring to a smith a porter or a fighter. Examples without the definite article le may belong under (2). 2: from an agent derivative of Middle English *kno(c)k ‘hill hillock’ (see Knock) denoting someone who lived by a small hill.
Kovar : Czech (Kovář) and Slovak (Kovár also Kovář): occupational name for a smith from Czech kovář. Compare Kovash.
Kovarik : Czech (Kovářík) and Slovak (mainly Kovárik also Kovarík and Kovářík): occupational name for a smith from a diminutive of Czech Kovář Slovak Kovár (see Kovar).
Kovic : 1: Serbian and Croatian (Ković): metronymic or patronymic from a short form of the female personal name Koviljka and the male personal name Koviljko derived from kovilje ‘kind of grass’ or from Kovana and Kovan derived from kovati ‘to forge’.2: Slovenian (Kovič): probably a derivative of kov ‘hammering’ used as a nickname for a smith (see Kovac) or a coiner. Alternatively it may be a respelled patronymic from a short form (compare Kobe) of the personal name Jakob.
Kujat : Polish and East German (of Polish origin): probably derived from the Polish base kuj- (from kuć-) ‘to forge to hammer’ hence an occupational name for a smith.
Kuznia : Polish (Kuźnia): metonymic occupational name for a smith from kuźnia ‘smithy forge’.
Kuzniar : Polish (Kuźniar): occupational name for a smith from an agent noun derived from kuźnia ‘smithy forge’.
Lang : 1: Scottish English German Dutch Danish and Jewish (Ashkenazic); Swedish (also Lång): nickname for a tall person from Older Scots Middle English Middle High German Middle Dutch and Danish lang ‘long’ Swedish lång. The surname of (Middle High) German origin is also found in France (mainly Alsace and Lorraine) Czechia Hungary Poland Slovakia Croatia and Slovenia.2: Hungarian (Láng): from láng ‘flame’ hence probably a nickname for a passionate person or a man with a fighting spirit. Alternatively it may be an indirect occupational name for a smith or someone who worked with fire. This surname is also found in Slovenia where it is spelled Lang and in Slovakia where it is spelled in both ways.3: Chinese: Mandarin form of the surname 郎 an ancient term to refer to one's lover or son: (i) from the placename Lang (郎) the name of a city the living place of Fei Bo the grandson of the Duke Yi of Lu (ruler of the state of Lu reigned 815–807 BC). Some of his descendants later changed their original surname Fei to Lang (郎). (ii) borne by some families from the state of the South Huns (48–216 AD located in northern China).4: Chinese: Cantonese form of the surname 冷 see Leng 4.5: Chinese: variant Romanization of the surname 梁 see Liang 1.6: Chinese: variant Romanization of the surname 藍 see Lan 1.7: Vietnamese (Lăng): from the Chinese surname 凌 see Ling 4.8: Vietnamese: from the Chinese surname 郎 see 3 above.
Lefevre : French and Walloon (Lefèvre): occupational name for a blacksmith or ironworker Old French fevre with fused masculine definite article le. One of the most common surnames in France from an early date coined before the French word for smith fèvre (from Latin faber ‘maker’) was replaced by forgeron. This surname was also brought to England (in the 16th century by Protestant Walloons and later reinforced by Huguenots from France). It is also established in the Flemish part of Belgium and in Haiti. See also Lefebvre compare Faver Lafaver Lafever Lefever and few">Leffew.
Macho : 1: Spanish: nickname from macho ‘male; mule’ (from Latin masculus ‘male masculine’) applied either to denote a virile strong man or alternatively an idiot.2: Spanish: possibly also a nickname for a forceful person or a metonymic occupational name for a smith from macho ‘sledgehammer’ (from Latin marculus ‘hammer’).3: Slovak: from a derivative of the personal name Martin.4: Americanized form of Hungarian Macsó: from the old personal name Macsó probably a derivative of the personal name Mátyás (see Matyas).
Maillet : French:: 1: from Old French maillet ‘mallet’ used as a metonymic occupational name for someone who worked with such an implement e.g. a smith or as a nickname for a fearsome warrior (see English Mallett 2).2: habitational name from any of the places so named in Allier and Indre. Compare Mayette and Myette 1.
Maillot : French:: 1: from Old French maillot ‘big mallet’ used as a metonymic occupational name for someone who worked with such an implement e.g. a smith and perhaps also as a nickname for a fearsome warrior (see English Mallett 2). This is the usual form of the surname in France (it is however most frequent in Réunion) while in North America it is normally spelled Mailhot.2: possibly also a habitational name from (Le) Maillot the name of several places in various parts of France. Compare Mayott Mayotte and Myott.
Mallet : 1: French: nickname from a diminutive of Mal ‘bad’. Alternatively from a derivative of the related Old French word maleit ‘accursed’ (from Latin maledictus the opposite of benedictus ‘blessed’) applied as a nickname for an unlucky person. Compare Malet 1.2: French: variant of Malet 2 an Old French pet form of the personal name Malo.3: French: from a diminutive of Old French male ‘trunk chest coffer’. This may have been a metonymic occupational name for a maker of chests or by extension for a carrier. Compare Malet 3.4: French: variant of Maillet ‘mallet’ used as a metonymic occupational name for a smith or as a nickname for a fearsome warrior (see English Mallett 2).5: English (Jersey and London; also Norfolk): variant of Mallett mostly of Old French and Norman origin (see above).
Martel : 1: French and English (Guernsey): nickname for a forceful person or perhaps a metonymic occupational name for a smith from Old French martel ‘hammer’ (also recorded in late Middle English) from Late Latin martellus. The reference may be to the martel de fer the iron hammer or mace of medieval warfare as had been the case with Charles Martel the grandfather of Charlemagne who gained his byname from the force with which he struck down his enemies the Saracens in the battle of Tours (Poitiers) in 732.2: English (Guernsey): from the Middle English and Old French personal name Martel a pet form of Martin.3: German (also Märtel): from a pet form of the personal name Martin. Compare Mertel.4: Spanish and Portuguese: from Portuguese martelo Old Spanish martel ‘hammer’ (see also 1 above) or an Iberianized form of the Italian cognate Martello.
Martell : 1: French: rare southern variant of Martel (compare 2 below) and in North America (also) an altered form of this.2: Catalan: nickname for a forceful person or perhaps a metonymic occupational name for a smith from martell ‘hammer’ (from Late Latin martellus; see also Martel 1).3: English (of Norman origin): variant of Martel.
Nesmith : 1: English and Scottish (Glasgow): occupational name for a maker of knives from Middle English knif-smith ‘knife-smith cutler’ (Old English cnīf + smith).2: English: alternatively an occupational name connected with wheel making from Middle English nave-smith ‘nave-smith’ (Old English nafu nafa ‘nave the central part of a wheel’ + smith).
Nothnagel : South German: metonymic occupational name of a smith from Early New High German nöte (from Middle High German nötstal) denoting a special stall for horses used for shoeing and other operations + Nagel ‘nail’.
Ringeisen : German: from a compound of Low German ringen ‘to circle’ + Eisen ‘iron’ probably a journeyman's nickname for a smith who made ring bolts or perhaps an unflattering occupational name for a forger from Middle High German ringe ‘small little’ (in quality) + īsan ‘iron’.
Russ : 1: English: variant of Rouse.2: German: from a short form of an ancient Germanic personal name formed with hrōd ‘renown’ for example Rudolf.3: German (of Slavic origin): from Old Slavic rusъ ‘reddish’ used as a nickname (compare 6 below and Rus).4: Swiss German: topographic name for someone who lived by an area of scree Middle High German ru(o)ʒʒe.5: Swiss German: occupational name for a smith or charcoal burner or nickname for a dirty person from Middle High German ruoʒ ‘soot dirt’.6: Germanized or Americanized form of Slovenian Croatian Czech and Slovak Rus meaning ‘brownish red’ ‘blond’ or ‘Russian’. In part it is a Gottscheerish (i.e. Gottschee German) surname originating from the Kočevsko region in Lower Carniola Slovenia (see Kocevar) and is either of Slovenian or German (see above) etymology.
Schlegel : German: from Middle High German slegel ‘hammer tool for striking’ (Old High German slegil a derivative of slahan ‘to strike’) hence a metonymic occupational name for a smith or mason or a nickname for a forceful person.
Sepp : 1: German (Bavaria) Dutch and Estonian: from a short form of the personal name Joseph.2: Estonian: occupational name for a smith akin to Finnish seppä ‘(black)smith’ (see Seppanen).
Seppala : Finnish (Seppälä): habitational name from farms so named from seppä ‘blacksmith’ + the locative suffix -lä. In most cases the name refers to the smith who lived in the house but particularly in northern Ostrobothnia it may contain the root of the surname Seppänen (see Seppanen). Established as a hereditary surname since the 19th century chiefly in western and southern Finland.
Shearsmith : from Middle English shere ‘shears’ + smith ‘smith’ for someone who made shears or scissors.
Shoesmith : English: occupational name for a blacksmith who either specialized in shoeing horses (a farrier) or in making and fitting iron blades known as shoes such as the tips of spades and the plowshares on plow moldboards from Middle English sho ‘shoe’ (Old English scōh) + smith ‘smith’ (Old English smith).
Smedley : English (Derbyshire Nottinghamshire Yorkshire and Lancashire): habitational name mostly from Smithley in Wombwell (Yorkshire) but also from Smedley (Lancashire). The placenames probably mean ‘wood or woodland clearing of the smiths’ from Old English smitha genitive plural form of smith ‘smith’ + lēah ‘woodland clearing’.
Smet : Flemish and Dutch: occupational name for a smith Middle Dutch smet smit. Compare De Smet.
Smid : 1: Dutch and North German: variant of Smit ‘smith’.2: Czech (Šmíd); Slovenian Croatian and Slovak (Šmid): occupational name for a smith of German origin (see Schmidt) often applied as a translation into German of corresponding Slavic occupational names or surnames (see Kovac and Kovar).3: Hungarian: from German Schmidt ‘smith’.
Smit : 1: Dutch Flemish and North German: occupational name for a smith Middle Dutch smet smit. This is one of the most common surnames in the Netherlands. It is also established in South Africa. Compare De Smith and Smet.2: Americanized form of German Schmidt ‘smith’.3: Slovenian and Croatian (Šmit); Czech (also Šmít): variant of Šmid and Šmíd (see Smid compare Schmitt).
Smitham : English: habitational name from Smytham in Little Torrington (Devon) which means ‘homestead of the smiths’ from Old English smitha genitive plural form of smith ‘smith’ + hām ‘homestead’.
Smitheman : from Middle English smith ‘smith’ (see Smith) + -man for someone who assisted a smith. Compare Smitherman.
Smithers : English:: 1: variant of Smither with Middle English genitival -s denoting either a relative or servant of a smith or someone who lived or worked at a smith's house or forge. This surname is established in Ireland.2: variant of Smither with post-medieval excrescent -s.3: in northwestern England perhaps a modified form of Smithurst a variant of Smethurst.
Smithson : 1: English (Yorkshire): from Middle English smith ‘smith’ + -son for a son of a smith.2: Irish (Dublin) and Scottish: in Scotland and Ireland sometimes adopted for Mac Gobhann Mac a'ghobhainn ‘son of the smith’ (see McGowan).
Smithwick : English: habitational name from Smethwick in Staffordshire Smethwick Green near Brereton Heath (Cheshire) or a lost place called Smithwick in Southover (Sussex). The placename means ‘the farm of the smith(s)’ from Old English smith ‘smith’ + wīc ‘dwelling specialized farm’. This surname has also been established in southern Ireland since the 17th century.
Smitley : English: variant of Smithley a habitational name from Smithley in the parish of Darfield South Yorkshire presumably named with Old English smith + lēah ‘clearing in a wood’.
Smy : variant of Smith with loss of the final consonant. In Suffolk Smith was interchangeable with Smeeth hence the alternation there of Smy with Smee. Compare William Smee senior 1674 in Hearth Tax (Sudbury Suffolk) with Sarah Smy 1753 in IGI (Sudbury Suffolk).
Stahli : Swiss German and South German (Stähli): occupational name for a smith or an armorer from a diminutive of Stahl ‘steel armor’.
Stallsmith : Americanized form of German Stahlschmidt Stahlschmitt an occupational name for a smith from Middle High German stāl ‘steel’ + smit ‘smith’.
Stoll : 1: German: from Middle High German Middle Low German stolle ‘prop support frame’ or ‘tunnel in a mine’ hence a metonymic occupational name for a carpenter or miner; or a nickname for a clumsy or coarse person.2: Jewish (from Belarus): metonymic occupational name for a smith from Yiddish dialect stol shtol ‘steel’.3: Jewish (American): shortened form of some original eastern Ashkenazic surname.4: English: nickname for someone who made wore or sold stoles from Middle English stole ‘stole’. Compare Stoller 3.
Striker : 1: English (Middlesex): occupational name from an unrecorded Middle English striker probably in most instances a derivative of Middle English striken ‘to stroke rub make (something) smooth spread (something) evenly’. The exact sense of the surname cannot be determined without defining contexts but it was probably synonymous with the etymologically related Straker and Stroker and could therefore have denoted a waxer or polisher of goods made of leather metal wood etc. or perhaps a sharpener of knives (honing blades with a whetstone) or else a public official who would measure (or strike off) a standard quantity of corn for sale by using a flat stick called a strike to make the corn level. In some cases the name could alternatively be a derivative of Middle English striken ‘to strike or hammer (metal)’ used for a smith perhaps or a minter of coins but striker is not a recorded term for either occupation. This surname is rare in Britain.2: Variant of Stryker a surname of Dutch origin.3: Americanized form of German Streicher.
Tange : 1: Danish: habitational name from any of several places called with tange ‘spit tongue of land’.2: Dutch and Flemish: metonymic occupational name for a carpenter or a smith from Middle Dutch tange ‘pliers tongs pincers’.3: Japanese (pronounced as two syllables): written 丹下 ‘red below’ apparently referring to red earth. The name is from village in Kawachi (now Ōsaka-fu) and is mainly found in Shikoku. It can also be pronounced Akashita.
Ten : 1: Chinese: variant Romanization of the surname 鄧 see Deng.2: Chinese: variant Romanization of the surname 丁 see Ding 1.3: Chinese: possibly also from Taishanese form of the Chinese name 進 (meaning ‘progress’) a monosyllabic personal name or part of a disyllabic personal name of some early Chinese immigrants in the US.4: Catalan: nickname from ten ‘faint; thin’.5: German: metonymic occupational name for a mintmaster from Middle Low German tēn(e) ‘blank’ (metal piece from which coins or nails were struck) for a nail smith or for a maker of arrow shafts. This surname is rare in Germany. Compare Then. — Note: It is possible that in the population figure published by the US Census Bureau a variant of the Dutch and North German case-inflected definite article de ‘the’ which forms the first part of surnames such as Ten Hagen is in some instances counted as an independent surname. Compare Den.
Vero : 1: Italian: nickname from vero ‘real true’ (from Latin verus).2: Italian: possibly from a variant of the ancient Germanic personal name Bero related to bera ‘bear’.3: Italian: possibly a habitational name from a short form of the personal name as Bonavero composed of the elements bon a variant of b(u)ono ‘good’ and avere ‘to have’ Olivero.4: Hungarian (Verő): from ver ‘hit strike’ hence an occupational name probably for a smith or someone who worked with hammer.
Vonk : Dutch: from Middle Dutch vonc vonke ‘spark’ hence probably a metonymic occupational name for a smith.
Wayland : 1: English (of Norman origin): from the Norman French personal name Weland from ancient Germanic Wēland (Old High German Wiolant) the name of the legendary smith known in Old English as Wēland possibly from ancient Germanic wēla-nandaz ‘battle’ + ‘brave’.2: English: habitational name from the Hundred of Wayland in Norfolk. The placename derives from an uncertain initial element + Old Norse lúndr ‘small wood grove’.3: Americanized form of German Weiland.
Wieland : 1: German: from a personal name composed of the ancient Germanic elements wīg ‘war’ + land ‘land territory’. This name was borne by the supernaturally skilled smith of ancient Germanic folk legend and for this reason it may in part have been given as a nickname to blacksmiths.2: Jewish (Ashkenazic): presumably an adoption of the German surname.
Wildsmith : 1: probably from Middle English w(h)elsmith (Old English *hwēol‐smið) ‘wheel‐smith’ a maker of wheels especially the iron parts. Compare Wheelwright. The vowel has been shortened to -i- producing *W(h)ilsmith then Wildsmith with an intrusive -d-. For the vowel change compare Robert le Whilwright 1349 in Derbys Charters. Middle English W(h)elsmith is rare and has so far only been noted in Essex far from the main location of Wildsmith in post-medieval times. Note however that John Wildsmith of Old Swinford (Worcs) 1619 in Worcs Archive Service 1/1/72/56 was a blacksmith. Some of the post-medieval bearers listed below may alternatively belong with (2). 2: perhaps sometimes from Middle English *Willesmogh ‘Will's son-in-law’ with an intrusive -d- and the re-modelling of -smogh as -smith by folk etymology. Compare Hudsmith and Adam Wilmogh' 1381 in Poll Tax (Pennington Lancs). 3: perhaps from Older Scots wild(e) ‘wild reckless mad’ + smith ‘smith’. The single Scottish example below is too early for the linguistic changes suggested in (1) and (2) and it is so isolated it is difficult to know whether or not it sheds light on the English name.
Zeiner : South German: from an agent derivative of Middle High German zeinen ‘to forge (iron)’ also ‘to weave basketwork’ (from Middle High German zein ‘cane rod tine’) hence an occupational name for a smith or a basket maker.
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Source : DAFN2 : Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, ©2022 by Patrick Hanks and Oxford University Press
FANBI : The Oxford Dictionary if Family Names in Britain and Ireland, ©2016, University of the West of England
FANBI : The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain, ©2021, University of the West of England
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