Talk:Smith (surname)

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The comparative note seems a little out of place to me.15:35, 14 May 2006 (UTC)

I think it's an intersting tidbit - might be better titled as "Trivia". BD2412 T 15:37, 14 May 2006 (UTC)

[edit] "Famous Smiths" additions

I added a section "Famous 'Smiths'"

I only added one Smith. Please feel free to ad other famous 'Smiths'..

I do not feel that the notion that Ellis Island officials randomly assigned last names to immigrants is an "urban legend". It is best described as just a "misconception".

[edit] Multiple Smith Origins

The intro says 'the name being English itself', which seems to undercut the possiblity of other origins.

The mention of Scots adopting the name Smith to hide their affiliations to the Jacobite rebellion seems to be understating the Smith presence in Scotland. Possibly the most famous Smith in history, Adam Smith, was clearly Scottish. Are we to infer that he was probably the descendant of a clan that wanted to hide its affiliation to said rebellion? That the name may be deemed primarily English seems fair enough, but the Angle influence in southern Scotland seems a more likely reason for the presence of Smiths in Scotland.

To make it clear, how about dividing the name into sections? Say English Smith, Scottish Smith, German Smith...and so on. This way, a more accurate account of the multiple possibilities will be shown. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.82.221.96 (talk • contribs)

I thought Smith was Irish, originally Mac Gabhann (son of the smith) and Anglicanised to Smith. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 84.64.77.238 (talk) 21:24, 16 February 2008 (UTC)

[edit] "Smithy" as a surname

I have not been able to establish Smithy as a surname, though it certainly is a nickname used for a number of notable people. Could someone weigh in and say a word about validating Smithy as a surname? Thanks. --User:Ceyockey (talk to me) 14:44, 16 March 2008 (UTC)