Smith (or derivatives) is known to b one of the most common surnames in european languages (i have few examples from non-eur ones,but if someone can make a contribution you're welcome).There we have:
Smidt in german
Lefebvre in French
Ferrari - italian
Herrero - Spanish
Ferreira - Portuguese
Ferrer - Catalan
Kuznetsov - russian
Kowalski/ Kowalczyk - polish
Smit - Dutch
Kovač/ Kovačić/ Kovačević - serbian,slovak,hungarian
Kalejs -Latvian
Sepp - Estonian
Lohar - Punjabi
Haddad - Arabic
now think of this. In the days of yore, when first surnames were coined, the earth would b no more abundant in smiths than now. There'd b 1 smith (or,ok,a family - father and sons) in a village, and only in big villages,and a few in towns.How did it ever become so wide-spread?Tho its also true that smiths were much esteemed by their fellow-citizen,being of great importance to community.
Or was smith equivalent to modern milkmen and postmen, father of all illegitimate kids?
anyone has any insight into this
2006-09-04
04:27:49
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12 answers
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Faith *
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