Is Smith a German Last name?

Question

translate: Ist Smith ein deutscher letzter Name?

Answer 1

Nein, aber Schmidt oder Schmitz.

Answer 2

The name originally derives from smitan, the Anglo-Saxon term meaning to smite or strike. This term led to the name of the occupation, smith or blacksmith, because such persons must continuously strike metal with a hammer in order to shape it. Metallurgy required the development of specialist skills, and was practiced throughout the world from the Bronze Age. The use of Smith as an occupational surname dates back to Anglo-Saxon times, when inherited surnames were still unknown: Ecceard Smith of Durham County was recorded in 975.[2] Smithers may also have derived from the Celtic word "smiterin" which meant "blown to bits". This explains the common expression "blown to smithereens".

Although the name is derived from a common occupation, many later Smiths had no connection to that occupation, but adopted or were given the surname precisely because of its commonness. For example:

* Following the failed Jacobite Rebellion in Scotland, which began around 1715, many Scots adopted the last name Smith to disguise their connection with rebellious clans. To this day, it is not uncommon for persons in English-speaking countries to adopt the surname Smith in order to maintain a secret identity, when they wish to avoid being found by someone; see also John Smith.
* During the colonization of North America, some Native Americans took the name for use in dealing with colonists.
* During the period of slavery in the United States, many slaves were known by the surname of their masters, or adopted those surnames upon their emancipation.

A popular urban legend holds that at the beginning of the 20th century, when many new immigrants were entering the U.S., civil servants at Ellis Island responsible for cataloguing the entry of such persons sometimes arbitrarily assigned new surnames if the immigrants' original surname was particularly lengthy, or difficult for the processor to spell or pronounce. While such claims are likely vastly exaggerated[3], many immigrants did choose to begin their American lives with more "American" names, particularly with Anglicized versions of their birth names. One example of such a change is that of former New York governor Alfred E. Smith, born Alfred Emanuele Ferrara (Ferrara being an Italian equivalent of Smith).

See also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_%28surname%29

Answer 3

smith: Old English, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch smid and German Schmied.

In anglophone countries, "Smith" refers to a everybody name...In Germany, we use "Müller" for that.
Anyhow, "Smith" is of German origin, but as the others have pointed out, here we use the name "Schmidt".

Answer 4

bei uns wird der SCHMIDT ausgesprochen

Answer 5

ja bei uns gibt es viele Schmitt, Schmidt, Schmid,und ist ein deutscher Name

Answer 6

Den Nachnamen gibt es eigentlich in allen Ländern, in denen der Schmied schon recht lange ein Beruf ist; also auch in der jeweiligen Landessprache. Lange Zeit gab es eigentlich keine Nachnamen, und um die vielen Johns/Johannesse auseinanderzuhalten, wurden sie einfach noch mit ihrem Beruf bezeichtnet, also John Smith vs John Miller beziehungsweise Johannes Schmied vs. Johannes Müller.
This name is common in all countries, in which "smith" is a profession. Of course, you'll find that name there only in the native language of the country. For quite a long time, people did not have last names. In order to establish which John/Johannes one meant, one just called them by their profession. Thus: John smith vs John Miller, or Johannes Schmied vs Johannes Müller respectively!

Answer 7

Nein smith ist eher ein englisher name ... in Deutschland gibt es ihn jedoch in veränderter form und zwar als "schmidt" . In dieser form ist der Name in Deutschland weit verbreitet ich würde schon fast sagen neben Müller der heufigste Nachname!

Answer 8

smith ist ein englsicher name (will smith...)

with many kiss
heyboykissmeeplease

Answer 9

Nein, das ist englischer Familienname.