so many people named Smith!?

Question

Why do so many people have the last name of Smith? Several times more than Miller or Taylor (other names take from medieval occupations). Thanks.

Answer 1

There were many more blacksmiths than there were tailors or grinders of grain at the mill. Every village would have had a blacksmith, but every village would not have had a miller or tailor.

Answer 2

You're right - it is derived from medieval occupational byname, as are Miller and Taylor. It is more common for a couple reasons:

1) There are different kinds of smiths: blacksmiths, tin smiths, silver smiths, goldsmiths, etc. So you already have a higher percentage

2) "Smith" is English. "Smithr" is Norse (predecesor of the Scandinaian languages). "Schmidt" is the German. You'll notice how they look (and sound) similar. It's likely that a number of people who immigrated to North America adopted the English form of their name. And during WWI - with widespread anti-German sentiment - a lot more probably switched to the English form.

While the German for "Miller" is "Mueller" (similar), the German for "Taylor" is Schneider (completely different).

Answer 3

actually noone in my whole grade has the name smith or the last name smith