Origin of Smitheram


This unusual surname recorded as Smitham, Smithen, Smitherham and Smitheram, is locational and recorded almost entirely in Cornwall and Devon. It derives from a place called 'Smitham,' however what is not proven is which Smitham. There are three places in Britain so called, two in Surrey and one in Somerset, although there is no specific evidence to support the claim that any of these places was the originator of the surname. It is possible that the name derives from a now 'lost' medieval village, of which it is known over five thousand examples existed.

Of these places the only reminder today is the surname. 'Smitham' derives from the Olde English pre 7th century 'smepe', but pronounced 'smith', means 'smooth', and probably referred to an area of cleared grassland on a hill, plus 'ham', a homestead or hamlet. The surname has absolutely no connection with the surname Smith or the occupation of smithing. The intrusive 'er' in the mainly Cornish spellings, is probably dialectal and an aid to pronunciation. The early recordings include Amee Smitham of Bideford on December 4th 1573, with John Smitheram, the son of Thomas Smitheram, being christened at Tywardreath, Cornwall, on February 4th 1701. This is believed to be the first recording of the surname. Other recordings include Mary Smithen, who married Peter Couch at Pelynt on September 25th 1740, and Prudence Smitheram, who married John Trounce at Breage, Cornwall, on January 1st 1762. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Smitham, which was dated June 25th 1564, a witness at Hatherleigh, Devon, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, known as 'Good Queen Bess', 1558 - 1603. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

  1. England England
  2. New Zealand New Zealand
  3. Australia Australia
  4. United States United States
  5. Canada Canada
  6. Wales Wales
  7. Germany Germany
  8. Guernsey Guernsey
  9. Israel Israel
  10. Thailand Thailand

The surname Smitheram. Genealogy, origin, history, meaning, and significance

Research into the possible origins of smitheram leads us to learn more about those who bear this surname. The origin, the coat of arms or the different heraldic shields, and the bibliography in which the surname smitheram is mentioned are part of this exciting investigation. We can try to trace the genealogy of the surname smitheram, and in addition to the original locations of smitheram, we can find out where people with the surname smitheram can currently be found.

The surname Smitheram around the world

There is a considerable probability that smitheram has crossed the borders of its place of origin to establish itself, to a greater or lesser extent, in other parts of the world. With all the information we have today, it can be said that the countries where smitheram is most abundant are the following. The list of countries with a higher presence of people with the surname smitheram provides us with a perspective on the history of the surname, beyond its origins, focusing on its migrations. The mobility of people carrying the surname smitheram has led to its presence in different countries, as you can verify.

History of Smitheram

The deeds, the way of life, the places they lived, the family relationships they had, the jobs they held by those who were the first to be named smitheram are found in every look back in the history of this lineage. For those like you, who are interested in the history hidden behind the surname smitheram, it is essential to find all kinds of information, both direct and tangential, that helps to construct a solid narrative of how the birth and expansion of smitheram developed. The history, heraldry, coats of arms, and possible nobility of the surname smitheram are scattered in documents across various regions and historical periods, so it is necessary to reconstruct a complex puzzle to approach the facts from a realistic perspective.

It is common for genealogy and surname enthusiasts to provide us with information of special value, so the data we offer about the origins of smitheram could be modified. We keep our website updated through our own research and also thanks to contributions from people like you, after verification; so if you have information about smitheram and send it to us, we will update it on this website. Please note that if you are in a position to provide more data about the surname smitheram or any other surname and its origin, we would appreciate your collaboration with us by sending us information about the origin of smitheram.

Notable Figures Named Smitheram

We assume that there have been significant contributions to humanity made by individuals with the surname smitheram, even though not all have been documented to our present day. Sadly, not all the contributions of those who bore the surname smitheram were recorded by the chroniclers of the time. A surname like smitheram can connect a person to an illustrious lineage and a distinguished coat of arms. However, it must be kept in mind that it is individual people who, through their lives and actions, bring fame and recognition to their surnames.

The surname Smitheram and its bibliographic sources

The bibliography collects information related to the surname smitheram, which allows us to learn more about its meaning. The origin, history, coat of arms or different coats of arms, and the heraldry of smitheram are recorded in a wide variety of sources and documents that are essential to know for better compilation. We consider it highly advisable to refer to the following sources if you wish to conduct research on the surname smitheram, as well as many other surnames.

SOURCES

These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of smitheram, and at the same time, of surnames in general.

  1. Smither
  2. Smitherman
  3. Smithers
  4. Smathers
  5. Smethers
  6. Smithart
  7. Smotherman
  8. Smothers
  9. Smythers
  10. Smiter
  11. Smitter
  12. Samitier
  13. Santeramo
  14. Smethurst
  15. Smetters
  16. Smithhart
  17. Smoter
  18. Smothermon
  19. Senthuran
  20. Smiderle
  21. Sandera
  22. Santarem
  23. Santer
  24. Santerbas
  25. Santereau
  26. Santero
  27. Santerre
  28. Santervas
  29. Santervaz
  30. Santier
  31. Santiero
  32. Santora
  33. Santorum
  34. Schmitter
  35. Sciandra
  36. Senter
  37. Senterre
  38. Senters
  39. Shandera
  40. Shinder
  41. Sinatra
  42. Sinder
  43. Sinderen
  44. Sinders
  45. Sinitiere
  46. Smedra
  47. Smyder
  48. Snider
  49. Sniderman
  50. Sumter