Smythe
An old spelling of Smith, originally an occupational surname for a metalworker.
The #7,591 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 70,506 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Smythe is a historical spelling of Smith, the common occupational surname for a worker in metal. The word ultimately comes from Old English smiþ, meaning a smith or metalworker. Medieval records show forms such as Smyth and Smythe used alongside Smith, with the final -e reflecting older spelling habits rather than a different origin.
History
The surname is well attested in medieval England, where spellings varied widely before modern standardization. Historical dictionaries note Smythe as an old form of Smith, and it remained in use especially in England and later in English-speaking countries. Because the spelling looks distinctive, some families preserved it as a fixed surname even after Smith became the dominant form.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
In older English records, Smythe was often just a spelling variant of Smith, not a separate surname at all.
From the historical record
“SMYTH SMYTHE I William le Smyth. — Hund. Rolls, A.D. 1274. W: Srhythe et alii. — Cal. Inq. ad q. Damn., A.D. 1315-16. Wher {"is is not a smy^, Jie sone of Marie . . . ?— 5f. Mark, vi. 3 : Wycliffe.”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)