Origin of the surname Naismith

Recorded in a number of spellings including Naismith, Nasmith, Naesmith, Naysmith, Knifesmith, Neasmith, and possibly others, this is an Anglo-Scottsh medieval surname. It is occupational and originates from the pre 7th century Olde English words 'cnif smit'. The word 'smit' comes from the verb 'smitan,' meaning to smite, but whether this originally described what we now know or we think we know, as a smith, or a soldier is open to conjecture. For many years 'smith' has been used as a general description for a blacksmith, although there were never enough smiths of any sort engaged in trade to justify the the fact that 'Smith' is the Number One name in the Christian world, by a large margin.

In medieval times all skills were quite specific. Whitesmith described a worker in hot metals, Blacksmith a worker in cold metal. These developed as surnames in their own right as did Greensmith, Coppersmith, Goldsmith, Silversmith, and many others. In ancient times all soldiers had to be skilled in maintaining or even making their own weapons, and hence would have become proficient in such work. So we may have had the situation that originally a knifesmith described a soldier who used a short sword, and a swordsmith, one who used a long sword. Perhaps not surprisingly this is a very old surname being first recorded as Roger Knifsmith in the records of St Bartholomews Hospital, in the city of London, in 1246. Later recordings include James Nasmite of York in 1379, Alan Nasmith, the owner of lands in Brechin, Scotland, in 1415, and James Nasmith, given as being the sheriff of Norwich in 1734. The coat of arms has the blazon of gules, a dexter hand couped proper, holding a sword, between two broken hammers or. The crest is a hand holding a hammer or, and the motto, 'Non arte sed marte', translating as 'Not by science, but by war'.

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

We can try to trace the genealogy of the surname naismith, and in addition to the original locations of naismith, we can find out where people with the surname naismith can currently be found. Adhering to what we know about the way surnames originated, it is possible to offer a realistic explanation of the origins of naismith.

The surname Naismith around the world

The mobility of people carrying the surname naismith has led to its presence in different countries, as you can verify.

History of Naismith

The history, heraldry, coats of arms, and possible nobility of the surname naismith 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. In the following lines, you will find everything we have been able to gather about the surname naismith.

Please note that if you are in a position to provide more data about the surname naismith or any other surname and its origin, we would appreciate your collaboration with us by sending us information about the origin of naismith.

Notable Figures Named Naismith

A surname like naismith 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. If you or someone you know bears the surname naismith, you could potentially build illustrious lineages through your efforts and virtues. It is our desire to highlight in this section those individuals with the surname naismith who, for various reasons, have left their mark on the course of history.

The surname Naismith and its bibliographic sources

We consider it highly advisable to refer to the following sources if you wish to conduct research on the surname naismith, as well as many other surnames. Accessing the archives of the town or towns where your ancestors were born and lived is, of course, a good way to trace the origins of naismith.

SOURCES

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

Origin of Naismith