Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1903-04-23
Saint Mary $ Beacon.


"a DCA1B VIZ S-F~e----S<~-.>-'~ - -
lish surnames.
ST am not sure" says one, but
that the name demands a new
science to be called 'Smithology.
Ii would doubtless prove quite as |
instructive as many existing 'olo-
gies, and it would have merit Of
of being more amusing"
The name is derived from the
Saxon word Smitan-to smite. 1t
was applied not only 10 workers in
metal, but valorous soldiers were
called mighty warsmiths. The
term was not confined to iron work.
but was applied toeverything which
required shifting" Thus the poet
was versesmite, though he only
had to smite his brains TO produce
results.
In the early ages of the world
every king and chief had smith,
and great was the honor paid to
him. In Wales the Kings smith
sat beside His Majesty at table,
and had q right to drink of every
wine brought into the banquet hall
before even the guests we're served.
The smith then shaped arEnor and
military weapons, and part Of his
duty was to teach young warriors
how TO use the weapons after he
had made them.
Among Highland clans the smith
ranked third in dignity to the
chief.
As a surname. il is one of the
very oldest. BY some historians
il is said to be the oldest surname OF
all, with possibly the exception OF
the name OF King. In old records
the name appears as Smith, Smithe,
Smeith, Smyth, Smithe and Smiithe.
Germany has its Schmitts, Schmiths,
Smids Smidths, Smits and Schmizes.
In France, the name is the more
euphonious Lefevres. In Italy il
is Fabbroni. Then there are the
classic Fabri land Fabricii. In
Scotland one hardly recognizes the
name of Gowans.
IL you have a friend who is
"Smyth, If you please; ! have a
" in my name," pray don't make
the objectionable mistake of call
ing him mr.. Smith" He was pro
baby Smith" three generations
ago, but that makes no difference,
because, like all the rest of us, be
is very sensitive over an error in
the pronunciation or spelling o
his name.
The Smiths OF English ancestry
trace back to the Right Reverend
William Smith, who was born in
Lancaster county, England, about
1860. He was bishop of Lincoln,
and Iithehfield, and, with one other,
found Brazenose College, Oxford.
He is buried in Lincoln Cathedral.
One of the immigrant ancestors oil
the English Smiths was the old
familiar John Smith, who was born
in England about 1909, and proba-
bly, came to this country in 1888,
landing in Boston. With him came
bis brother Nehemiah. Edward, a
nephew, came in 1852. He was the
first regular customhouse official
In the colony.
To John Smith, the second Mayor
Of Newcastle, England, and the
fifth in descent from Bishop William
Smith. was granted a crest in 1924,
the family arms having been recog-
nized in 1861. The arms-a tokenof
prowess-displayed lion rampant;
the crest was atiger PEASANT wound
ed on his shoulder.
The proudest earldom in England
is that OF the Smiths-the real family
surname of the Earl of Derby. An
important organization is the Preston
Choral Guild of Lancashire, Eng
land. The Guild Mayor for 1902
was the Earl OF Derby who is the
fifteenth one to bear the title.
An American Smith boasts not
of cre-ts and titles, but glories in
the feet that his country's hymn
was written by q member of his
family, Rev. DIR. Samuel Francis
Smith OF Newton Center, Mass. 1t
was written in 1882, and FIRST
brought into use at the Fourth of
July celebration in same year at the
Park Street Church, Boston.
The Smiths could fill every re-
girnent and man every ship in
Uncle Sans service, so far as
numerical and age requirements
are concerned. OF the total appro-
priation made for the Civil Service.
81, $50, 600 is paid out of the treasury
10 the Smith family each year.
Seven Smiths distinguished them
selves as generals in the Civil War.
One Smith has been nominated as
President of the United States; six
have been members of Presidential
cabinets; one was elected President
pro tenn. OF the Senate. One in