SMITH

English: occupational name for a worker in metal, ME smith, OE smio (probably a derivative of smitan - to strike).

Metalworking was one of the earliest occupations for which specialist skills were required, and its importance ensured that this term and its cognitions and equivalents were perhaps the most widespread of all occupational surnames in Europe.

Medieval smiths were important not only in making ploughshares, horseshoes and other domestic articles, but above all for their skill in forging swords, other weapons, and armour.

Equivalents (not cognitives).

	Celtic:	GOUGH
	Welsh:	GOF
	French:	FEVRE (usually 'le Fevre' - the Smith).
	Polish:	KOWALSKI
	Russian:	KUZNETSOV
	Finnish:	SEPPANEN
	Lithuanian:	KALVAITIS

Also, SMITH is one of the commonest surnames adopted by Gypsies in Britain, in part translating the Romany PETULENGRO, which means 'smith', (see PETULENGRO).