Smoot History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

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Etymology of Smoot

What does the name Smoot mean?

The origins of the Smoot surname lie with the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name Smoot began when someone in that family worked as a metalworker (the blacksmith). It is derived from the Old English word smid, probably derived form "smitan," which meant "to strike with a hammer." As metal worker was such a common and important profession in Medieval times, this name and its cognates are extremely widespread throughout the British Isles and Europe. However, there is some debate as to why the occupation of blacksmith would lead to such a populous surname. One might expect that Farmer, also an occupational name, but with far more people involved in the profession in the Middle Ages, would today be a much more populous surname than Smith. It is probably a futile exercise to try to establish a single source for this amazing, monumentally prolific surname.

Early Origins of the Smoot family

The surname Smoot was first found in Durham, in present day Northumbria (North-Eastern England) where an Olde English version of the name is cited in circa 975, almost 100 years before the Normans would invade this part of England.

Some of the family moved to Mount Thoydon in Essex. "The church [of Mount Thoydon] is a handsome edifice, containing many fine monuments to the family of Smyth, among which is one to Sir Thomas Smyth, chancellor of the garter, and principal secretary of state, in the reigns of Edward VI. and Elizabeth." 1

"Wootton Hall [in Wooton-Wawen, Warwickshire] was early the seat of the Smythe family, of whom was Lord Carrington, who, at the battle of Edge-Hill, bravely redeemed the royal standard, as is recorded on his monument in Christ-Church, Oxford. Over the front entrance of the Hall are the arms, finely executed in relief, of Lord Carrington. " 1

"The extensive manor of Mitchell-Morton, which stretches into the parishes of Kilkhampton, Moorwinstow, and Jacobstow, in Cornwall, and Week St. Pancras in Devonshire, is generally denominated from this parish. This large manor belonged, about the year 1660, to the family of Smith." 2

Early History of the Smoot family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Smoot research. Another 94 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1100, 1279, 1559, 1568, 1608, 1611, 1616, 1617, 1621, 1631, 1640, 1644, 1649, 1650, 1652, 1653, 1655, 1657, 1658, 1661, 1662, 1663, 1665, 1675, 1679, 1681, 1691, 1696, 1699, 1701, 1717, 1720 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Smoot History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Smoot Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Smoot has appeared include Smith, Smyth, Smythe and others.

Early Notables of the Smoot family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Richard Smith (1568-1655), officially the Bishop of Chalcedon, the second Catholic bishop for England, Wales and Scotland after Catholicism was banned in England in 1559; John Smith (c. 1608-1657), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 to 1644, supported the Royalist cause in the English Civil War; John Smith (died 1663) English-born immigrant to the Massachusetts Bay Colony c. 1631, 3rd President of the Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations (1649-1650), 6th President of Providence and Warwick (1652-1653); William Smyth (died 1658), Doctor of Divinity (DD), an...
Another 110 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Smoot Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Smoot Ranking

In the United States, the name Smoot is the 3,138^th most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 3

Migration of the Smoot family to Ireland

Some of the Smoot family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 88 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Smoot migration to the United States +

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Smoot arrived in North America very early:

Smoot Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

William Smoot, who arrived in Virginia in 1642 4

Smoot Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Harold K Smoot, aged 31, arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Decatur Bridge" from Rosario via Rio & St. Thomas 5
Florence Smoot, aged 3, arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Guiana" from St. Thomas, Virgin Islands 5
Jack W. Smoot, aged 19, arrived in New York City, New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Wabash" from Bordeaux, France 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Smoot (post 1700) +

Mary Ellen Wood Smoot (1933-2025), American religious leader, 13th Relief Society General President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) from 1997 to 2002
William Albert Smoot, American politician, Mayor of Alexandria, Virginia, 1922-30; Resigned 1930 6
Urcil W. Smoot, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Missouri State Senate 16th District, 1950 6
Thelma Smoot, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Virginia, 1952 6
Robert Smoot, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from North Dakota, 1944 6
Shelia Smoot, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Alabama, 2004, 2008 6
Reed Owen Smoot (1862-1941), American Republican politician, U.S. Senator from Utah, 1903-33; Delegate to Republican National Convention from Utah, 1908, 1912, 1916 (speaker), 1920, 1924, 1928, 1932 6
Ralph Smoot, American Republican politician, Candidate for West Virginia State House of Delegates from Webster County, 1972; Chair of Webster County Republican Party, 1973 6
John B. Smoot, American politician, Mayor of Alexandria, Virginia, 1885-87 6
Jean J. Smoot, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from North Carolina, 2008 6
... (Another 13 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Smoot Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Benigno Numine
Motto Translation: By Divine Providence.

Sources +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Hutchins, Fortescue, The History of Cornwall, from the Earliest Records and Traditions to the Present Time. London: William Penaluna, 1824. Print
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Ellis Island Search retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 2) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html