Surname Smart - Meaning and Origin
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read moreSmart: What does the surname Smart mean?
The surname Smart originated from Anglo-Saxon culture in the British Isles. It is derived from the Old English word "smeart," which translates to "quick" or "prompt". The name was often given as a nickname to individuals who were fast, sharp, or keen. The association of the surname with intelligence, as in the modern English use of the word "smart," likely resulted from these original connotations. Over time, it evolved into a hereditary surname, passed down through generations. Today, it is a fairly common surname in English-speaking countries. It's important to note that the meaning and association of surnames can often change or become diluted over time and geographical dispersion.
Order DNA origin analysisSmart: Where does the name Smart come from?
The last name Smart is most commonly found in the United Kingdom and Australia. It is also found in Canada and the United States.
In the United Kingdom, the most commonly found occurrences of the name Smart are in Northern England. It is most frequently found in Yorkshire, specifically in the cities of Hull, Leeds, and York. It is also found in regions such as Lancashire, Dorset, and Nottinghamshire.
In Australia and New Zealand it is most commonly found in the states of New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria. It is also found in South Australia and Tasmania.
Smart is found throughout Canada, in the provinces of Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and Newfoundland and Labrador. It is most concentrated in the cities of Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, Victoria, and Ottawa.
In the United States, it is most commonly found in Pennsylvania, with occurrences in cities such as Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Harrisburg. It is also found in Ohio, with occurrences in Akron, Cleveland, Columbus, and Cincinnati, as well as in New York, New Jersey, Washington DC, Maryland, and Virginia.
The name Smart is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is derived from the old English word “smaert,” meaning “wise” or “clever.” The name was likely first used as a nickname for someone who was intelligent or wise. It is still used in Europe today, particularly in Germany, as Schmidt.
Variations of the surname Smart
The surname Smart is a popular English and German last name. It is derived from the Middle English and Old French elements "smert," which means "skilled," and "smolt," which means "small" and "delicate."
Variants of Smart include the German Smalt, Smale, Smalte, Schmaltz, Schmalle, Schmalz, Smaltz, Smalz, Smoltz, and Smoye. It is also found as the English Smorte, Smoot, Smoote, Smote and Smoate.
In some cases, the surname can be spelled with a double “t” at the end, such as Smarz, Smartz, and Smirtz. There are also variants which feature an extra “e” at the end, as in Smarce and Smarte.
The surname has many spelling variations and gave rise to the surnames Schmidt, Schmitt, Schmied, Smizel, Smolen, Schmierer, Schmittel, and Smeltz.
In the United States, the surname Smart is often derived from the German surnames Schmidt and Schmitt, which are both popular in America. In other countries, such as the United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada, the surnames Smart and Smale are the most common.
Apart from the variants listed above, the Smart surname can also have a variety of spelling variations, depending on the language and time period in which it is being used. For instance, it could also be spelled Smutt, Smurth, Smarth, Smurte, Smurt, Smurtz, Smuttz, Sm unlar, Smunlar, Smuth, or Smoth in some English dialects.
Overall, the surname Smart is quite versatile and can be spelled in a variety of ways. It is often easy to spot variations of this surname, as it often relates to the element “smart”, which literally translates to “skilled” and “small”.
Famous people with the name Smart
- Fred Smart: Fred Smart was a Canadian professional ice hockey player, playing for the Toronto St. Pats in the 1920s.
- Ryan Smart: Ryan Smart is an American actor and producer best known for his role as Johnny Cage in the 1996 film Mortal Kombat.
- Jean Smart: Jean Smart is an American actress who has appeared in numerous films and television series, including Designing Women, Frasier, 24, and Samurai Jack.
- P.D Smart: P.D Smart was a British composer whose music was featured in several films and television shows in the 1950s and 1960s.
- Peter Smart: Peter Smart was an American politician who served as a member of the Illinois House of Representatives from 1979 to 1991.
- Ada Smart: Ada Smart was an American inventor and businesswoman known for inventing a device that could detect levels of moisture in the air.
- Andy Smart: Andy Smart is an English comedian and actor who has appeared in sitcoms such as The Fast Show and Absolutely Fabulous.
- Ed Smart: Ed Smart is a well-known American activist who advocated for missing children after his own daughter, Elizabeth, was kidnapped and held captive for nine months in 2002.
- Kia Smart: Kia Smart is a Canadian actress, singer, and songwriter best known for her roles in the movies and television series The Kids in the Hall, The West Wing, and Beauty and the Beast.
- Donny Smart: Donny Smart is an American musician and songwriter who released his debut album, All I Ask, in 2006.