Where does “Smythe” come from?
Smythe is a variant spelling of smith, derived from Old English smiþ, from Proto-Germanic smiþaz, both denoting a metalworker or craftsperson who strikes metal.
Ancestry of “Smythe”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | Old English | smiþþe | — |
| 2 | Proto-Germanic | smiþjǭ | a smithy, smith's workplace |
| 3 | Proto-Germanic | smiþaz | craftsman, smith |
| 4 | Proto-Indo-European | smēy- | — |