Wildsmith

Wildsmith refers to a surname of English origin. It is thought to derive from the Middle English words "wild" meaning untamed or from the wilderness, and "smithen" meaning to smite or strike. Therefore, the name likely originally denoted a hunter or someone who worked with wild animals, or perhaps a craftsman who worked with wild materials.

Notable individuals with the surname Wildsmith include several figures in sports and the arts. In cricket, there was Arthur Wildsmith, a notable English cricketer. In the realm of art, the painter and printmaker, Jonathan Wildsmith, has gained recognition for his evocative landscapes. The surname is not exceptionally common, but it appears in various regions, particularly within the United Kingdom and countries with historical ties to British emigration. Genealogists trace the roots of the Wildsmith surname to various counties in England, with a concentration noted in some historical records from areas such as Yorkshire and Lancashire. The variations in spelling throughout history are not uncommon for surnames of this era.