smyth

Smyth is a surname of English origin, a variant spelling of Smith or Smythe. It derives from the Old English smið, meaning craftsman or metalworker, and originated as an occupational name. The spelling Smyth is especially common in Ireland and Northern Ireland, where it is well established among Ulster-descended families, though it occurs in many English-speaking countries.

Notable people with the surname include Henry De Wolf Smyth (1888–1962), an American physicist who authored the Smyth Report, the general account of the development of the atomic bomb; and William Henry Smyth (1788–1865), a British Royal Navy officer and amateur astronomer whose work contributed to 19th-century astronomy. The name has also appeared in various scientific and cultural contexts, and several places or features have been named in honor of individuals bearing Smyth.

In addition to individuals, Smyth appears as a place name in the United States, with Smyth County, Virginia, among the examples. The surname’s influence in science and geography is reflected in commemorative naming, such as the Smyth lunar crater on the Moon, named for the 19th-century astronomer William Henry Smyth.

See also Smythe for a variant spelling and related surnames.