History:
Smith: This surnames popularity comes from a mix of people choosing to move and being forced to move. The Norman invasion of 1066 brought a Norman version of the name to England. Later, many people with this surname voluntarily left England for places like America, Australia, and other countries. They were looking for land, better jobs, and religious freedom. The slave trade also spread this surname, as enslaved people were often given the names of their enslavers. This involuntary movement also made this surname common in many places. Initially, people with this surname settled in early English colonies. Then, they spread out, creating new communities and making this surname even more widespread.
