Smith Family Crest framed artprint - English origin | Family Crests

The Smith Family Crest framed artprint - English origin. Beautifully illustrated. Carefully researched. Uniquely personal.

Whether it’s a gift to celebrate a milestone birthday, a wedding or a housewarming—this piece is an instant heirloom.

The origin of the name Smith (English)

The surname Smith derives from the Old English word smiþ, meaning "to smite" or "one who works with metal." As one of the earliest recorded occupational surnames in Anglo-Saxon England, every village possessed a blacksmith whose vital craft made the family name omnipresent across the realm.

The symbolism of the Smith (English) coat of arms

The shield is divided per chevron. The upper sable (black) field displays three white crosses formy, denoting steadfast Christian faith and duty. Below, three red fleur-de-lis adorn the lower field, representing chivalry and honour. Perched above, the crest depicts a blue-green heron holding a silver fish in its beak—an emblem of patience, quiet concentration, and coastal prosperity. These armorial bearings are officially recorded in the Heraldic Visitations of London and Burke’s General Armory for ancient Smith families of Nottinghamshire and London.

Historical figures

Captain John Smith (1580–1631): English explorer, soldier, and leader of the Jamestown colony in Virginia.
Adam Smith (1723–1790): Renowned philosopher and political economist, author of The Wealth of Nations.
Charlotte Turner Smith (1749–1806): Influential English poet and novelist who played a vital role in the revival of the English sonnet.
Stevie Smith (Florence Margaret Smith, 1902–1971): Celebrated 20th-century English poet and novelist, awarded the Queen’s Gold Medal for Poetry.

Product details

Ayous wood 0.75″ (1.9 cm) thick frame from renewable forests
Paper thickness: 10.3 mil (0.26 mm)
Paper weight: 189 g/m²
Lightweight & acrylite front protector
Hanging hardware included

No Warehouses. No Waste. Just for you, made to order.

This product is printed especially for you when ordered, one at a time, by royal decree of Mother Nature to keep the realm beautiful. Family Crests Store guarantees your custom treasure meets all EU and USA safety standards.

About the artist

Each coat of arms in the Family Crests Store is an artwork by heraldic artist Éamonn Breathnach. All are carefully researched, drawing from the earliest available records across multiple heraldic archives. Noted for their elegance and attention to detail, these artworks make meaningful gifts for family occasions.