DISCLAIMER:
 I am very happy and willing to discuss and share our lineage with anyone, as long as it is  understood that there could be some errors.  Even though I have done everything possible to  check 
 my sources and verify the data contained, I cannot guarantee that it is completely free from  error. If you see something that needs to be corrected or if you would like to add any  information, please contact me. Information is constantly being added and updated.
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                         John Smitham 1675-1715 Breage,Cornwall,England

                                       John Smitham had Seven chidren
                                       [Source = Bodmin Parish Register]
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Peter Cornwell says:
Although I've called this my Smitham family, it could easily have been called Smitheram, Smetheram, Smithram or Smetham since the name, over the last couple of centuries has been recorded in any of the above

Surname:  This unusual surname, recorded as Smitham, Smithen, Smitherham & Smitheram, is locational and recorded almost entirely in Cornwall & Devon.  It derives from a place called 'Smitham'; however, what is not proven is which Smitham.  There are 3 places in Britain so called, two in Surrey & one in Somerset, although there is no specific evidence to support the claim that any of these places was the originator of the surname.  It is possible that the name derives from a now 'lost' medieval villlage, of which it is known over 5 thousand examples existed.  Of these places. the only reminder today is the surname Smitham' derives from the Olde English pre 7th century 'smepe', but pronounced 'smith', means 'smooth', & probably referred to an area of cleared grassland on a hill, plus 'ham', a homestead or hamlet.  The surname has absolutely no connection with the surname Smith or the occupation of smithing.  The intrusive 'er' in the mainly Cornish spelings, is probably dialectal and an aid to pronunciation.                                                              
 The early recordings include Amee Smitham of Bideford on December 4th, 1573, with John Smitheram, the son of Thomas Smitheram, being christened at Tywardreath, Cornwall, on February 4th, 1701.  This is believed to be the first recording of the surname.  Other recordings include 
Mary Smithen, who married Peter Couch at Pelynt on September 25th, 1740 and Prudence Smitheram, who married John Trounce at Breage, Cornwall, on January 1st, 1762.  The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of John Smitham, which is dated June 25th, 1564, a witness at Hatherleigh, Devon, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, known as 'Good Queen Bess' [1558-1603].  Surnames became necessary when governments introduces personal taxation.  In England this was known as Poll Tax.   Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to 'develop' often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

In my recordings in my family tree, I have used the SMITHAM spelling, all variants, for an individual, are noted as an AKA under Misc.  This has helped in making family connections easier.
 In 2000, the Paul Smitham Family met Betty Smitham who lives in London, Ontario, Canada.  Our goal is to find our common ancestor.  We believe that the central areas of Cornwall Co., England is the key; namely Camborne to Breage with emphasis on Gwithian, Gwinear, & Crowan.
Hubert Francis 'Frank'  Ross Smitham emigrated from London, England & immigrated to Simcoe County, Ontario, Canada about 1932 having signed on as a farm hand.  His grandmother came from Edinburgh, Scotland.

Smitheram, Smetheram, Smithram or Smetham 
By: Peter Cornwell 
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