Wildsmith Family History

Probably from Middle English w(h)elsmith (Old English *hwēol‐smið) ‘wheel‐smith’, a maker of wheels, especially the iron parts. Compare Wheelwright. The vowel has been shortened to -i-, producing *W(h)ilsmith, then Wildsmith with an intrusive -d-. For the vowel change compare Robert le Whilwright 1349 in Derbys Charters.

Middle English W(h)elsmith is rare and has so far only been noted in Essex, far from the main location of Wildsmith in post-medieval times. Note, however, that John Wildsmith of Old Swinford (Worcs), 1619 in Worcs Archive Service 1/1/72/56, was a blacksmith. Some of the post-medieval bearers listed below may alternatively belong with (2).

Perhaps sometimes from Middle English *Willesmogh, ‘Will's son-in-law’, with an intrusive -d- and the re-modelling of -smogh as -smith by folk etymology. Compare Hudsmith and Adam Wilmogh' 1381 in Poll Tax (Pennington, Lancs).

Perhaps from Older Scots wild(e), ‘wild, reckless, mad’ + smith, ‘smith’. The single Scottish example below is too early for the linguistic changes suggested in (1) and (2), and it is so isolated it is difficult to know whether or not it sheds light on the English name.