the name Sexsmith

[mykin]

Does anyone know where the name Sexsmith came from? I believe it to be English and understand the smith part but what are two names together?
Has the spelling changed over time?

[Jan1954]

Apparently, there is a town called Sexsmith in Alberta, Canada. Their website (shannonlibrary.ab.ca/Our-History) explains about the origins of the town's name as well as the name itself.

(Put the w's in front of the website address )

[jeeb]

Hi,
The name Sixsmith is reasonably common in Lancashire and Sexsmith will be a derivation of it but it seems to have become a name within it own right probably through phonic spelling.

Jeremy

[mykin]

Thanks Jeremy but what would the six mean? It doesn't connect with anything to me.

[Jan1954]

On the website that I mentioned it states that: the 'seax' was a battle weapon. somewhat shorter than a sword, but considerably larger and more lethal than today's hunting knife.

Through normal sound changes that took place in the Middle English period, the word lost its "a" as far as the family name was concerned, and assumed its present form.

Again, words change over time and Sixsmith could well be a derivation of the word Sexsmith.

[Geoffers]

On the website that I mentioned it states that: the 'seax' was a battle weapon. somewhat shorter than a sword, but considerably larger and more lethal than today's hunting knife.

The Old Norse equivalent of seax was sax which may also varied over time to lead to sexsmith. So the name could have come into existence in both in the English part of the country and also the Danelaw (as per Jeeb's comment, above).

[mykin]

Thanks for all of the information on Sexsmith. Names are so interesting, especially where they came from.Thanks again everyone.