Derived from the Anglo-Saxon "smitan," to smite or strike, the surname Smith and its derivations are an occupational name for a man who works with metal (smith or blacksmith), one of the earliest jobs for which specialist skills were required. It is a craft that was practiced in all countries, making the surname and its derivations the most common of all surnames. Smith is first recorded as a last name in England in the 10th Century. Bearers of the surname Smith include Adanm Smith, the famous Scottish economist and philosopher, he is one of the most well-known bearers of the name. Adam was was a pioneer in the field of political economy and key figure during the Scottish Enlightenment. Seen by some as the "father of economics"[4] or the "father of capitalism".[5] He is known for two classic works: The Theory of Moral Sentiments (1759) and An Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations (1776). The latter, often abbreviated as The Wealth of Nations, is regarded as his magnum opus, marking the inception of modern economic scholarship as a comprehensive system and an academic discipline. Smith refuses to explain the distribution of wealth and power in terms of divine will and instead appeals to natural, political, social, economic, legal, environmental and technological factors, as well as the interactions among them. Adam Smith was born on June 16th 1723 in Kircaldy, Scotland and died on July 17th 1790 in Edinburgh, Scotland.