Smet is a Dutch occupational surname, representing a Flemish form of Smit. Like its cognates across Germanic languages, it originally denoted a metalworker or blacksmith, derived from Middle Dutch smit (from smitan “to smite, to hit”). The surname is particularly common in the Belgian province of East Flanders.EtymologyThe name belongs to a widespread European surname family that includes English Smith, German Schmid, and Dutch Smits and Smeets. The Flemish form Smet shows the typical regional loss of the vowel i in the original *smit, a phonetic development common in the dialect area. The variant De Smet (literally “the smith”) is also frequent, as are patronymic forms like Smets (“son of Smet”).Notable BearersHenrich Smet (1535/7–1614): Flemish court physician and humanist.Eugenia Smet (1825–1871): French founder of the Society of Helpers of the Holy Souls, beatified in the Catholic Church.Jean-Philippe Smet (1943–2017), known as Johnny Hallyday: legendary French rock and roll singer, often called “the French Elvis”.Pascal Smet (born 1967): Belgian politician, served as a minister in the Flemish government.