Smith family tree - help!

[Tommy Hallam]

I am currently in the middle of doing my family tree, my mother's maiden name is Smith and so far I have only been able to go back two generations through censuses, I know very little about this side of the family but seeing how common this name is how am I supposed to get very far? Does anybody have any tips on tracing such a common name?

[dot.hawkes]

with smith or any common name the rule is to focus on the distaff side in each generation and the siblings in each generation to help you include the right families and eliminate the wrong possibilities. location and occupations should be compared and family units built up to estblish links. any siblings should also be researched and certificates bought to try to verify adresses and common relatives.

[dot.hawkes]

distaff means the maternal line, using civil registration and parish registers you can identify the correct smith.

[taperface]

Yes, Parish records are very helpful.