The Waysmith family ancestry can be traced back centuries and begins on two different continents, with two separate lineages: the Smith in the West, and the Wei in the East.

The West: Colonial America

In the West during the 17th century, the Smith family ancestors were Protestant subjects of the British Empire. Arriving in Virginia in the southeastern United States as colonists, the early Smiths disembarked and migrated southwest, traveling from Virginia to modern-day Kentucky.

One of the last families to claim land in the name of King George III, and one of the first to pass land on to their daughters as equally as sons, the family settled 2,000 acres of land around the Cumberland River. Intermarrying with the French Huguenot Vinson family, with time and toil, the family grew its holdings, finances, and status.

Surviving drought, disease, and more, the family invested in farmland and trade, becoming prominent landowners and proprietors, once owning one of the largest dry goods stores in the area, and founding the City of Smithland in Kentucky which still stands today.

The East: Imperial China

As the Smiths expanded in the West, so too did the Wei in the East. Chinese society was transforming during the late Qing period. Surplus production and burgeoning trade networks gave rise to bustling towns. Merchant guilds facilitated this trade, empowering a once-marginalized merchant class.

One ancestor of the Wei, a humble shopkeeper and trader, stood out. Owning a small shop in Southern China where profits were strenuous at best, his success was marked by humility and generosity. When prosperous, the Wei were known to share sweets and sustenance with local children.

Modern Day

In the West, the Smith family's journey from Kentucky's expansive lands to the modern era marked a profound transformation. Over generations, their egalitarian ethos led to the gradual division and loss of their once-vast landholdings. Undaunted, the family shifted towards military service, government, and the arts.

In Asia, the Wei family confronted and survived the tumultuous Cultural Revolution, which resulted in the loss of family records and finances. Yet, from those ashes, they emerged renewed and unbroken. Members fought as officers in the People’s Liberation Army, helped lead China’s Ministry of Railways, and more, even producing one of China’s most legendary singers. Once the Smith and Wei families married, they again expanded the family’s interests in estate management and what is today known as the Waysmith Group.

Global Expansion: North America, Europe and China

The family’s success in the military, government, and the arts, meant our organization reached new horizons. At our height, Waysmith managed a significant global real estate portfolio spanning North America, Europe, and Asia, including both commercial property and rural estates.

Before passing on to other owners, the jewel of the Waysmith holdings were our rural estates South of the Kingdom of Sweden. Today, Waysmith focuses exclusively on commercial real estate. To read more about our former rural estates, click here.