NameCensus.

UK surname

Schwarz

A German and Jewish surname meaning "black," often referring to someone with dark hair, dark complexion, or a black-related occupation.

In the 1881 census there were 106 people recorded with the Schwarz surname, ranking it #19,083 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 550, ranked #9,280, up from #19,083 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Manchester and St Marylebone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Salford, Hackney and South Ribble.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Schwarz is 571 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 418.9%.

1881 census count

106

Ranked #19,083

Modern count

550

2016, ranked #9,280

Peak year

2014

571 bearers

Map years

7

1881 to 2016

Key insights

  • Schwarz had 106 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #19,083 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 550 in 2016, ranked #9,280.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 210 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Schwarz surname distribution map

The map shows where the Schwarz surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Schwarz surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Schwarz over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 8 #31,867
1861 historical 18 #31,580
1881 historical 106 #19,083
1891 historical 129 #20,285
1901 historical 161 #17,324
1911 historical 210 #14,515
1997 modern 490 #9,435
1998 modern 521 #9,296
1999 modern 557 #8,897
2000 modern 547 #8,990
2001 modern 528 #9,084
2002 modern 518 #9,400
2003 modern 523 #9,192
2004 modern 524 #9,198
2005 modern 525 #9,120
2006 modern 516 #9,258
2007 modern 521 #9,271
2008 modern 531 #9,211
2009 modern 546 #9,230
2010 modern 566 #9,158
2011 modern 553 #9,228
2012 modern 566 #8,981
2013 modern 567 #9,093
2014 modern 571 #9,113
2015 modern 550 #9,308
2016 modern 550 #9,280

Geography

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Where Schwarz' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Manchester, St Marylebone and St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Salford, Hackney, South Ribble, Barnet and Camden. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
5 St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Salford 010 Salford
2 Hackney 003 Hackney
3 South Ribble 014 South Ribble
4 Barnet 037 Barnet
5 Camden 011 Camden

Forenames

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First names often paired with Schwarz

These lists show first names that appear often with the Schwarz surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Schwarz

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Schwarz, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Schwarz surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Schwarz household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Schwarz is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Schwarz is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Schwarz falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Schwarz is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Other

This describes the area pattern most associated with Schwarz, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Schwarz

The surname Schwarz originated in Germany, where it first appeared in the 12th century. It is derived from the German word "schwarz," meaning "black," and was likely given as a nickname to someone with dark hair or complexion.

The name is found in various historical records, including the Codex Diplomaticus Saxoniae Regiae, a collection of documents from the Kingdom of Saxony dating back to the 9th century. One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is in the 1297 census of the city of Nuremberg, where a certain Hainrich Schwarz is listed as a resident.

In the 14th century, the name appears in the records of the University of Vienna, where a student named Petrus Schwarz is mentioned in 1366. Another notable figure from this period is Johannes Schwarz, a German theologian and philosopher who lived from around 1290 to 1350.

During the Renaissance, the name gained more prominence. Barthold Schwarz, a 14th-century German monk and alchemist, is credited with the invention of gunpowder, although this claim is disputed by some historians. Christoph Schwarz (1545-1592) was a German composer and organist during the late Renaissance period.

In the 17th century, Caspar Schwarz (1615-1696) was a German jurist and author who wrote extensively on the legal system of the Holy Roman Empire. Around the same time, Berthold Schwarz (1614-1675) was a German painter known for his religious works and portraits.

Moving into the 18th century, Johann Schwarz (1677-1744) was a German mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of celestial mechanics. Later, in the 19th century, Karl Schwarz (1812-1885) was a German sculptor renowned for his works in marble and bronze.

These are just a few examples of the many notable individuals throughout history who have borne the surname Schwarz, which has its roots in the German language and can be traced back to the Middle Ages.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Schwarz families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Schwarz surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 30 Schwarz' recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.87x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 30 2.87x
Lancashire 11 0.89x
Kent 10 2.81x
Flintshire 9 32.09x
Sussex 9 5.12x
Cheshire 6 2.60x
Lanarkshire 6 1.78x
Essex 5 2.43x
Surrey 5 0.98x
Yorkshire 5 0.48x
Warwickshire 3 1.14x
Lincolnshire 2 1.20x
Norfolk 2 1.25x
Wiltshire 2 2.17x
Berkshire 1 1.28x
Channel Islands 1 3.23x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Marylebone London in Middlesex leads with 10 Schwarz' recorded in 1881 and an index of 17.95x.

Place Total Index
St Marylebone London 10 17.95x
Islington London 7 6.92x
Broughton In Salford 6 53.00x
Glasgow 6 10.01x
Deptford St Paul 5 18.21x
Fulham London 5 33.05x
Holywell 5 142.05x
Toxteth Park 5 11.92x
West Ham 5 10.99x
Withyam 5 666.67x
Eastbourne 4 49.38x
Ecclesall Bierlow 4 19.02x
Flint 4 251.57x
Paddington London 4 10.42x
Woolwich 4 30.42x
Hale 3 379.75x
Lower Bebington 3 218.98x
Birmingham 2 2.28x
Calne 2 105.26x
Clee With Weelsby 2 54.79x
Lakenham 2 87.72x
Newington 2 5.19x
Aston 1 1.38x
Kensington London 1 1.72x
Lewisham 1 5.27x
Manningham 1 7.85x
St Maryde Castro 1 131.58x
St Pancras London 1 1.19x
Stoke Newington London 1 12.30x
Streatham 1 12.92x
Sunninghill 1 91.74x
Westminster St James 1 9.32x
Weybridge 1 91.74x
Wimbledon 1 17.51x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Schwarz surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Florence 3
Anna 2
Clara 2
Eliza 2
Emma 2
Marie 2
Meta 2
Amalie 1
Ann 1
Annie 1
Beatrice 1
Bertha 1
Charlotte 1
Christina 1
Eleanora 1
Elizabeth 1
Elsa 1
Emilia 1
Gertude 1
Hannah 1
Henrietta 1
Hypotia 1
Julia 1
Kate 1
Kathrine 1
Lena 1
Lisettechen 1
Lucretia 1
Maggie 1
Margaret 1
Maria 1
Marthma 1
Mary 1
Minnie 1
Rosa 1
Sarah 1
Sophia 1
Stephania 1
Teresa 1
Tresa 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Schwarz surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
George 5
Henry 5
William 4
Charles 3
Emil 2
Herbert 2
Nicholas 2
Robert 2
Alex 1
Alfred 1
Antony 1
Augustine 1
Christian 1
Clemaes 1
Dominith 1
Ernest 1
Eugener 1
F. 1
Franz 1
Gust 1
H. 1
Henri 1
Herman 1
John 1
Karl 1
Maurice 1
Oscar 1
Otto 1
Philip 1
Reginald 1
Richard 1
Rudolph 1
Thomas 1
Wiliam 1

FAQ

Schwarz surname: questions and answers

How common was the Schwarz surname in 1881?

In 1881, 106 people were recorded with the Schwarz surname. That placed it at #19,083 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Schwarz surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 550 in 2016. That gives Schwarz a modern rank of #9,280.

What does the Schwarz surname mean?

A German and Jewish surname meaning "black," often referring to someone with dark hair, dark complexion, or a black-related occupation.

What does the Schwarz map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Schwarz bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.