UK surname
An occupational surname for a person who herded or bred swine, derived from the German word "Schwein" meaning "pig."
In the 1881 census there were 93 people recorded with the Schweitzer surname, ranking it #20,593 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 89, ranked #32,297, down from #20,593 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St James Clerkenwell and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Schweitzer is 192 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 4.3%.
1881 census count
93
Ranked #20,593
Modern count
89
2016, ranked #32,297
Peak year
1911
192 bearers
Map years
3
1891 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Schweitzer surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Schweitzer surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 15 | #30,614 |
| 1861 | historical | 41 | #28,839 |
| 1881 | historical | 93 | #20,593 |
| 1891 | historical | 106 | #23,105 |
| 1901 | historical | 131 | #19,552 |
| 1911 | historical | 192 | #15,342 |
| 1997 | modern | 76 | #29,997 |
| 1998 | modern | 82 | #29,754 |
| 1999 | modern | 79 | #30,243 |
| 2000 | modern | 86 | #29,484 |
| 2001 | modern | 80 | #29,945 |
| 2002 | modern | 78 | #30,601 |
| 2003 | modern | 75 | #30,994 |
| 2004 | modern | 70 | #31,681 |
| 2005 | modern | 69 | #32,007 |
| 2006 | modern | 78 | #31,385 |
| 2007 | modern | 75 | #32,079 |
| 2008 | modern | 79 | #31,957 |
| 2009 | modern | 92 | #30,820 |
| 2010 | modern | 99 | #30,397 |
| 2011 | modern | 93 | #31,169 |
| 2012 | modern | 98 | #30,612 |
| 2013 | modern | 96 | #31,381 |
| 2014 | modern | 94 | #31,909 |
| 2015 | modern | 93 | #31,972 |
| 2016 | modern | 89 | #32,297 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St James Clerkenwell, Lambeth and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | St James Clerkenwell | London (Central Districts) |
| 3 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 4 | Sheffield | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 5 | London parishes | London 2 |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Schweitzer surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Schweitzer, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Schweitzer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Schweitzer household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Schweitzer is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Schweitzer is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Schweitzer, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Schweitzer originates from the German-speaking areas of Europe, particularly Switzerland and southern Germany. It is derived from the German word "Schweiz," which means "Switzerland." The name likely emerged during the Middle Ages as a way to identify individuals who migrated from Switzerland to other regions.
The earliest known record of the Schweitzer name dates back to the 13th century in the Swiss canton of St. Gallen. In 1275, a document mentions a "Heinrich Schweitzer," referring to someone from Switzerland. This suggests that the name was already in use at that time.
During the 14th and 15th centuries, the Schweitzer name appeared in various historical records across the Swiss Confederacy and neighboring German territories. For instance, a "Hans Schweitzer" was mentioned in a land registry in the city of Zurich in 1392.
One of the most notable individuals with the Schweitzer surname was Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965), a German-French philosopher, theologian, and medical missionary. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1952 for his humanitarian efforts in Africa.
Another prominent figure was Johann Baptist von Schweitzer (1834-1875), a German-American missionary and explorer. He was the first European to explore the interior of Liberia and documented his findings in a book published in 1868.
In the 16th century, a "Peter Schweitzer" was recorded as a landowner in the town of Thun, Switzerland, in 1532. This suggests that the name had become well-established in various Swiss regions by that time.
The Schweitzer surname also has ties to place names in Switzerland. For example, the village of Schweizerholz in the canton of Bern likely derived its name from the presence of Swiss settlers in the area during the Middle Ages.
Another notable figure was Johann Schweitzer (1625-1687), a German-Swiss theologian and professor at the University of Zurich. He was a prominent figure in the Reformed Church and wrote several influential theological works.
In the 18th century, a "Jakob Schweitzer" was recorded as a member of the Zurich City Council in 1745, indicating that the Schweitzer family had achieved a certain level of social status and influence in the region.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Schweitzer surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 41 Schweitzers recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.52x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 41 | 4.52x |
| Yorkshire | 17 | 1.89x |
| Surrey | 15 | 3.39x |
| Lancashire | 8 | 0.74x |
| Essex | 7 | 3.91x |
| Devon | 3 | 1.59x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.32x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 0.82x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Sheffield in Yorkshire leads with 17 Schweitzers recorded in 1881 and an index of 59.40x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Sheffield | 17 | 59.40x |
| Islington London | 9 | 10.24x |
| Lambeth | 9 | 11.38x |
| West Derby | 8 | 25.40x |
| Clerkenwell London | 7 | 32.70x |
| Shoreditch London | 7 | 17.80x |
| West Ham | 7 | 17.71x |
| St Pancras London | 6 | 8.22x |
| Camberwell | 5 | 8.63x |
| St Marylebone London | 5 | 10.32x |
| Plymouth St Andrew | 3 | 20.62x |
| Whitechapel London | 3 | 33.56x |
| Shadwell London | 2 | 78.74x |
| Dover St Mary Virgin | 1 | 33.33x |
| Leith South | 1 | 588.24x |
| Newington | 1 | 2.98x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 3.00x |
| Tottenham | 1 | 6.92x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Schweitzer surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Schweitzer surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Schweitzer households.
FAQ
In 1881, 93 people were recorded with the Schweitzer surname. That placed it at #20,593 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 89 in 2016. That gives Schweitzer a modern rank of #32,297.
An occupational surname for a person who herded or bred swine, derived from the German word "Schwein" meaning "pig."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Schweitzer bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.