NameCensus.

UK surname

Swaby

A locational surname derived from a place called Swaby in Yorkshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 547 people recorded with the Swaby surname, ranking it #6,313 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,316, ranked #4,562, up from #6,313 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lincoln St Botolph, Louth and Doncaster. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Kesteven, Wakefield and North Lincolnshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Swaby is 1,352 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 140.6%.

1881 census count

547

Ranked #6,313

Modern count

1,316

2016, ranked #4,562

Peak year

2010

1,352 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Swaby had 547 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,313 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,316 in 2016, ranked #4,562.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 786 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations.

Swaby surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Swaby surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Swaby 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 353 #6,689
1861 historical 371 #6,875
1881 historical 547 #6,313
1891 historical 671 #5,809
1901 historical 683 #6,403
1911 historical 786 #5,542
1997 modern 1,209 #4,679
1998 modern 1,252 #4,711
1999 modern 1,246 #4,759
2000 modern 1,223 #4,820
2001 modern 1,215 #4,753
2002 modern 1,257 #4,713
2003 modern 1,248 #4,645
2004 modern 1,271 #4,577
2005 modern 1,257 #4,576
2006 modern 1,254 #4,591
2007 modern 1,259 #4,622
2008 modern 1,260 #4,639
2009 modern 1,310 #4,573
2010 modern 1,352 #4,535
2011 modern 1,320 #4,574
2012 modern 1,287 #4,614
2013 modern 1,302 #4,647
2014 modern 1,308 #4,649
2015 modern 1,307 #4,610
2016 modern 1,316 #4,562

Geography

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Where Swabys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lincoln St Botolph, Louth, Doncaster, Aldbury and St Matthew Bethnal Green. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Kesteven, Wakefield, North Lincolnshire, Bolton and West Lindsey. 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 Lincoln St Botolph Lincolnshire
2 Louth Lincolnshire
3 Doncaster Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Aldbury Hertfordshire
5 St Matthew Bethnal Green London (East Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Kesteven 001 South Kesteven
2 Wakefield 042 Wakefield
3 North Lincolnshire 021 North Lincolnshire
4 Bolton 012 Bolton
5 West Lindsey 002 West Lindsey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Swaby

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Swaby

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Swaby, 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

Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities

Group

Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations

Nationally, the Swaby surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ethnically Diverse Families in Less Connected Locations, within Low-Skilled Migrant and Student Communities. This does not mean every Swaby 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 is often found in less central parts of London and other major towns and cities. Adults are more likely than the Supergroup average to have never been married and are typically aged less than 45 years. Many have young dependent children and individuals may have been born in Africa. There are many members identifying with a Black ethnic group, with the other ethnic groups (as listed in the glossary) also represented, though Chinese less so. Accommodation in flats, frequently socially rented, is common in these neighbourhoods. Part time employment is also common, and work is often in elementary occupations, while unemployment is also the highest within this Supergroup.

Wider pattern

Young adults, many of whom are students, predominate in these high-density and overcrowded neighbourhoods of rented terrace houses or flats. Most ethnic minorities are present in these communities, as are people born in European countries that are not part of the EU. Students aside, low skilled occupations predominate, and unemployment rates are above average. Overall, the mix of students and more sedentary households means that neighbourhood average numbers of children are not very high. The Mixed or Multiple ethnic group composition of neighbourhoods is often associated with low rates of affiliation to Christian religions. This Supergroup predominates in non-central urban locations the UK, particularly within England in the Midlands and the outskirts of west, south and north-east London.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Swaby is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Swaby 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

Swaby falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Swaby is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Swaby

The surname SWABY is of English origin, originating from the village of Swaby in Lincolnshire, England. The name is derived from the Old Norse words "sveinr" meaning "young man" and "byr" meaning "village" or "settlement". It is believed that the surname was first used to refer to someone who hailed from the village of Swaby.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname SWABY can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Suavebi". This record suggests that the name was already in use by the late 11th century.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various forms such as "de Swavebi" and "de Swayby". These variations likely stemmed from the different ways the name was pronounced and spelled in different regions of England.

One notable figure bearing the surname SWABY was John Swaby, a 16th-century English merchant who was born in 1525 and died in 1598. He was a member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers and played a significant role in the trade between England and the Netherlands.

Another person of historical significance was William Swaby, born in 1690 and died in 1765. He was an English architect and surveyor who worked on several notable buildings in London, including the Church of St. George the Martyr in Southwark.

In the 18th century, the SWABY surname was also found in the records of the East India Company. Thomas Swaby, born in 1745 and died in 1812, was a captain in the company's maritime service and was involved in trade voyages to India and China.

The 19th century saw the rise of several notable individuals with the SWABY surname. One such figure was Henry Swaby, born in 1820 and died in 1898, who was a renowned English artist and painter known for his landscape and genre paintings.

Another prominent figure was Elizabeth Swaby, born in 1835 and died in 1912. She was a pioneering educator and author who wrote several books on teaching methods and education reform. Her work had a significant impact on the education system in England during the late 19th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Swaby families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Swaby 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. Lincolnshire leads with 235 Swabys recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.54x.

County Total Index
Lincolnshire 235 27.54x
Yorkshire 143 2.70x
Middlesex 65 1.22x
Surrey 27 1.04x
Hertfordshire 20 5.44x
Nottinghamshire 18 2.50x
Lancashire 9 0.14x
Norfolk 7 0.85x
Durham 6 0.38x
Cambridgeshire 5 1.48x
Devon 2 0.18x
Hampshire 2 0.18x
Warwickshire 2 0.15x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.31x
Cornwall 1 0.17x
Dorset 1 0.29x
Kent 1 0.05x
Northamptonshire 1 0.20x
Oxfordshire 1 0.30x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Doncaster in Yorkshire leads with 37 Swabys recorded in 1881 and an index of 95.78x.

Place Total Index
Doncaster 37 95.78x
Louth 34 173.91x
Aldbury 17 1017.96x
Bethnal Green London 15 6.47x
Holy Trinity 15 11.79x
Great Grimsby 13 24.01x
Hampton London 11 125.43x
Kensington London 10 3.37x
Scunthorpe 10 260.42x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 10 83.33x
York St Maurice 10 100.40x
Barton St Mary 8 186.92x
East Firsby 8 13333.33x
Pocklington 8 160.32x
St Martin Lincoln 8 101.01x
Little Carlton 7 2258.06x
Middle Rasen 7 432.10x
North Somercotes 7 313.90x
Scampton 7 1666.67x
St Peterin Eastgate 7 265.15x
Alford 6 113.42x
Altofts 6 102.74x
Denaby 6 200.67x
East Molesey 6 99.50x
Fillingham 6 1071.43x
Hylton 6 214.29x
Keddington 6 1875.00x
Kexby 6 1016.95x
Mile End Old Town 6 7.12x
Nottingham St Mary 6 3.23x
South Skirlaugh 6 1111.11x
Spilsby 6 221.40x
St Nicholas Lincoln 6 73.53x
Beverley St Martin 5 56.63x
Camberwell 5 1.47x
Chadderton 5 16.16x
Claxby In Caistor 5 847.46x
Ealing 5 10.48x
Eastwood 5 77.76x
Richmond 5 13.73x
Sutton 5 82.92x
Tilney St Lawrence 5 378.79x
Gedling 4 336.13x
Hemingby 4 547.95x
Langton By Horncastle 4 754.72x
Minting 4 625.00x
Rotherhithe 4 6.07x
Skidby 4 606.06x
St Pancras London 4 0.93x
Swinton In Rotherham 4 28.61x
Ardwick 3 5.25x
Binbrooke 3 140.85x
Bow London 3 4.42x
Chatteris 3 34.80x
Cleethorpes 3 59.76x
Faldingworth 3 576.92x
Gayton Le Marsh 3 666.67x
Hagworthingham 3 337.08x
Holy Trinity St Mary 3 37.27x
Hovingham 3 272.73x
Market Rasen 3 62.89x
Paddington London 3 1.53x
Pontefract 3 26.34x
Ryther Cum Ossendyke 3 566.04x
Saxelby With Ingleby 3 137.61x
Spridlington 3 566.04x
St Michael Lincoln 3 129.87x
Stamford St Michael 3 123.97x
Sunbury 3 46.80x
York St Nicholas In 3 100.67x
Barnoldby Le Beck 2 512.82x
Clapham 2 3.00x
Goxhill 2 95.24x
Great Coates 2 444.44x
Marsh Chapel 2 190.48x
Southampton St Mary 2 2.91x
St Mary 2 56.66x
St Peterat Arches 2 204.08x
Waddington 2 128.21x
Woodmansterne 2 357.14x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 36
Elizabeth 30
Sarah 18
Annie 12
Jane 10
Maria 8
Alice 7
Caroline 7
Eliza 7
Emma 7
Ada 6
Fanny 6
Hannah 6
Ann 5
Ellen 5
Emily 5
Kate 5
Charlotte 4
Edith 4
Louisa 4
Margaret 4
Martha 4
Betsy 3
Clara 3
Eleanor 3
Ethel 3
Frances 3
Gertrude 3
Rebecca 3
Rose 3
Marion 2
Matilda 2
Minnie 2
Phoebe 2
Ruth 2
Susan 2
Agnes 1
Anne 1
Catherine 1
Elizth. 1
Ella 1
Florance 1
Florie 1
Katherine 1
Katie 1
Keaty 1
Kezia 1
Laura 1
Lilly 1
Tille 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 42
William 36
Thomas 27
Charles 16
Robert 15
James 13
George 12
Henry 10
Frederick 9
Arthur 8
Joseph 6
Albert 5
Frank 5
Richard 4
Aaron 3
Edwin 3
Samuel 3
Walter 3
Alfred 2
Edmund 2
Edward 2
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Isaac 2
Philip 2
Wilfred 2
Allen 1
Amos 1
Benjamin 1
Bertram 1
David 1
Elijah 1
Enos 1
Florence 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Hubert 1
Joe 1
Louis 1
Martin 1
Moses 1
Robt. 1
Septimus 1
Sydney 1
Thos.C. 1
Walker 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Swaby surname: questions and answers

How common was the Swaby surname in 1881?

In 1881, 547 people were recorded with the Swaby surname. That placed it at #6,313 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Swaby surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,316 in 2016. That gives Swaby a modern rank of #4,562.

What does the Swaby surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place called Swaby in Yorkshire, England.

What does the Swaby map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Swaby 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.