NameCensus.

UK surname

Swaffield

A locational surname referring to someone from a meadow or clearing covered in coarse grass.

In the 1881 census there were 382 people recorded with the Swaffield surname, ranking it #8,222 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 376, ranked #12,437, down from #8,222 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Bothenhampton and Melcombe Regis. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Winchester, West Dorset and Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Swaffield is 550 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.6%.

1881 census count

382

Ranked #8,222

Modern count

376

2016, ranked #12,437

Peak year

1911

550 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Swaffield had 382 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,222 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 376 in 2016, ranked #12,437.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 550 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Swaffield surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Swaffield surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Swaffield 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 237 #9,152
1861 historical 227 #10,749
1881 historical 382 #8,222
1891 historical 453 #8,038
1901 historical 486 #8,224
1911 historical 550 #7,287
1997 modern 449 #10,094
1998 modern 468 #10,098
1999 modern 454 #10,380
2000 modern 440 #10,629
2001 modern 420 #10,811
2002 modern 443 #10,577
2003 modern 429 #10,684
2004 modern 427 #10,749
2005 modern 419 #10,802
2006 modern 409 #11,032
2007 modern 408 #11,203
2008 modern 424 #10,952
2009 modern 416 #11,364
2010 modern 410 #11,754
2011 modern 413 #11,560
2012 modern 404 #11,647
2013 modern 405 #11,813
2014 modern 413 #11,726
2015 modern 396 #11,994
2016 modern 376 #12,437

Geography

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Where Swaffields are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Bothenhampton, Melcombe Regis, Axminster, Thorncombe, Uplyme and Beaminster. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Winchester, West Dorset, Cornwall and Wyre Forest. 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 3
2 Bothenhampton Dorset
3 Melcombe Regis Dorset
4 Axminster, Thorncombe, Uplyme Devon
5 Beaminster Dorset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Winchester 006 Winchester
2 West Dorset 006 West Dorset
3 West Dorset 012 West Dorset
4 Cornwall 013 Cornwall
5 Wyre Forest 005 Wyre Forest

Forenames

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First names often paired with Swaffield

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Swaffield

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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Swaffield surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Swaffield 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 comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Swaffield is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Swaffield is most concentrated in decile 5 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Swaffield falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Swaffield 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 - British

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

Meaning and origin of Swaffield

The surname Swaffield is of English origin, derived from a place name referring to a field or clearing in a forest or wooded area. It is believed to have originated in the county of Leicestershire, where it was first recorded in the late 12th century.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Swaffield can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Leicestershire from 1195, where a John de Swavfeld is mentioned. The spelling of the name varied over time, with other early forms including Swavfeld, Swaufeld, and Swayfeld.

The name Swaffield is thought to be derived from the Old English words "swæf" meaning "forest" or "wooded area" and "feld" meaning "field" or "clearing." This suggests that the surname may have originally referred to someone who lived or worked in a clearing within a forested region.

During the medieval period, the Swaffield family was primarily based in the Midlands region of England, particularly in Leicestershire and neighboring counties. In the 13th century, records show a Richard de Swaufeld holding lands in Leicestershire, while a John Swayfeld is mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279.

Notable individuals with the surname Swaffield throughout history include:

1. John Swaffield (c. 1530-1590), an English clergyman and author who served as the Archdeacon of Norfolk.

2. Thomas Swaffield (1776-1853), an English architect known for his work on several churches in the Midlands region.

3. William Swaffield (1840-1913), a British engineer and inventor who patented improvements to steam engines and boilers.

4. Edith Swaffield (1868-1948), an English painter and artist who exhibited her works at the Royal Academy and other notable galleries.

5. Sir Henry Swaffield (1879-1962), a British businessman and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Leicester from 1924 to 1945.

While the name Swaffield is not among the most common surnames in England, it has a long and rich history dating back to the medieval period, with its origins rooted in the geography and landscape of the Midlands region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Swaffield families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Swaffield 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. Dorset leads with 170 Swaffields recorded in 1881 and an index of 68.79x.

County Total Index
Dorset 170 68.79x
Middlesex 41 1.09x
Somerset 25 4.12x
Surrey 25 1.36x
Kent 23 1.79x
Bedfordshire 21 10.77x
Gloucestershire 17 2.30x
Hampshire 12 1.55x
Derbyshire 9 1.53x
Glamorgan 9 1.37x
Warwickshire 8 0.84x
Channel Islands 4 3.58x
Devon 3 0.38x
Essex 3 0.40x
Northamptonshire 3 0.85x
Sussex 3 0.47x
Yorkshire 3 0.08x
Durham 2 0.18x
Worcestershire 2 0.41x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.42x
Renfrewshire 1 0.34x
Staffordshire 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Beaminster in Dorset leads with 30 Swaffields recorded in 1881 and an index of 1090.91x.

Place Total Index
Beaminster 30 1090.91x
Islington London 20 5.48x
Bothenhampton 18 2608.70x
Shipton George 15 3750.00x
Ampthill 9 309.28x
Bradpole 9 445.54x
Bridport 9 176.82x
Swansea Lower 9 269.46x
Symondsbury 9 573.25x
Allington 8 363.64x
Birmingham 8 2.53x
Bitton Oldland 8 105.96x
Burton Bradstock 8 655.74x
Caterham 8 98.64x
Croydon 8 7.86x
Lewisham 8 11.68x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 7 10.07x
Holdenhurst 7 34.59x
Walcot 7 21.69x
Wootton 7 416.67x
Thorncombe 6 422.54x
Bermondsey 5 4.46x
Greenwich 5 8.34x
Halstock 5 877.19x
Lyme Regis 5 168.92x
Sevenoaks 5 47.98x
Winterborne St Martin 5 909.09x
Kensington London 4 1.91x
Loders 4 325.20x
Lytchett Minster 4 366.97x
Maulden 4 236.69x
Portsea 4 2.64x
St Peter Port 4 19.38x
Walditch 4 1600.00x
Yetminster 4 434.78x
Bakewell 3 93.17x
Bath St James 3 47.47x
Batheaston 3 144.23x
Bradford Peverell 3 697.67x
Ealing 3 8.92x
Fulham London 3 5.49x
Lambeth 3 0.91x
Parkstone 3 104.17x
Rampisham 3 810.81x
Sheffield 3 2.53x
Stoke Abbott 3 422.54x
Stonehouse East 3 75.38x
Tideswell 3 117.19x
West Ham 3 1.83x
Wyke Regis 3 84.51x
Brighton 2 1.56x
Crossgate 2 40.82x
Gillingham 2 7.55x
Hackney London 2 0.95x
Hammersmith London 2 2.16x
Hardington Mandeville 2 243.90x
Hartington Town Quarter 2 357.14x
Horsington 2 206.19x
Northampton Priory St 2 9.41x
St George Hanover 2 4.07x
Winsham 2 180.18x
Wootton Fitzpaine 2 689.66x
Worcester Blockhouse 2 74.07x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 4.06x
Cannock 1 4.51x
Clifton 1 2.68x
Crewkerne 1 15.53x
Gillingham 1 23.53x
Greenock Oldor West 1 125.00x
Hastings St Mary 1 6.33x
Hawkhurst 1 25.06x
Littlebredy 1 400.00x
Northampton St Giles 1 7.41x
Ropley 1 88.50x
Sandhurst 1 66.23x
St Benedict Cambridge 1 74.07x
Stoke Trister 1 185.19x
Toller Porcorum 1 175.44x
Tolpuddle 1 256.41x
Tottenham 1 1.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 20
Annie 13
Elizabeth 10
Alice 9
Sarah 9
Harriet 7
Jane 7
Emma 6
Eliza 5
Florence 5
Harriett 5
Amelia 4
Edith 4
Louisa 4
Martha 4
Ada 3
Amy 3
Ann 3
Ellen 3
Maria 3
Anna 2
Beatrice 2
Bessie 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Ella 2
Fanny 2
Lydia 2
Maryan 2
Priscilla 2
Rhoda 2
Rose 2
Angelein 1
Augusta 1
Beatrise 1
Betsey 1
Cordelia 1
Corolin 1
Emeline 1
Emily 1
Emmiline 1
Helen 1
Helena 1
Ida 1
Infant 1
Judith 1
Julia 1
Keturah 1
Laura 1
Zillah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 20
John 20
Thomas 15
William 15
Charles 12
Frederick 8
Henry 8
Benjamin 7
Joseph 6
Richard 6
Samuel 6
Walter 6
Alfred 4
Fred 4
Herbert 4
Edward 3
Edwin 3
James 3
Chas. 2
Edgar 2
Harry 2
Jethro 2
Robert 2
Sydney 2
Agustus 1
Albert 1
Alfd.John 1
Benjn. 1
Clement 1
Earnest 1
Ernest 1
Esau 1
Exton 1
Feargus 1
Frances 1
Frank 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Hugh 1
Jether 1
Nicholas 1
Norman 1
Percy 1
Sarah 1
Silvester 1
Slade 1
Stanley 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Swaffield surname: questions and answers

How common was the Swaffield surname in 1881?

In 1881, 382 people were recorded with the Swaffield surname. That placed it at #8,222 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Swaffield surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 376 in 2016. That gives Swaffield a modern rank of #12,437.

What does the Swaffield surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from a meadow or clearing covered in coarse grass.

What does the Swaffield map show?

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