NameCensus.

UK surname

Swailes

A locational surname meaning "from the dales" or "from the valley".

In the 1881 census there were 333 people recorded with the Swailes surname, ranking it #9,038 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 412, ranked #11,627, down from #9,038 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Calverley and Bradford. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bolton, Carlisle and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Swailes is 435 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.7%.

1881 census count

333

Ranked #9,038

Modern count

412

2016, ranked #11,627

Peak year

2010

435 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Swailes had 333 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,038 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 412 in 2016, ranked #11,627.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 373 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Swailes surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Swailes surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Swailes 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 151 #12,840
1861 historical 204 #11,814
1881 historical 333 #9,038
1891 historical 318 #10,583
1901 historical 373 #9,948
1911 historical 349 #10,282
1997 modern 401 #10,989
1998 modern 399 #11,354
1999 modern 410 #11,246
2000 modern 411 #11,185
2001 modern 414 #10,942
2002 modern 429 #10,858
2003 modern 425 #10,765
2004 modern 413 #11,021
2005 modern 407 #11,041
2006 modern 400 #11,257
2007 modern 403 #11,315
2008 modern 402 #11,419
2009 modern 415 #11,386
2010 modern 435 #11,208
2011 modern 416 #11,492
2012 modern 391 #11,923
2013 modern 407 #11,766
2014 modern 413 #11,726
2015 modern 409 #11,713
2016 modern 412 #11,627

Geography

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Where Swailes' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Calverley, Bradford, Leigh and Guiseley. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bolton, Carlisle, Northumberland, Wakefield and Denholm and Hermitage. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Calverley Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Leigh Lancashire
5 Guiseley Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bolton 005 Bolton
2 Carlisle 008 Carlisle
3 Northumberland 019 Northumberland
4 Wakefield 027 Wakefield
5 Denholm and Hermitage Scottish Borders

Forenames

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First names often paired with Swailes

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Swailes

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Swailes surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Swailes household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Swailes is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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 residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Swailes is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Swailes falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Swailes 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 Swailes, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Swailes

The surname SWAILES has its origins in England, with the earliest records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "swale," meaning a marshy valley or low-lying land near a river or stream.

The name is thought to have originated as a locational surname, referring to individuals who hailed from or lived near such marshy areas. The earliest known bearer of the surname was Richard de Swale, mentioned in the Assize Rolls of Yorkshire in 1279.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror, there are references to the place name "Suale" in Lincolnshire, which may be related to the surname's origins.

The name SWAILES has undergone various spellings throughout history, including Swayle, Swale, Swayles, and Swaills. These variations reflect the evolving nature of surnames and the influence of regional dialects and scribal interpretation.

One notable bearer of the SWAILES surname was Sir Robert Swailes (c. 1565-1638), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1614. Another was Benjamin Swailes (1771-1851), an English philanthropist and businessman who founded the Swailes Charity in Newcastle upon Tyne.

In the United States, one of the earliest recorded instances of the surname was John Swailes, who arrived in Virginia in 1635. Another early American bearer was Josiah Swailes, born in Pennsylvania in 1745, who served as a private in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.

Other notable individuals with the SWAILES surname include William Swailes (1786-1857), an English Quaker minister and writer, and Charles Swailes (1891-1955), an English footballer who played for Sheffield United in the early 20th century.

While the surname SWAILES is not among the most common in English-speaking countries, it has a rich history that can be traced back centuries, with its origins rooted in the geographical features of the English landscape.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Swailes families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Swailes 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. Yorkshire leads with 150 Swailes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.66x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 150 4.66x
Lancashire 72 1.87x
Durham 31 3.21x
Devon 16 2.37x
Northamptonshire 14 4.58x
Northumberland 12 2.48x
Bedfordshire 8 4.76x
Leicestershire 7 1.94x
Brecknockshire 5 7.70x
Cheshire 4 0.56x
Middlesex 4 0.12x
Stirlingshire 4 3.34x
Cumberland 3 1.07x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.46x
Berkshire 1 0.41x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Horsforth in Yorkshire leads with 46 Swailes' recorded in 1881 and an index of 651.56x.

Place Total Index
Horsforth 46 651.56x
Oldham 17 13.66x
Linthwaite 12 177.51x
Wellingborough 12 78.13x
Esh 10 142.25x
Manningham 10 25.22x
Little Bolton 9 18.16x
Barmby On Marsh 8 2352.94x
Heaton Norris 8 36.46x
Lamerton 8 620.16x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 8 72.07x
Byker 7 29.30x
Liverpool 7 2.99x
Yeadon 7 96.29x
Brandon Byshottles 6 49.55x
Kyo 6 131.87x
Luton 6 20.60x
York St Nicholas In 6 331.49x
Batley 5 16.35x
Halliwell 5 35.64x
Leicester St Margaret 5 5.69x
Llanelly 5 64.35x
Middlesbrough 5 11.93x
Sharples 5 119.62x
Stoke Damerel 5 10.57x
Wolsingham 5 56.75x
Bradford 4 5.13x
Calverley Cum Farsley 4 43.76x
Dewsbury 4 12.12x
Elswick 4 10.37x
Falkirk 4 14.27x
Hyde 4 18.90x
Leeds 4 2.20x
North Meols 4 10.60x
Beverley St Mary 3 63.83x
Castleford 3 25.60x
Gomersal 3 19.97x
Newington 3 33.86x
Plymouth Charles The 3 10.07x
Whitehaven 3 20.12x
Annesley 2 121.21x
Appletreewick 2 740.74x
Bedale 2 170.94x
Chorlton On Medlock 2 3.27x
Elvet 2 28.65x
Gateshead 2 2.76x
Habergham Eaves 2 5.68x
Horton In Bradford 2 3.98x
Knottingley 2 35.34x
Leicester Black Friars 2 85.47x
Snainton 2 232.56x
St Pancras London 2 0.76x
Walkingham Hill Cum 2 6666.67x
Adel Cum Eccup 1 75.19x
Aldborough In Great 1 175.44x
Ashton Under Lyne 1 1.19x
Atherton 1 7.13x
Bedford St Mary 1 23.09x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 1 9.08x
Caytn Deepdal Kilrby 1 147.06x
Cheetham 1 3.48x
East Chevington 1 62.11x
Edmonton 1 3.82x
Gate Fulford 1 13.30x
Glinton 1 227.27x
Goldington 1 156.25x
Husthwaite 1 204.08x
Kensington London 1 0.55x
Liversedge 1 6.98x
Nether Hallam 1 2.30x
Openshaw 1 5.54x
Peterborough 1 4.52x
Scarborough 1 3.42x
Sculcoates 1 1.96x
Tilehurst 1 20.28x
Turton 1 15.85x
Whorlton 1 131.58x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 25
Elizabeth 18
Sarah 17
Ann 9
Jane 9
Martha 8
Eliza 7
Emma 6
Hannah 6
Margaret 6
Annie 4
Emily 4
Kate 3
Alice 2
Catherine 2
Christiana 2
Dorothy 2
Julia 2
Lilly 2
M. 2
Minnie 2
Nancy 2
Rebecca 2
Amelia 1
Ardelia 1
Beatrice 1
Bessy 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Dorothea 1
E. 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Ellen 1
Ester 1
Ethel 1
Frances 1
Grace 1
Harriet 1
Jestina 1
Lena 1
Lillie 1
Loucilla 1
Louisa 1
Maud 1
Miriam 1
Nan 1
Phoebe 1
Priscilla 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 16
John 15
Thomas 14
Joseph 10
James 8
Robert 6
Charles 5
George 5
Henry 5
Samuel 5
Arthur 3
Edward 3
Frederick 3
Job 3
Albert 2
Eli 2
Ernest 2
Fred 2
Henery 2
Richard 2
Stephen 2
Tom 2
Alfred 1
Augustus 1
Benjamin 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Edmund 1
Edwin 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Frederic 1
Harry 1
Hellowell 1
Herbert 1
Hogg 1
Hugh 1
Johnson 1
Joshua 1
Lazenby 1
Matthew 1
Nathaniel 1
Ned 1
Ralph 1
Reubon 1
Richd 1
Robt. 1
Rowland 1
Sam 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Swailes surname: questions and answers

How common was the Swailes surname in 1881?

In 1881, 333 people were recorded with the Swailes surname. That placed it at #9,038 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Swailes surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 412 in 2016. That gives Swailes a modern rank of #11,627.

What does the Swailes surname mean?

A locational surname meaning "from the dales" or "from the valley".

What does the Swailes map show?

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