NameCensus.

UK surname

Swale

A geographical surname referring to a low tract of land, often marshy ground between hills or slopes.

In the 1881 census there were 404 people recorded with the Swale surname, ranking it #7,919 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 250, ranked #16,792, down from #7,919 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kirkby Malzeard, Halifax and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Wyre, Flintshire and Carmarthenshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Swale is 438 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 38.1%.

1881 census count

404

Ranked #7,919

Modern count

250

2016, ranked #16,792

Peak year

1891

438 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Swale had 404 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,919 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 250 in 2016, ranked #16,792.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 438 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Swale surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Swale surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Swale 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 380 #6,284
1861 historical 426 #6,032
1881 historical 404 #7,919
1891 historical 438 #8,234
1901 historical 372 #9,972
1911 historical 426 #8,856
1997 modern 238 #15,760
1998 modern 253 #15,547
1999 modern 242 #16,146
2000 modern 250 #15,741
2001 modern 230 #16,415
2002 modern 252 #15,714
2003 modern 243 #15,911
2004 modern 245 #15,894
2005 modern 250 #15,639
2006 modern 246 #15,907
2007 modern 253 #15,776
2008 modern 239 #16,583
2009 modern 267 #15,661
2010 modern 270 #15,896
2011 modern 269 #15,800
2012 modern 254 #16,328
2013 modern 256 #16,506
2014 modern 256 #16,643
2015 modern 251 #16,756
2016 modern 250 #16,792

Geography

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Where Swales are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kirkby Malzeard, Halifax, London parishes, Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall and Marton with Grafton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Wyre, Flintshire, Carmarthenshire, Kingston upon Hull and Liverpool. 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 Kirkby Malzeard Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
3 London parishes London 3
4 Knaresborough (Bilton and Harrogate, Scriven with Tentergate, Knaresborough), Pannall Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Marton with Grafton Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Wyre 009 Wyre
2 Flintshire 020 Flintshire
3 Carmarthenshire 027 Carmarthenshire
4 Kingston upon Hull 007 Kingston upon Hull, City of
5 Liverpool 018 Liverpool

Forenames

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First names often paired with Swale

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Swale

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Swale surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Swale household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Swale is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Swale 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

Swale 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 Swale 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 Swale, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Swale

The surname Swale is of English origin, deriving from either the Old English word 'swalu' meaning 'narrow valley' or the Old Norse word 'svalr' meaning 'cold'. It is believed to have originated as a topographic name, referring to someone who lived in or near a swale or hollow.

The name is found in various early records, including the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as 'Suale' and 'Suala'. This suggests that the name was already established in England by the time of the Norman Conquest.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is John Swale, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1199. Another early bearer was Robert de Swale, who was recorded in the Assize Rolls of Northumberland in 1279.

The surname Swale is also linked to several place names in England, such as Swaledale in North Yorkshire, which is derived from the Old English 'Swaladdal', meaning 'valley of the Swale River'. This suggests that some individuals may have taken their surname from the place where they lived or originated.

Notable individuals with the surname Swale include:

1. Sir Solomon Swale (1610-1689), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1668-1669.

2. John Swale (1741-1821), an English mathematician and astronomer who made significant contributions to the study of comets.

3. Joseph Grafton Swale (1857-1928), a British civil engineer who was instrumental in the construction of the Blackwall Tunnel under the River Thames.

4. Harcourt Johnstone Swale (1892-1967), a British diplomat who served as Ambassador to the Netherlands from 1945 to 1949.

5. Clive Swale (1938-2018), an English actor best known for his roles in television series such as Doctor Who and Coronation Street.

The surname Swale continues to be found throughout England, particularly in the northern counties, reflecting its historical roots and geographic associations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Swale families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Swale 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 243 Swales recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.22x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 243 6.22x
Surrey 41 2.14x
Kent 19 1.41x
Lancashire 19 0.41x
Cheshire 17 1.95x
Middlesex 12 0.30x
Warwickshire 9 0.91x
Derbyshire 8 1.30x
Durham 8 0.68x
Hampshire 7 0.87x
Nottinghamshire 6 1.13x
Gloucestershire 3 0.39x
Somerset 3 0.47x
Hertfordshire 2 0.74x
Lincolnshire 2 0.32x
Essex 1 0.13x
Norfolk 1 0.17x
Staffordshire 1 0.08x
Westmorland 1 1.15x
Worcestershire 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Leeds in Yorkshire leads with 23 Swales recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.43x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 23 10.43x
Halifax 18 31.40x
Newington 16 10.99x
Easington In Clitheroe 12 3000.00x
High Low Bishopside 10 289.02x
Marton Cum Grafton 10 2040.82x
Middleham 10 909.09x
Birmingham 9 2.72x
Sutton Stoneferry 9 80.57x
Alverthorpe Cum Thornes 8 56.42x
Camberwell 8 3.18x
Hampsthwaite 8 1290.32x
Harraton 8 349.35x
Newbold Dunston 8 136.52x
Bexley 7 58.87x
Killinghall 7 769.23x
Plompton 7 3181.82x
Scriven Cum Tentergate 7 482.76x
Tranmere 7 21.90x
Wandsworth 7 18.45x
Alverstoke 6 20.52x
Bewerley 6 372.67x
Boroughbridge 6 458.02x
Holy Trinity 6 6.39x
Menwith Cum Darley 6 769.23x
Ordsall 6 147.42x
Potter Newton 6 87.08x
Skircoat 6 38.96x
Woolwich 6 12.08x
Bilton Cum Harrogate 5 37.43x
Bredbury 5 99.40x
Calverley Cum Farsley 5 45.09x
Lewisham 5 6.97x
Liverpool 5 1.76x
Stoke 5 55.19x
Clifford Cum Boston 4 113.96x
Elland Cum Greetland 4 22.74x
Guiseley 4 80.00x
Hornsey 4 8.03x
Kirkby Overblow 4 1111.11x
Settle 4 133.78x
Widnes 4 11.86x
Barkisland 3 105.63x
Carperby Cum Thoresby 3 731.71x
Lathom 3 53.10x
Radcliffe 3 13.31x
Shipton In Pocklington 3 517.24x
Arkendale 2 769.23x
Barnwood 2 192.31x
Bingley 2 8.04x
Birstwith 2 303.03x
Chipping Barnet 2 42.11x
Clifton Cum Norwood 2 444.44x
Collingham 2 444.44x
Esholt 2 384.62x
Gomersal 2 10.97x
Kensington London 2 0.91x
Kirby Hill In Great 2 952.38x
Lambeth 2 0.58x
Long Marston 2 408.16x
Nantwich 2 19.78x
Otley 2 21.10x
Shoreditch London 2 1.17x
Sinnington 2 476.19x
St Luke London 2 3.16x
Steeton Cum Eastburn 2 149.25x
Waddington 2 333.33x
Weston Super Mare 2 12.48x
Cheetham 1 2.87x
Chigwell 1 13.62x
Congleton 1 6.65x
Coverham Cum 1 357.14x
Giggleswick 1 75.76x
Glanford Brigg 1 44.44x
Heaton Norris 1 3.76x
Lichfield Close 1 322.58x
Minskip 1 333.33x
Powick 1 28.09x
Putney 1 5.57x
Westminster St James 1 2.47x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 30
Annie 15
Elizabeth 15
Sarah 15
Jane 10
Ann 9
Eliza 7
Emily 7
Emma 7
Hannah 5
Alice 4
Ellen 4
Fanny 4
Frances 4
Harriet 4
Louisa 4
Ada 3
Charlotte 3
Edith 3
Martha 3
Adelaide 2
Anne 2
Dora 2
Emmeline 2
Gertrude 2
Isabella 2
Jessie 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Teresa 2
Anna 1
Barbary 1
Beatrice 1
Blanch 1
Ellenor 1
Eva 1
Florence 1
Grace 1
Helen 1
Hilda 1
Isabell 1
Josephine 1
Kate 1
Laurina 1
Lavinia 1
Lettice 1
Lillian 1
Louise 1
Lucy 1
Margeret 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 27
Thomas 23
James 21
William 21
George 10
Joseph 8
Henry 7
Charles 5
Richard 5
Arthur 4
Walter 4
Benjamin 3
Fred 3
Herbert 3
Robert 3
Alfred 2
Bernard 2
Christopher 2
Edward 2
Ernest 2
Harold 2
Isaac 2
Joe 2
Peter 2
Seth 2
Tom 2
Chas.J. 1
Emily 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Geo.H. 1
Gerald 1
Harry 1
Hogarth 1
Jeffrey 1
Jonathan 1
Joshua 1
Lawrence 1
Louis 1
Major 1
Mark 1
Matthew 1
Richd.J. 1
Saml.J. 1
Sammuel 1
Sidney 1
Solomon 1
Sydney 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Swale surname: questions and answers

How common was the Swale surname in 1881?

In 1881, 404 people were recorded with the Swale surname. That placed it at #7,919 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Swale surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 250 in 2016. That gives Swale a modern rank of #16,792.

What does the Swale surname mean?

A geographical surname referring to a low tract of land, often marshy ground between hills or slopes.

What does the Swale map show?

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