NameCensus.

UK surname

Swales

A surname deriving from the Old English word referring to valleys or marshy grounds.

In the 1881 census there were 2,089 people recorded with the Swales surname, ranking it #2,117 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,237, ranked #2,101, up from #2,117 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Darlington, Whitby and Guisborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Scarborough, Redcar and Cleveland and Hambleton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Swales is 3,384 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 55.0%.

1881 census count

2,089

Ranked #2,117

Modern count

3,237

2016, ranked #2,101

Peak year

2010

3,384 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Swales had 2,089 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,117 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,237 in 2016, ranked #2,101.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,860 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Swales surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Swales surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Swales 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 1,228 #2,324
1861 historical 1,356 #2,114
1881 historical 2,089 #2,117
1891 historical 2,307 #2,033
1901 historical 2,485 #2,197
1911 historical 2,860 #1,822
1997 modern 3,120 #2,054
1998 modern 3,210 #2,087
1999 modern 3,249 #2,080
2000 modern 3,238 #2,074
2001 modern 3,160 #2,081
2002 modern 3,227 #2,081
2003 modern 3,137 #2,095
2004 modern 3,192 #2,058
2005 modern 3,156 #2,051
2006 modern 3,178 #2,053
2007 modern 3,203 #2,058
2008 modern 3,236 #2,056
2009 modern 3,313 #2,058
2010 modern 3,384 #2,057
2011 modern 3,337 #2,056
2012 modern 3,235 #2,083
2013 modern 3,275 #2,096
2014 modern 3,291 #2,100
2015 modern 3,253 #2,100
2016 modern 3,237 #2,101

Geography

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Where Swales' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Darlington, Whitby, Guisborough, Stranton and Middlesborough. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Scarborough, Redcar and Cleveland and Hambleton. 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 Darlington Durham
2 Whitby Yorkshire, North Riding
3 Guisborough Yorkshire, North Riding
4 Stranton Durham
5 Middlesborough Durham

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Scarborough 001 Scarborough
2 Redcar and Cleveland 018 Redcar and Cleveland
3 Scarborough 003 Scarborough
4 Hambleton 001 Hambleton
5 Hambleton 002 Hambleton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Swales

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Swales

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Swales, 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 Swales surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Swales 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Swales is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Swales is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Swales falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Swales

The surname Swales originated in Yorkshire, England, and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old Norse word "svalr," which means "cold stream" or "valley," referring to the geographical features in the area where the name first arose.

Swales is a locational surname, meaning it was initially given to people who lived near or came from a particular location. In this case, the name likely referred to individuals who resided in or near the valleys or dales of Yorkshire. The earliest recorded spelling of the name was "de Swaledale" in the Hundred Rolls of Yorkshire in 1273.

The name appears in several historical records, including the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Suale." This suggests that the name was already in use during the Norman Conquest of England in the 11th century. Other early spellings include "de Swaledale" in the Feet of Fines of Yorkshire in 1301 and "Swayll" in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname Swales was John de Swaledale, who was mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1301. Another notable figure was Thomas Swales, a merchant from Hull, who was born in the late 15th century and was involved in trade with the Netherlands.

In the 16th century, a family of Swales owned land in the village of Wensleydale, Yorkshire. One member of this family, William Swales (1547-1627), was a prominent landowner and served as a justice of the peace for the county.

During the English Civil War, Captain Richard Swales (1607-1688) fought for the Parliamentarian forces and was known for his bravery in battle. He later became a member of the Honorable Artillery Company in London.

Another notable individual was Sir Richard Swales (1763-1842), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic Wars. He was knighted in 1815 for his distinguished service and rose to the rank of Vice Admiral.

In the 19th century, John Swales (1827-1901) was a renowned architect from Yorkshire who designed several churches and public buildings in the region, including the Church of St. Michael and All Angels in Haworth, which is associated with the Brontë family.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Swales families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Swales 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 1,295 Swales' recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.40x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 1,295 6.40x
Durham 234 3.85x
Lancashire 213 0.88x
Bedfordshire 87 8.23x
Middlesex 50 0.24x
Kent 33 0.47x
Huntingdonshire 29 7.15x
Pembrokeshire 21 3.23x
Surrey 21 0.21x
Lincolnshire 19 0.58x
Cheshire 14 0.31x
Northamptonshire 13 0.68x
Shropshire 9 0.51x
Derbyshire 8 0.25x
Hampshire 8 0.19x
Isle of Man 8 2.11x
Sussex 8 0.23x
Cumberland 5 0.28x
Northumberland 3 0.10x
Nottinghamshire 3 0.11x
Warwickshire 3 0.06x
Leicestershire 2 0.09x
Westmorland 2 0.45x
Angus 1 0.05x
Berkshire 1 0.07x
Brecknockshire 1 0.24x
Devon 1 0.02x
Midlothian 1 0.04x
Wiltshire 1 0.06x

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 86 Swales' recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.52x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 86 7.52x
Clitheroe 54 75.69x
Darlington 51 21.74x
Whitby 43 63.03x
Holbeck 40 29.83x
Guisbrough 38 85.91x
Preston 33 5.09x
Stokesley 29 229.98x
Stranton 29 14.18x
Stockton On Tees 27 9.22x
Bolnhurst 26 1333.33x
Pannal 25 128.73x
Holy Trinity 24 4.93x
Pickering 24 94.15x
Sheffield 24 3.72x
Middlesbrough 23 8.73x
Hunslet 22 6.97x
Hartlepool 21 24.31x
Clint 19 693.43x
Ripon 19 40.46x
Bishop Auckland 17 20.85x
Scarborough 17 9.24x
Skipwith 17 876.29x
Thirsk 16 68.52x
Thurleigh 16 379.15x
York St Mary 16 19.08x
Shitlington 15 71.63x
Knottingley 14 39.35x
Skelton In Guisbrough 14 25.57x
Bishopwearmouth 13 2.49x
Falsgrave 13 43.58x
Glaisdale 13 168.39x
Haverfordwest St Mary 13 139.34x
Sculcoates 13 4.05x
Tanshelf 13 80.40x
Warsill 13 3170.73x
Whitwood 13 45.22x
Great Staughton 12 152.48x
Pontefract 12 27.52x
Wakefield 12 7.72x
Bishop Thornton 11 328.36x
Coxhoe 11 63.81x
Horton In Bradford 11 3.48x
Manningham 11 4.41x
Pool 11 272.95x
Womersley 11 408.92x
Colmworth 10 369.00x
Cornforth 10 55.90x
Allerton 9 34.88x
Battersea 9 1.20x
Bowling 9 4.49x
Bredbury 9 34.50x
Cheetham 9 4.98x
Drayton In Hales 9 24.74x
Flitwick 9 157.07x
Kempston 9 37.48x
Manchester 9 0.83x
Wortley In Bramley 9 5.61x
Batley 8 4.16x
Bradford 8 1.63x
Deptford St Paul 8 1.49x
Farington 8 56.70x
Gateshead 8 1.76x
Hartwith Cum Winsley 8 107.82x
Houghton Le Spring 8 19.04x
Hunsworth 8 75.33x
Kirkby Malzeard 8 180.59x
Moorsholme 8 290.91x
Oldham 8 1.02x
Penge 8 6.13x
Sheriff Hutton W 8 139.37x
Thornaby 8 10.58x
West Rounton 8 522.88x
York St Cuthbert 8 43.17x
Cawthorne In Wortley 7 85.68x
Market Weighton Arras 7 53.23x
Ruskington 7 84.03x
Tollerton 7 194.99x
West Scrafton 7 945.95x
Whitchurch 7 119.66x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 178
Elizabeth 85
Sarah 81
Jane 61
Ann 46
Annie 43
Margaret 36
Hannah 31
Eliza 21
Emma 21
Emily 18
Ellen 15
Alice 13
Catherine 13
Martha 13
Edith 12
Ada 11
Fanny 11
Isabella 11
Kate 11
Lucy 11
Maria 10
Caroline 9
Florence 9
Harriet 9
Charlotte 8
Grace 8
Clara 7
Frances 7
Agnes 6
Anne 6
Christiana 6
Esther 6
Matilda 6
Susan 6
Eleanor 5
Rose 5
Ruth 5
Amy 4
Beatrice 4
Elizth. 4
Gertrude 4
Harriett 4
Isabel 4
Laura 4
Lizzie 4
Nancy 4
Anna 3
Easter 3
Jessie 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 142
John 136
Thomas 84
George 68
James 68
Robert 43
Charles 28
Richard 26
Arthur 25
Joseph 24
Henry 23
Alfred 20
Frederick 20
Francis 18
Edward 13
Samuel 13
Herbert 12
Walter 12
Benjamin 11
David 8
Christopher 7
Albert 6
Harry 6
Jacob 6
Peter 6
Tom 6
Frank 5
Jeremiah 5
Mark 5
Abraham 4
Anthony 4
Fred 4
Jonas 4
Wm. 4
Amos 3
Edwin 3
Hannibal 3
J. 3
Jno. 3
Matthew 3
Stephen 3
Daniel 2
Elias 2
Jas. 2
Luke 2
Martin 2
Mathew 2
Ralph 2
Robt. 2
Sam 2

FAQ

Swales surname: questions and answers

How common was the Swales surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2,089 people were recorded with the Swales surname. That placed it at #2,117 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Swales surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,237 in 2016. That gives Swales a modern rank of #2,101.

What does the Swales surname mean?

A surname deriving from the Old English word referring to valleys or marshy grounds.

What does the Swales map show?

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