NameCensus.

UK surname

Swallow

An English occupational surname referring to a person who hunted birds, particularly swallows, for a living.

In the 1881 census there were 3,023 people recorded with the Swallow surname, ranking it #1,483 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3,256, ranked #2,091, down from #1,483 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Sheffield, Huddersfield and Kirkburton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Northumberland, East Lindsey and Kirklees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Swallow is 3,872 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 7.7%.

1881 census count

3,023

Ranked #1,483

Modern count

3,256

2016, ranked #2,091

Peak year

1911

3,872 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Swallow had 3,023 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,483 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 3,256 in 2016, ranked #2,091.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 3,872 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Swallow surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Swallow surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Swallow 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 1,769 #1,629
1861 historical 2,011 #1,444
1881 historical 3,023 #1,483
1891 historical 3,151 #1,500
1901 historical 3,498 #1,595
1911 historical 3,872 #1,335
1997 modern 3,513 #1,843
1998 modern 3,571 #1,890
1999 modern 3,567 #1,904
2000 modern 3,535 #1,915
2001 modern 3,475 #1,907
2002 modern 3,502 #1,936
2003 modern 3,397 #1,949
2004 modern 3,349 #1,978
2005 modern 3,270 #1,991
2006 modern 3,230 #2,023
2007 modern 3,289 #2,017
2008 modern 3,273 #2,037
2009 modern 3,312 #2,060
2010 modern 3,373 #2,065
2011 modern 3,316 #2,067
2012 modern 3,265 #2,064
2013 modern 3,313 #2,068
2014 modern 3,330 #2,073
2015 modern 3,268 #2,090
2016 modern 3,256 #2,091

Geography

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Where Swallows are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Sheffield, Huddersfield, Kirkburton, London parishes and Ashton-under-Lyne. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Northumberland, East Lindsey, Kirklees, County Durham and Barnsley. 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 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Huddersfield Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Kirkburton Yorkshire, West Riding
4 London parishes London 2
5 Ashton-under-Lyne Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Northumberland 040 Northumberland
2 East Lindsey 003 East Lindsey
3 Kirklees 059 Kirklees
4 County Durham 032 County Durham
5 Barnsley 029 Barnsley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Swallow

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Swallow

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Swallow 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

Swallow is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Swallow falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Swallow

The surname Swallow is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "swalewe," which referred to the small migratory bird of the same name. The name likely originated as a nickname or descriptive term for someone who resembled the bird in some way, perhaps due to their swift movements or slender build.

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

During the Middle Ages, the surname Swallow was particularly prevalent in the counties of Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire, and Yorkshire. Several places in England, such as Swallow in Lincolnshire and Swallowfield in Berkshire, may have derived their names from individuals bearing the Swallow surname or vice versa.

Notable individuals with the surname Swallow include Sir Roger Swallow (c. 1330-1389), a distinguished military commander who served under Edward III during the Hundred Years' War. Another prominent figure was John Swallow (1515-1591), a Protestant reformer and Bishop of Carlisle during the reign of Elizabeth I.

In the 17th century, William Swallow (1624-1679) was a influential English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Drapers' Hall and the Church of St. Mary-at-Hill.

During the 18th century, the English poet and essayist Ambrose Swallow (1735-1809) gained recognition for his poetic works and his contributions to various literary periodicals of the time.

In more recent history, Sir John Swallow (1873-1949) was a British businessman and politician who served as a Member of Parliament and was knighted for his services to industry and commerce.

Throughout its history, the surname Swallow has been associated with various occupations and professions, reflecting the diverse backgrounds of those who bore the name. Its origins as a descriptive nickname and its enduring presence in England over centuries attest to its rich heritage and significance within English onomastics.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Swallow families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Swallow 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 1,413 Swallows recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.84x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 1,413 4.84x
Lancashire 266 0.76x
Middlesex 178 0.60x
Lincolnshire 160 3.40x
Essex 151 2.60x
Hertfordshire 135 6.65x
Cheshire 124 1.91x
Durham 107 1.22x
Nottinghamshire 74 1.86x
Surrey 60 0.42x
Derbyshire 48 1.04x
Buckinghamshire 39 2.19x
Northumberland 37 0.84x
Kent 36 0.36x
Warwickshire 31 0.42x
Norfolk 22 0.49x
Berkshire 20 0.90x
Northamptonshire 19 0.69x
Worcestershire 18 0.47x
Shropshire 12 0.47x
Leicestershire 10 0.31x
Rutland 7 3.24x
Gloucestershire 6 0.10x
Hampshire 6 0.10x
Cumberland 5 0.20x
Midlothian 5 0.13x
Monmouthshire 5 0.23x
Oxfordshire 4 0.22x
Flintshire 3 0.38x
Royal Navy 3 0.85x
Sussex 3 0.06x
Brecknockshire 2 0.34x
Devon 2 0.03x
Dorset 2 0.10x
Staffordshire 2 0.02x
Bedfordshire 1 0.07x
Denbighshire 1 0.09x
Glamorgan 1 0.02x
Lanarkshire 1 0.01x
Somerset 1 0.02x

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 119 Swallows recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.22x.

Place Total Index
Leeds 119 7.22x
Huddersfield 73 17.16x
Sheffield 72 7.75x
Dukinfield 49 16.31x
Halifax 48 11.20x
Hepworth 45 381.68x
Enfield 44 22.76x
Dewsbury 38 12.69x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 36 13.24x
Lockwood 36 34.28x
Little Hadham 35 406.98x
Stayley 35 47.09x
Ashton Under Lyne 34 4.45x
Thornhill 31 36.39x
Crigglestone 30 106.72x
Wooldale 30 60.59x
Pudsey 27 17.30x
Almondbury 26 18.42x
Armley 26 20.19x
Rotherham 26 15.80x
Wortley In Bramley 26 11.25x
Oldham 24 2.13x
Aston 23 1.12x
Barnsley 23 7.64x
Bradfield 23 20.44x
South Crosland 23 74.82x
Emley 22 168.58x
Pontefract 22 34.98x
West Ham 22 1.71x
Bishopwearmouth 21 2.79x
Bolton On Dearne 20 198.02x
Liversedge 20 15.39x
Linthwaite 19 30.97x
Salford 19 1.85x
St Pancras London 19 0.80x
Fulstone 18 84.27x
Monkwearmouth Shore 18 10.52x
Nether Hallam 18 4.56x
South Kyme 18 337.08x
Sunderland 18 11.63x
Wheathampstead 18 76.69x
Bishop Stortford 17 25.06x
Bradford 17 2.41x
Broughton In Salford 17 5.32x
Harpenden 17 54.89x
Holme In Huddersfield 17 248.54x
Lambeth 17 0.66x
Liverpool 17 0.80x
Great Waltham 15 63.32x
Mexborough 15 25.89x
Pendleton In Salford 15 3.60x
Roystone 15 131.35x
Standon 15 71.80x
Glossop Dale 14 6.48x
Soothill 14 13.28x
Chalfont St Peter 13 88.56x
Moss Side 13 7.07x
St Martin Lincoln 13 29.75x
Great Yarmouth 12 3.20x
Hyde 12 6.25x
Longwood 12 25.50x
Northowram 12 5.86x
Saddleworth 12 5.33x
Shrewsbury St Mary 12 11.95x
Upperthong 12 48.33x
Austonley 11 66.55x
Barrowby 11 135.14x
Batley 11 3.96x
Cleckheaton 11 10.23x
Dudley 11 2.35x
Elland Cum Greetland 11 8.36x
Farnley In Bramley 11 30.19x
Long Sandall 11 859.38x
Mile End Old Town 11 2.37x
St George Hanover 11 2.86x
St Marylebone London 11 0.70x
Wombwell 11 12.92x
Chelmsford 10 10.02x
Islington London 10 0.35x
Manningham 10 2.78x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 213
Sarah 136
Elizabeth 103
Annie 74
Ann 63
Emma 51
Jane 49
Eliza 47
Hannah 45
Ellen 42
Emily 39
Ada 37
Alice 37
Martha 34
Harriet 22
Florence 21
Lucy 21
Margaret 21
Edith 19
Fanny 19
Maria 17
Louisa 15
Clara 14
Amelia 13
Frances 12
Charlotte 11
Isabella 11
Harriett 10
Julia 10
Kate 10
Agnes 9
Susan 9
Gertrude 8
Rose 8
Caroline 7
Esther 7
Lilly 7
Matilda 7
Betsy 6
Catherine 6
Nancy 6
Rebecca 6
Sophia 6
Anna 5
Anne 5
Ethel 5
Lydia 5
Rachel 5
Ruth 5
Susannah 5

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 169
William 158
George 131
James 88
Joseph 73
Thomas 71
Charles 53
Henry 45
Walter 34
Arthur 29
Alfred 27
Robert 24
Richard 21
Edward 20
Herbert 19
Harry 18
Frederick 16
Fred 15
Joshua 15
Samuel 14
Ernest 13
Joe 13
Jonathan 12
Frank 11
Tom 11
Albert 9
Isaac 9
Benjamin 8
David 8
Jno. 8
Sam 8
Wm. 8
Edmund 7
Edgar 6
Edwin 6
Francis 6
Fred. 6
Geo. 6
Matthew 6
Thos. 6
Abraham 5
Allen 5
Daniel 5
Martin 5
Willie 5
Fredrick 4
Mathew 4
Percy 4
Peter 4
Wright 3

FAQ

Swallow surname: questions and answers

How common was the Swallow surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,023 people were recorded with the Swallow surname. That placed it at #1,483 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Swallow surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 3,256 in 2016. That gives Swallow a modern rank of #2,091.

What does the Swallow surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a person who hunted birds, particularly swallows, for a living.

What does the Swallow map show?

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