UK surname
An Old English surname originating from the word "swamm" meaning woodland or pasture.
In the 1881 census there were 18 people recorded with the Swam surname, ranking it #31,019 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 4, ranked #38,419, down from #31,019 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Lowestoft, Kirkley, London parishes and Hucknall Torkard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Swam is 161 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 77.8%.
1881 census count
18
Ranked #31,019
Modern count
4
2016, ranked #38,419
Peak year
1891
161 bearers
Map years
2
1891 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Swam surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Swam surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 67 | #21,440 |
| 1861 | historical | 43 | #28,562 |
| 1881 | historical | 18 | #31,019 |
| 1891 | historical | 161 | #17,473 |
| 1901 | historical | 83 | #24,900 |
| 1911 | historical | 130 | #19,504 |
| 1997 | modern | 2 | #38,557 |
| 1998 | modern | 1 | #38,814 |
| 1999 | modern | 2 | #38,551 |
| 2000 | modern | 1 | #38,790 |
| 2001 | modern | 1 | #38,647 |
| 2002 | modern | 2 | #38,400 |
| 2003 | modern | 2 | #38,424 |
| 2004 | modern | 2 | #38,464 |
| 2005 | modern | 2 | #38,532 |
| 2006 | modern | 3 | #38,334 |
| 2007 | modern | 2 | #38,617 |
| 2008 | modern | 1 | #38,949 |
| 2009 | modern | 3 | #38,494 |
| 2010 | modern | 2 | #38,775 |
| 2011 | modern | 2 | #38,745 |
| 2012 | modern | 2 | #38,754 |
| 2013 | modern | 3 | #38,526 |
| 2014 | modern | 4 | #38,376 |
| 2015 | modern | 4 | #38,392 |
| 2016 | modern | 4 | #38,419 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Lowestoft, Kirkley, London parishes, Hucknall Torkard, Langford and Marston. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lowestoft, Kirkley | Suffolk |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Hucknall Torkard | Nottinghamshire |
| 4 | Langford | Bedfordshire |
| 5 | Marston | Nottinghamshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Swam surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Swam, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Swam surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Swam household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Swam is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Swam is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Swam, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname SWAM is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval period. The name is believed to be derived from the Old English word "swamm," which referred to a swamp or marshy area. This suggests that the earliest bearers of this surname likely resided near or in proximity to such terrain.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name SWAM can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, dated 1273. This historical document mentions a Robert de la Swamme, indicating that the name had already undergone slight variations in spelling by that time.
In the 14th century, the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire (1327) listed a Walter atte Swamme, further reinforcing the connection between the surname and its geographical associations. The addition of the preposition "atte" signified a place of residence, in this case, near a swamp or marshy area.
The Subsidy Rolls of Sussex (1332) also contained an entry for a John atte Swamme, suggesting that the surname had spread to various regions of England by that point.
Notable individuals bearing the surname SWAM throughout history include:
1. Robert Swam (c. 1490 - 1555), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge from 1549 to 1550.
2. William Swam (c. 1570 - 1635), a prominent English merchant and landowner in the county of Gloucestershire. He was known for his extensive property holdings and involvement in local affairs.
3. Elizabeth Swam (1621 - 1692), one of the accused during the infamous Salem Witch Trials in colonial Massachusetts. She was eventually found not guilty and released.
4. John Swam (1752 - 1828), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War and the Napoleonic Wars. He rose to the rank of Vice-Admiral.
5. Mary Swam (1789 - 1867), a renowned English botanist and illustrator known for her detailed drawings and studies of various plant species. Her works were widely acclaimed during her lifetime.
While the surname SWAM may have evolved from its Old English roots, it has maintained a strong presence throughout the centuries, with bearers spanning various professions and making significant contributions in their respective fields.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Swam surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 4 Swams recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.47x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 4 | 2.47x |
| Middlesex | 4 | 2.93x |
| Fife | 3 | 37.13x |
| Dumfriesshire | 1 | 33.22x |
| Nottinghamshire | 1 | 5.44x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 2.91x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Andrew Holborn in Middlesex leads with 4 Swams recorded in 1881 and an index of 869.57x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| St Andrew Holborn | 4 | 869.57x |
| West Derby | 4 | 84.39x |
| Kinghorn | 3 | 1764.71x |
| Aston | 1 | 10.56x |
| Nottingham St Mary | 1 | 21.01x |
| Torthorwald | 1 | 2000.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Swam surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Swam surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Swam households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Charwoman | 2 |
| Scholar | 2 |
| Marble Polisher (Stone Dresser) | 1 |
| School | 1 |
| School Board Visiting Office | 1 |
| Super Sanitary | 1 |
| Tin Foil Maker | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 18 people were recorded with the Swam surname. That placed it at #31,019 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 4 in 2016. That gives Swam a modern rank of #38,419.
An Old English surname originating from the word "swamm" meaning woodland or pasture.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Swam bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.