NameCensus.

UK surname

Swann

An English occupational surname referring to a swanherd or someone who kept swans.

In the 1881 census there were 3,271 people recorded with the Swann surname, ranking it #1,380 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,519, ranked #1,217, up from #1,380 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Glossop, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Charnwood, Harlow and Fenland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Swann is 5,893 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 68.7%.

1881 census count

3,271

Ranked #1,380

Modern count

5,519

2016, ranked #1,217

Peak year

1998

5,893 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Swann had 3,271 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,380 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,519 in 2016, ranked #1,217.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5,768 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Swann surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Swann surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Swann 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 1,590 #1,813
1861 historical 1,586 #1,798
1881 historical 3,271 #1,380
1891 historical 3,588 #1,336
1901 historical 4,966 #1,136
1911 historical 5,768 #908
1997 modern 5,679 #1,148
1998 modern 5,893 #1,148
1999 modern 5,880 #1,158
2000 modern 5,789 #1,168
2001 modern 5,653 #1,172
2002 modern 5,783 #1,170
2003 modern 5,628 #1,169
2004 modern 5,597 #1,173
2005 modern 5,475 #1,178
2006 modern 5,466 #1,187
2007 modern 5,492 #1,188
2008 modern 5,501 #1,196
2009 modern 5,629 #1,198
2010 modern 5,692 #1,212
2011 modern 5,616 #1,212
2012 modern 5,508 #1,210
2013 modern 5,589 #1,217
2014 modern 5,620 #1,217
2015 modern 5,572 #1,213
2016 modern 5,519 #1,217

Geography

Back to top

Where Swanns are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Glossop, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes, Manchester and Nottingham St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Charnwood, Harlow, Fenland, Barnsley and Forest Heath. 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 Glossop Derbyshire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Charnwood 009 Charnwood
2 Harlow 010 Harlow
3 Fenland 005 Fenland
4 Barnsley 007 Barnsley
5 Forest Heath 008 Forest Heath

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Swann

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Swann

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

Swann 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

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

Meaning and origin of Swann

The surname Swann has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "swan," which referred to the graceful waterfowl. This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname for someone who resembled a swan or lived near a body of water frequented by swans.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Swann can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landholdings and taxation commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a landowner named Swann in Northamptonshire.

The name Swann has various spellings throughout history, including Swanne, Swayne, and Swann. These variations likely emerged due to regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling conventions of the time.

In the 13th century, the surname Swann appeared in the Pipe Rolls of Bedfordshire, indicating the presence of individuals bearing this name in the county. Additionally, records from the 14th century mention a John Swann, a prominent figure in the village of Swannington, Leicestershire, which may have derived its name from the Swann family.

Notable individuals with the surname Swann include:

1. Thomas Swann (c. 1509-1554), an English Protestant martyr who was burned at the stake during the Marian Persecutions under Queen Mary I.

2. Joseph Swann (c. 1760-1828), an English engraver and painter known for his landscape and architectural etchings.

3. Alfred Swann Taylor (1806-1880), an English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Hampshire County Hospital.

4. Mary Swann (1819-1892), an English author and poet who wrote under the pseudonym "Esperance."

5. Claude Swann (1885-1954), a British actor and theatre manager who worked extensively in the West End and on Broadway.

The surname Swann has also been associated with various place names, such as Swannington in Leicestershire, Swannington in Norfolk, and Swanton Morley in Norfolk, further underscoring its deep roots in English history and geography.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Swann families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Swann 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 406 Swanns recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.29x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 406 1.29x
Lancashire 314 0.83x
Staffordshire 203 1.89x
Warwickshire 203 2.52x
Norfolk 183 3.73x
Middlesex 178 0.56x
Cheshire 173 2.46x
Nottinghamshire 167 3.89x
Surrey 167 1.08x
Derbyshire 164 3.29x
Cambridgeshire 147 7.28x
Leicestershire 120 3.40x
Suffolk 102 2.63x
Kent 84 0.77x
Northamptonshire 83 2.77x
Lincolnshire 82 1.61x
Northumberland 79 1.67x
Essex 74 1.18x
Durham 61 0.64x
Rutland 40 17.09x
Hertfordshire 36 1.64x
Midlothian 30 0.70x
Lanarkshire 24 0.23x
Worcestershire 22 0.53x
Hampshire 16 0.24x
Buckinghamshire 12 0.62x
Shropshire 12 0.44x
Gloucestershire 10 0.16x
Oxfordshire 10 0.51x
Sussex 9 0.17x
Bedfordshire 8 0.48x
Renfrewshire 8 0.32x
Stirlingshire 8 0.68x
Argyllshire 5 0.56x
West Lothian 4 0.83x
Berkshire 3 0.13x
Cumberland 3 0.11x
Dunbartonshire 3 0.35x
Huntingdonshire 3 0.47x
Devon 2 0.03x
Flintshire 2 0.23x
Westmorland 2 0.29x
Angus 1 0.03x
Dorset 1 0.05x
Fife 1 0.05x
Glamorgan 1 0.02x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.10x
Royal Navy 1 0.26x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Nottingham St Mary in Nottinghamshire leads with 79 Swanns recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.11x.

Place Total Index
Nottingham St Mary 79 7.11x
Aston 75 3.39x
Birmingham 57 2.13x
Bedlington 52 32.83x
Lambeth 47 1.69x
Manchester 43 2.53x
Glossop Dale 42 17.97x
Wood Ditton 38 225.12x
Leeds 37 2.07x
Islington London 35 1.13x
Loughborough 33 20.57x
Dukinfield 32 9.84x
St Andrewthe Less 31 13.44x
Hyde 30 14.45x
Camberwell 29 1.42x
Leyland 28 42.55x
Farndon 27 353.40x
Chorlton On Medlock 24 3.99x
Heigham 24 9.12x
Stoke Upon Trent 24 2.10x
Saddleworth 23 9.44x
Stockport 22 6.07x
Ecclesall Bierlow 21 3.27x
Great Yarmouth 21 5.17x
Slingsby 21 322.58x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 20 1.16x
Rainham 20 146.09x
Coventry St Michael 19 7.36x
Liverpool 19 0.83x
Coventry Holy Trinity 18 7.50x
Leicester St Margaret 18 2.09x
St Benedict Cambridge 17 149.25x
Ware 17 26.99x
Bermondsey 16 1.69x
Darlington 16 4.37x
Mellor 16 117.99x
Wolverhampton 16 1.93x
Aylsham 15 51.41x
Lichfield St Chad 15 61.98x
Batley 14 4.66x
Burnley 14 4.39x
Cheadle 14 10.42x
Doncaster 14 6.07x
Heanor 14 18.76x
Mile End Old Town 14 2.78x
Northampton Priory St 14 7.78x
St Pancras London 14 0.55x
Ashton Under Lyne 13 1.57x
Barrowden 13 198.47x
Brightside Bierlow 13 2.10x
Holy Trinity Cambridge 13 59.33x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 13 8.83x
South Normanton 13 37.08x
Barrow In Furness 12 2.33x
Chelsea London 12 1.25x
Dalham 12 262.58x
Knapton 12 347.83x
Linton In Wetherby 12 685.71x
Newmarket St Mary 12 40.27x
Norwich St Stephen 12 26.67x
Nottingham St Peter 12 25.05x
St Marylebone London 12 0.71x
Walsall Borough 12 14.37x
Wigan 12 2.27x
Battersea 11 0.94x
Bisbrooke 11 376.71x
Cowpen 11 10.07x
Deptford St Paul 11 1.31x
Eastwood 11 28.63x
March 11 16.27x
Metfield 11 172.68x
Nether Hallam 11 2.57x
Ousden 11 327.38x
Bromley London 10 1.43x
Chipping Barnet 10 26.02x
Douglas 10 33.64x
Farnham 10 8.28x
Leicester St Mary 10 3.50x
Lichfield St Michael 10 29.61x
Mendham 10 121.36x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 213
Elizabeth 139
Sarah 122
Ann 64
Emma 60
Jane 59
Eliza 56
Annie 54
Alice 48
Hannah 42
Ellen 39
Martha 37
Emily 29
Margaret 26
Clara 24
Frances 23
Maria 22
Harriet 21
Ada 20
Florence 19
Louisa 19
Edith 18
Lucy 18
Caroline 17
Susan 15
Catherine 14
Charlotte 14
Fanny 14
Kate 13
Anne 12
Harriett 12
Esther 9
Isabella 8
Agnes 7
Elizth. 7
Grace 7
Amy 6
Anna 6
Gertrude 6
Matilda 6
Maud 6
Ruth 6
Betsy 5
Eleanor 5
Helen 5
Julia 5
Laura 5
Lilly 5
Lizzie 5
Mabel 5

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 191
John 183
George 109
Thomas 93
James 79
Joseph 66
Henry 64
Charles 63
Robert 50
Arthur 45
Samuel 36
Alfred 34
Albert 31
Edward 31
Frederick 31
Harry 30
Walter 26
Richard 21
Frank 20
Ernest 18
Herbert 15
David 12
Edwin 11
Daniel 10
Fredk. 8
Thos. 8
Francis 7
Fred 7
Benjamin 6
Christopher 6
Isaac 6
Joshua 6
Percy 6
Alexander 5
Edgar 5
Peter 5
Willm. 5
Wm. 5
Chas. 4
Earnest 4
Louis 4
Percival 4
Richd. 4
Robt. 4
Sidney 4
Stephen 4
Tom 4
Ebenezer 3
Edmund 3
Jos. 3

FAQ

Swann surname: questions and answers

How common was the Swann surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,271 people were recorded with the Swann surname. That placed it at #1,380 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Swann surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,519 in 2016. That gives Swann a modern rank of #1,217.

What does the Swann surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a swanherd or someone who kept swans.

What does the Swann map show?

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