NameCensus.

UK surname

Swannack

A locational surname derived from a place in England referring to someone from Swannick/Swanage.

In the 1881 census there were 61 people recorded with the Swannack surname, ranking it #24,992 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 138, ranked #25,127, down from #24,992 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to East Retford, Carlton-in-Lindrick, Wallingwillis and Hull Holy Trinity. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bassetlaw, Bath and North East Somerset and Forest of Dean.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Swannack is 155 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 126.2%.

1881 census count

61

Ranked #24,992

Modern count

138

2016, ranked #25,127

Peak year

2000

155 bearers

Map years

4

1911 to 2016

Key insights

  • Swannack had 61 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,992 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 138 in 2016, ranked #25,127.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 139 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Swannack surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Swannack surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Swannack 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 48 #24,615
1861 historical 54 #27,127
1881 historical 61 #24,992
1891 historical 70 #28,073
1901 historical 78 #25,500
1911 historical 139 #18,745
1997 modern 140 #22,031
1998 modern 143 #22,317
1999 modern 148 #22,020
2000 modern 155 #21,341
2001 modern 148 #21,664
2002 modern 146 #22,302
2003 modern 146 #22,069
2004 modern 144 #22,379
2005 modern 141 #22,688
2006 modern 139 #23,044
2007 modern 137 #23,590
2008 modern 130 #24,695
2009 modern 140 #24,033
2010 modern 147 #23,809
2011 modern 148 #23,520
2012 modern 140 #24,376
2013 modern 142 #24,547
2014 modern 146 #24,274
2015 modern 142 #24,617
2016 modern 138 #25,127

Geography

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Where Swannacks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around East Retford, Carlton-in-Lindrick, Wallingwillis, Hull Holy Trinity, Clee and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bassetlaw, Bath and North East Somerset and Forest of Dean. 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 East Retford Nottinghamshire
2 Carlton-in-Lindrick, Wallingwillis Nottinghamshire
3 Hull Holy Trinity Yorkshire, East Riding
4 Clee Lincolnshire
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bassetlaw 005 Bassetlaw
2 Bassetlaw 008 Bassetlaw
3 Bassetlaw 010 Bassetlaw
4 Bath and North East Somerset 004 Bath and North East Somerset
5 Forest of Dean 008 Forest of Dean

Forenames

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First names often paired with Swannack

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Swannack

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

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Swannack is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Swannack is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Swannack falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Swannack

The surname "SWANNACK" is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "swan" and "ac," which together mean "swan oak" or "oak tree frequented by swans." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to a topographical feature or a location where swans were commonly found near oak trees.

The earliest recorded instances of the name can be traced back to the 13th century, with references found in various historical records and documents from that time. One notable mention is in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where the name appears as "Swanok." This variation in spelling was common during the Middle Ages, as standardized spellings were not yet widely adopted.

During the 14th century, the name "SWANNACK" began to appear more frequently in various records, including parish registers and tax rolls. One of the earliest known individuals with this surname was John Swannack, who was mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire in 1348.

In the 15th century, the name "SWANNACK" appeared to have spread beyond its original region, with records showing individuals bearing this surname in various parts of England. One notable figure was Thomas Swannack, a merchant from London who was mentioned in the City of London Records in 1472.

As the centuries progressed, the "SWANNACK" surname continued to be found in various historical records and documents. In the 16th century, there was a Richard Swannack, a landowner from Gloucestershire, who was recorded in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1523. Another noteworthy individual was William Swannack, a member of the Guild of Weavers in Norwich, who lived in the late 16th century.

The 17th century saw the emergence of several notable individuals with the "SWANNACK" surname. One such figure was John Swannack (1603-1681), a clergyman and author from Worcestershire, who wrote a treatise on church governance. Another was Robert Swannack (1628-1692), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Suffolk, whose estate was mentioned in the Court Rolls of Bury St. Edmunds in 1679.

In the 18th century, the name "SWANNACK" continued to appear in various records, including parish registers, wills, and legal documents. One notable figure from this period was Thomas Swannack (1717-1789), a prosperous farmer and landowner from Oxfordshire, whose property was documented in the Enclosure Awards of 1776.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Swannack families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Swannack 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. Nottinghamshire leads with 22 Swannacks recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.44x.

County Total Index
Nottinghamshire 22 27.44x
Yorkshire 17 2.88x
Cheshire 9 6.85x
Middlesex 7 1.18x
Lincolnshire 4 4.21x
Staffordshire 2 1.00x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birkenhead in Cheshire leads with 9 Swannacks recorded in 1881 and an index of 85.96x.

Place Total Index
Birkenhead 9 85.96x
Carlton In Lindrick 9 4285.71x
East Retford 7 1000.00x
Enfield 7 179.49x
Sculcoates 7 74.95x
Maltby In Rotherham 5 3125.00x
North Clifton 5 12500.00x
Holy Trinity 3 21.16x
Kimberworth 2 61.16x
Langton By Horncastle 2 3333.33x
Pelsall 2 333.33x
Minting 1 1428.57x
Newark Upon Trent 1 34.72x
St Botolph Lincoln 1 147.06x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 8
Jane 4
Ann 2
Elizabeth 2
Sarah 2
Ada 1
Annie 1
Clara 1
Emily 1
Fanny 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Lavinia 1
Lizza 1
Matilda 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 9
Charles 6
Alfred 3
Francis 2
George 2
Thomas 2
William 2
Absolam 1
Henry 1
Herbert 1
Joseph 1
Lawrence 1
Robert 1

Top occupations

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 Swannack households.

FAQ

Swannack surname: questions and answers

How common was the Swannack surname in 1881?

In 1881, 61 people were recorded with the Swannack surname. That placed it at #24,992 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Swannack surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 138 in 2016. That gives Swannack a modern rank of #25,127.

What does the Swannack surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place in England referring to someone from Swannick/Swanage.

What does the Swannack map show?

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