NameCensus.

UK surname

Swanston

A locational surname derived from places in Scotland called Swanston.

In the 1881 census there were 670 people recorded with the Swanston surname, ranking it #5,386 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 839, ranked #6,653, down from #5,386 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Melrose, Earlston and Eyemouth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Berwickshire East, Northumberland and Waveney.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Swanston is 899 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 25.2%.

1881 census count

670

Ranked #5,386

Modern count

839

2016, ranked #6,653

Peak year

2010

899 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Swanston had 670 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,386 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 839 in 2016, ranked #6,653.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 789 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Swanston surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Swanston surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Swanston 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 475 #5,239
1861 historical 505 #5,180
1881 historical 670 #5,386
1891 historical 719 #5,487
1901 historical 789 #5,707
1911 historical 313 #11,108
1997 modern 803 #6,522
1998 modern 840 #6,497
1999 modern 846 #6,508
2000 modern 835 #6,551
2001 modern 820 #6,519
2002 modern 854 #6,438
2003 modern 858 #6,307
2004 modern 854 #6,328
2005 modern 849 #6,315
2006 modern 838 #6,384
2007 modern 851 #6,370
2008 modern 863 #6,342
2009 modern 877 #6,400
2010 modern 899 #6,389
2011 modern 873 #6,479
2012 modern 826 #6,676
2013 modern 837 #6,711
2014 modern 830 #6,780
2015 modern 840 #6,671
2016 modern 839 #6,653

Geography

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Where Swanstons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Melrose, Earlston, Eyemouth, Gateshead and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Berwickshire East, Northumberland, Waveney, South Gloucestershire and Gateshead. 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 Melrose Roxburgh
2 Earlston Berwick
3 Eyemouth Berwick
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Berwickshire East Scottish Borders
2 Northumberland 002 Northumberland
3 Waveney 013 Waveney
4 South Gloucestershire 002 South Gloucestershire
5 Gateshead 015 Gateshead

Forenames

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First names often paired with Swanston

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Swanston

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

Swanston is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Swanston falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Swanston

The surname Swanston originates from Scotland and dates back to the 16th century. It is a locational name derived from the town of Swanston, located in Midlothian, Scotland. The name likely comes from the Old English words "swan" and "tun," meaning "swan" and "farm" or "enclosure," respectively.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Register of the Privy Council of Scotland from 1578, where a John Swanston is mentioned. In the 17th century, there are records of individuals with the surname Swanston residing in Edinburgh and the surrounding areas.

The Swanston surname appears to have been particularly prominent in the Scottish Borders region. In the early 18th century, James Swanston (1660-1730) was a notable minister and theologian from the town of Lochmaben in Dumfriesshire.

Another notable figure was Sir William Swanston (1782-1858), a British naval officer who served during the Napoleonic Wars and later became a Member of Parliament for Ayrshire. He was knighted in 1832 for his military service.

In the 19th century, John Swanston (1820-1892) was a Scottish businessman and philanthropist who made his fortune in the textile industry. He donated significant funds to educational and charitable causes in Glasgow.

Moving into the 20th century, Robert Swanston (1905-1988) was a Scottish artist and painter known for his landscapes and portraits. His works can be found in collections across Scotland and Europe.

One of the earliest known instances of the Swanston surname associated with a place name is the village of Swanston in Midlothian, which likely gave rise to the surname. This place name dates back to at least the 16th century.

While the Swanston surname is not among the most common in Scotland or the United Kingdom, it has a rich history and has been borne by several notable individuals over the centuries, particularly in the fields of religion, military service, business, and the arts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Swanston families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Swanston 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. Berwickshire leads with 136 Swanstons recorded in 1881 and an index of 179.07x.

County Total Index
Berwickshire 136 179.07x
Midlothian 103 12.26x
Roxburghshire 57 50.17x
Northumberland 39 4.18x
Lanarkshire 35 1.73x
Peeblesshire 22 74.58x
Selkirkshire 22 38.77x
Middlesex 21 0.33x
Yorkshire 19 0.31x
East Lothian 18 21.67x
Stirlingshire 18 7.78x
Surrey 16 0.52x
Durham 14 0.75x
Clackmannanshire 13 25.10x
Lancashire 11 0.15x
Renfrewshire 11 2.26x
Devon 10 0.77x
Orkney 10 14.49x
Hampshire 9 0.70x
Buteshire 8 21.05x
Kirkcudbrightshire 8 8.81x
Norfolk 8 0.83x
Kent 6 0.28x
Lincolnshire 5 0.50x
Perthshire 4 1.42x
Fife 3 0.81x
Hertfordshire 3 0.69x
Buckinghamshire 2 0.53x
Derbyshire 2 0.20x
Gloucestershire 2 0.16x
Sussex 2 0.19x
Ayrshire 1 0.21x
Cheshire 1 0.07x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.59x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.12x
Westmorland 1 0.73x
Wiltshire 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Eyemouth in Berwickshire leads with 34 Swanstons recorded in 1881 and an index of 536.28x.

Place Total Index
Eyemouth 34 536.28x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 27 7.99x
South Leith 20 21.15x
Ayton 19 430.84x
Eccles 18 540.54x
Galashiels 15 71.50x
Jedburgh 15 134.77x
Chirnside 12 369.23x
Elswick 12 16.11x
Mertoun 11 748.30x
Carnwath 10 79.74x
Dunse 10 138.89x
Walls Flotta 10 309.60x
Carrington 9 687.02x
Exeter St Olave 9 532.54x
Gateshead 9 6.44x
Hume 9 1034.48x
Innerleithen 9 114.94x
Kensington London 9 2.58x
Melrose 9 91.65x
South Stoneham 9 32.27x
St Ninians 9 39.25x
Alloa 8 31.85x
Cambusnethan 8 17.76x
Channelkirk 8 615.38x
Great Yarmouth 8 10.01x
Lasswade 8 41.65x
Putney 8 27.98x
Thornton In Bradford 8 38.67x
Earlston 7 184.21x
Edinburgh St Marys 7 42.87x
Govan 7 1.40x
Linton 7 593.22x
Byker 6 13.01x
Horton In Bradford 6 6.18x
Innerwick 6 359.28x
Kelton 6 80.43x
Minto 6 645.16x
Stirling 6 20.57x
Stitchel 6 810.81x
Stow 6 138.89x
Traquair 6 365.85x
Ancroft 5 152.44x
Bedlington 5 16.05x
Cavers 5 176.06x
Colinton 5 53.36x
Cowley 5 467.29x
Dollar 5 93.11x
Duddingston 5 29.64x
Gainsborough 5 21.15x
Garvald 5 304.88x
Haddington 5 40.78x
Lyne 5 2083.33x
Melrose 5 35.01x
North Leith 5 12.86x
Renfrew 5 31.15x
Rothesay 5 27.17x
Tonbridge 5 6.48x
West Greenock 5 5.73x
Bothwell 4 7.27x
Cassop 4 310.08x
Pendleton In Salford 4 4.51x
Perth Middle Church 4 37.77x
Ratcliffe London 4 11.55x
Todmorden Walsden 4 20.06x
Westgate 4 6.92x
Whitsome 4 333.33x
Berwick Upon Tweed 3 15.17x
Catterick 3 214.29x
Cumbrae 3 75.00x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 3 15.09x
Edinburgh Canongate 3 14.03x
Falkirk 3 5.54x
Glasgow 3 0.83x
Kelso 3 26.50x
Leatherhead 3 39.22x
St Boswells 3 145.63x
Swinton 3 144.23x
Kirkdale 2 1.60x
Watford 2 5.97x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 17
James 7
William 6
Alexander 3
Andrew 3
Arthur 3
Frederick 3
Robert 3
Thomas 3
Charles 2
Fred 2
Fredk. 2
George 2
Martin 2
Richard 2
Alfred 1
Bruce 1
Clement 1
Cuthbert 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Donald 1
Edward 1
Geo. 1
Geo.Wm. 1
Harry 1
Hugh 1
Oliver 1
Peter 1
Robt. 1
Wallace 1
Walter 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Swanston surname: questions and answers

How common was the Swanston surname in 1881?

In 1881, 670 people were recorded with the Swanston surname. That placed it at #5,386 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Swanston surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 839 in 2016. That gives Swanston a modern rank of #6,653.

What does the Swanston surname mean?

A locational surname derived from places in Scotland called Swanston.

What does the Swanston map show?

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