NameCensus.

UK surname

Swanwick

A surname originating from a place name referring to a lake with swans.

In the 1881 census there were 407 people recorded with the Swanwick surname, ranking it #7,868 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 411, ranked #11,654, down from #7,868 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Blaby and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Somerset, Nottingham and Gedling.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Swanwick is 541 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 1.0%.

1881 census count

407

Ranked #7,868

Modern count

411

2016, ranked #11,654

Peak year

1911

541 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Swanwick had 407 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,868 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 411 in 2016, ranked #11,654.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 541 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Swanwick surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Swanwick surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Swanwick 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 302 #7,606
1861 historical 318 #7,999
1881 historical 407 #7,868
1891 historical 460 #7,953
1901 historical 480 #8,301
1911 historical 541 #7,378
1997 modern 405 #10,908
1998 modern 450 #10,409
1999 modern 426 #10,938
2000 modern 431 #10,785
2001 modern 443 #10,371
2002 modern 437 #10,693
2003 modern 425 #10,765
2004 modern 407 #11,135
2005 modern 413 #10,918
2006 modern 405 #11,131
2007 modern 410 #11,162
2008 modern 410 #11,245
2009 modern 416 #11,364
2010 modern 432 #11,262
2011 modern 425 #11,285
2012 modern 401 #11,699
2013 modern 422 #11,436
2014 modern 424 #11,463
2015 modern 418 #11,516
2016 modern 411 #11,654

Geography

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Where Swanwicks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Blaby, Manchester, Nottingham St Mary and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Somerset, Nottingham, Gedling, Harborough and Chesterfield. 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 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
2 Blaby Leicestershire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Nottingham St Mary Nottinghamshire
5 Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Somerset 021 South Somerset
2 Nottingham 016 Nottingham
3 Gedling 002 Gedling
4 Harborough 005 Harborough
5 Chesterfield 011 Chesterfield

Forenames

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First names often paired with Swanwick

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Swanwick

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

Swanwick 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

Swanwick falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Swanwick is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Swanwick, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Swanwick

The surname Swanwick is of English origin and dates back to the medieval period. It is a locational name derived from the place name "Swanwick" found in various parts of England, such as Derbyshire, Hampshire, and Staffordshire. The name Swanwick is believed to have originated from the Old English words "swan" and "wic," meaning "swan farm" or "swan dwelling."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Swanwick can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which mentions a place called "Swanawic" in Derbyshire. This suggests that the name existed in England before the Norman Conquest of 1066.

In the 13th century, there are records of individuals bearing the surname Swanwick, such as Roger de Swanewic, who is mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1199. Another early record is that of Willelmus de Swanewyk, found in the Feet of Fines for Derbyshire in 1284.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the surname Swanwick began to spread across various regions of England. Notable individuals from this period include John Swanwick (c. 1550-1621), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Provost of Worcester College, Oxford.

In the 18th century, several Swanwicks made their mark in various fields. One notable figure was Samuel Swanwick (1677-1761), a British landowner and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Bramber in Sussex from 1722 to 1727.

The 19th century saw the rise of several prominent individuals with the surname Swanwick. Anna Swanwick (1813-1899) was a British author and translator who played a significant role in introducing the works of German philosophers and poets to English readers.

Another notable figure was Michael Swanwick (1828-1909), an American Civil War soldier who fought for the Union Army and received the Medal of Honor for his bravery at the Battle of Chickamauga in 1863.

In the 20th century, one of the most famous individuals with the surname Swanwick was Michael Swanwick (born 1950), an American writer best known for his science fiction and fantasy works, including the novels "Vacuum Flowers" and "The Iron Dragon's Daughter."

The surname Swanwick continues to be found in various parts of the English-speaking world, with families bearing this name contributing to various fields throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Swanwick families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Swanwick 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 144 Swanwicks recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.91x.

County Total Index
Nottinghamshire 144 26.91x
Staffordshire 59 4.40x
Cheshire 43 4.91x
Leicestershire 43 9.77x
Lancashire 31 0.66x
Derbyshire 26 4.18x
Lincolnshire 12 1.89x
Middlesex 10 0.25x
Yorkshire 7 0.18x
Gloucestershire 6 0.77x
Durham 5 0.42x
Surrey 5 0.26x
Warwickshire 4 0.40x
Kent 3 0.22x
Oxfordshire 3 1.22x
Herefordshire 2 1.23x
Hertfordshire 1 0.37x
Lanarkshire 1 0.08x
Northamptonshire 1 0.27x
Shropshire 1 0.29x

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 52 Swanwicks recorded in 1881 and an index of 37.57x.

Place Total Index
Nottingham St Mary 52 37.57x
Shelford Saxondale 18 2465.75x
Claughton With Grange 17 426.07x
Leicester St Margaret 15 13.97x
Bingham 12 528.63x
Blaby 12 677.97x
Arnold 10 128.04x
Stone 10 58.34x
Manchester 9 4.25x
Stoke Upon Trent 9 6.33x
Eccleshall 8 157.48x
Ellenhall 8 2580.65x
Glen Parva 8 776.70x
Lymm 8 125.59x
St Pancras London 8 2.50x
Broughton In Salford 7 16.25x
Norbury 7 1296.30x
Nottingham St Nicholas 7 96.02x
Radford 7 25.74x
Aylestone 6 172.91x
Cirencester 6 56.93x
Cotgrave 6 540.54x
Gainsborough 6 40.08x
Newcastle Under Lyme 6 25.31x
Clive 5 2272.73x
Mickleover 5 260.42x
Newark Upon Trent 5 26.00x
Pendleton In Salford 5 8.91x
Stranton 5 12.58x
Trentham 5 43.86x
Alfreton 4 21.19x
Bradford 4 18.14x
Hucknall Torkard 4 29.48x
Huddersfield 4 6.98x
Lenton 4 31.75x
Macclesfield 4 10.27x
Snenton 4 19.02x
Basford 3 12.17x
Cheriton 3 54.35x
Great Grimsby 3 7.45x
Hopton Coton 3 158.73x
Ilkeston 3 17.21x
Lambeth 3 0.87x
Ratcliffe Upon Trent 3 223.88x
Stamford St Michael 3 166.67x
Wardington 3 357.14x
Whittington 3 34.88x
Altrincham 2 13.06x
Audley 2 15.08x
Birmingham 2 0.60x
Castle Church 2 24.84x
Cropwell Bishop 2 232.56x
Leamington 2 30.17x
Nottingham St Peter 2 33.50x
Orston 2 303.03x
Prestbury 2 500.00x
St George Hanover 2 3.86x
Timperley 2 65.57x
Wessington 2 240.96x
Wigston Magna 2 34.25x
Ashley 1 90.91x
Barony 1 0.31x
Bonsall 1 54.35x
Bromyard 1 46.73x
Crick 1 79.37x
Ecclesall Bierlow 1 1.25x
Everton 1 0.67x
Hale 1 33.11x
Halliwell 1 5.83x
Lindley Cum Quarmby 1 10.08x
North Wingfield 1 35.97x
Penge 1 3.94x
Pownall Fee 1 25.51x
Southwell 1 25.71x
Stafford St Mary 1 5.27x
Streatham 1 3.39x
Watford 1 4.71x
Wauldby 1 1666.67x
Whittington 1 36.50x
Worleston 1 217.39x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 32
Ann 14
Jane 12
Emma 11
Sarah 11
Elizabeth 10
Ellen 9
Clara 6
Harriet 6
Annie 5
Harriett 5
Maria 5
Ada 4
Lizzie 4
Martha 4
Edith 3
Eliza 3
Frances 3
Lucy 3
Anna 2
Anne 2
Catharine 2
Catherine 2
Eleanor 2
Emily 2
Eva 2
Gertrude 2
Hannah 2
Allice 1
Amelia 1
Anina 1
Annette 1
Caroline 1
Delia 1
Dinah 1
Elizh. 1
Esther 1
Grace 1
Harriette 1
Helen 1
Helena 1
Henrietta 1
Hilda 1
Ida 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Katherine 1
Laura 1
Lousia 1
Susana 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 35
William 21
Thomas 18
George 15
Samuel 10
James 8
Joseph 7
Henry 6
Alfred 5
Arthur 5
Charles 4
Edward 3
Edwin 3
Frederick 3
Harry 3
Josh. 3
Benjamin 2
Eustace 2
Francis 2
Herbert 2
Philip 2
Robert 2
Stephen 2
Walter 2
Ben 1
Charle 1
Charley 1
Dakin 1
Edgar 1
Ernest 1
Ezekiel 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Geo 1
Harold 1
Infant 1
Isaac 1
Jermiah 1
Martin 1
Mathias 1
Moses 1
Newby 1
Nigel 1
Patrick 1
Peter 1
Richard 1
Richd. 1
Russell 1
Septimus 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Swanwick surname: questions and answers

How common was the Swanwick surname in 1881?

In 1881, 407 people were recorded with the Swanwick surname. That placed it at #7,868 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Swanwick surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 411 in 2016. That gives Swanwick a modern rank of #11,654.

What does the Swanwick surname mean?

A surname originating from a place name referring to a lake with swans.

What does the Swanwick map show?

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