NameCensus.

UK surname

Swartz

A German and Jewish occupational surname referring to a person who produced or sold black cloth or clothing.

In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Swartz surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 102, ranked #30,722, up from #33,721 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include New Forest, City of London and Croydon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Swartz is 103 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 5000.0%.

1881 census count

2

Ranked #33,721

Modern count

102

2016, ranked #30,722

Peak year

2015

103 bearers

Map years

1

2016 to 2016

Key insights

  • Swartz had 2 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #33,721 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 102 in 2016, ranked #30,722.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 28 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Diverse Educated Urban Singles.

Swartz surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Swartz surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Swartz 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 2 #33,133
1881 historical 2 #33,721
1891 historical 24 #32,320
1901 historical 28 #30,951
1911 historical 22 #31,030
1997 modern 42 #33,459
1998 modern 49 #33,000
1999 modern 46 #33,424
2000 modern 53 #32,805
2001 modern 54 #32,583
2002 modern 55 #32,831
2003 modern 61 #32,352
2004 modern 68 #31,880
2005 modern 74 #31,522
2006 modern 78 #31,385
2007 modern 82 #31,295
2008 modern 80 #31,833
2009 modern 89 #31,235
2010 modern 86 #32,081
2011 modern 84 #32,237
2012 modern 97 #30,798
2013 modern 101 #30,591
2014 modern 102 #30,714
2015 modern 103 #30,444
2016 modern 102 #30,722

Geography

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Where Swartz' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to New Forest, City of London, Croydon and Eastleigh. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 New Forest 021 New Forest
2 City of London 001 City of London
3 Croydon 014 Croydon
4 Eastleigh 004 Eastleigh
5 Eastleigh 006 Eastleigh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Swartz

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Swartz

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Swartz, 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

Multicultural and Educated Urbanites

Group

Diverse Educated Urban Singles

Nationally, the Swartz surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Diverse Educated Urban Singles, within Multicultural and Educated Urbanites. This does not mean every Swartz 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 includes many never-married individuals not living with dependent children. Many were born in EU countries and are now aged between 25-44. This Group is characterised by its ethnic group diversity, although those identifying as Asian are not well represented. Affiliation with the Christian religion amongst residents is low. Reported disability rates are low. Neighbourhoods include some central locations in London and other major cities. Private renting is the norm, and there is some overcrowding. Many individuals are educated to degree level, and full-time employment is common, particularly in managerial and professional occupations.

Wider pattern

Established populations comprising ethnic minorities together with persons born outside the UK predominate in this Supergroup. Residents present diverse personal characteristics and circumstances: while generally well-educated and practising skilled occupations, some residents live in overcrowded rental sector housing. English may not be the main language used by people in this Group. Although the typical adult resident is middle aged, single person households are common and marriage rates are low by national standards. This Supergroup predominates in Inner London, with smaller enclaves in many other densely populated metropolitan areas.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Swartz is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Swartz is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Swartz falls in decile 3 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Swartz 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 - Other

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

Meaning and origin of Swartz

The surname Swartz has its origins in Germany, with records dating back to the 13th century. It is believed to be derived from the German word "schwarz," meaning "black," which could have been used as a descriptive name for someone with dark hair or complexion, or perhaps referring to their occupation or place of residence.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the town records of Mühlhausen, Thuringia, where a certain Heinricus Swartz was mentioned in 1285. The name also appears in various other historical documents from the region, such as the Stadtbücher (city books) of Erfurt and the Urkundenbücher (charter books) of Hessen.

In the 14th century, the name spread to other parts of Germany, with variations in spelling such as Schwartz, Schwarz, and Swarz. The town of Schwäbisch Hall in Baden-Württemberg had a notable family of Swartz tanners and furriers who were influential in the local guild system.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Johannes Swartz, a Catholic theologian and preacher who lived in Nuremberg from around 1450 to 1510. He was known for his fiery sermons and his criticism of the excesses of the Church.

In the 16th century, the name gained prominence with the astronomer and mathematician Caspar Swartz (1501-1561), who was born in Holzheim, Bavaria. He is best known for his work on comets and for his contributions to the development of the Gregorian calendar.

Another notable figure was the Swedish botanist Olof Swartz (1760-1818), who made significant contributions to the study of plant life in the West Indies and South America. He is credited with the discovery and classification of numerous plant species, and his work was instrumental in the development of modern taxonomy.

During the 19th century, the name spread further across Europe and to other parts of the world, including North America, where it was often anglicized to "Schwartz." One of the most famous bearers of the name was the Hungarian-American business magnate and philanthropist George Swartz (1857-1923), who made his fortune in the steel industry and was a major benefactor of educational institutions in the United States.

Other notable individuals with the surname Swartz include the German-American painter and printmaker Rudolf Swartz (1839-1907), the Swedish composer and pianist Franz Berwald (originally Franz Adolf Swartz, 1796-1868), and the American botanist Olga Hartman Swartz (1920-2010), who made significant contributions to the study of mosses and liverworts.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Swartz families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Swartz 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. Lancashire leads with 1 Swartz' recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.37x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1 4.37x
Middlesex 1 5.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 1 Swartz' recorded in 1881 and an index of 71.94x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 1 71.94x
St Andrew Holborn 1 1428.57x

Top male names

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

Name Count
Carl 1
Jacob 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 Swartz households.

Occupation Count
Bankers Apst 1
Second Mate 1

FAQ

Swartz surname: questions and answers

How common was the Swartz surname in 1881?

In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Swartz surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Swartz surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 102 in 2016. That gives Swartz a modern rank of #30,722.

What does the Swartz surname mean?

A German and Jewish occupational surname referring to a person who produced or sold black cloth or clothing.

What does the Swartz map show?

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