NameCensus.

UK surname

Sweeny

Anglicized form of the Irish surname "Mac Suibhne," meaning "son of Suibhne" (pleasant or well-disposed).

In the 1881 census there were 698 people recorded with the Sweeny surname, ranking it #5,198 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 314, ranked #14,291, down from #5,198 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, St Pancras and West Calder. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kelvinside and Jordanhill, Cornwall and West Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sweeny is 732 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 55.0%.

1881 census count

698

Ranked #5,198

Modern count

314

2016, ranked #14,291

Peak year

1851

732 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sweeny had 698 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,198 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 314 in 2016, ranked #14,291.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 732 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Sweeny surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sweeny surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sweeny 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 732 #3,592
1861 historical 693 #3,894
1881 historical 698 #5,198
1891 historical 612 #6,284
1901 historical 444 #8,792
1911 historical 211 #14,467
1997 modern 281 #14,110
1998 modern 285 #14,351
1999 modern 282 #14,545
2000 modern 300 #13,904
2001 modern 290 #14,033
2002 modern 293 #14,203
2003 modern 280 #14,472
2004 modern 285 #14,344
2005 modern 284 #14,306
2006 modern 296 #14,030
2007 modern 309 #13,760
2008 modern 326 #13,374
2009 modern 331 #13,483
2010 modern 336 #13,613
2011 modern 335 #13,528
2012 modern 327 #13,654
2013 modern 331 #13,748
2014 modern 319 #14,216
2015 modern 320 #14,090
2016 modern 314 #14,291

Geography

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Where Sweenys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, St Pancras, West Calder, Edinburgh and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kelvinside and Jordanhill, Cornwall, West Devon, Partickhill and Hyndland and Pembrokeshire. 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 Govan Combination Lanark
2 St Pancras London (North Districts)
3 West Calder Edinburgh
4 Edinburgh Edinburgh
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kelvinside and Jordanhill Glasgow City
2 Cornwall 069 Cornwall
3 West Devon 002 West Devon
4 Partickhill and Hyndland Glasgow City
5 Pembrokeshire 012 Pembrokeshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sweeny

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sweeny

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Sweeny surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Sweeny household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Sweeny 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

Sweeny 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

Sweeny 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 Sweeny 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 - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Sweeny

The surname Sweeny is an anglicized version of the Irish Gaelic name "Ó Suanaigh" or "O'Sweeney". It originated in County Donegal, Ireland, and can be traced back to the 10th century. The name is derived from the Gaelic word "suanach", meaning "peaceable" or "tranquil".

Historically, the Sweeneys were a prominent family in the Donegal region, holding lands and wielding significant influence. One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a medieval chronicle that mentions the death of Maolmuire O'Sweeny, a chieftain of the O'Sweeny clan, in 1199.

The Sweeneys played a notable role in the Gaelic resistance against English colonization in the 16th and 17th centuries. Niall Garbh O'Sweeny (c.1587-1623), a renowned military leader, led his clan in several battles against the English forces. His exploits are chronicled in the Irish manuscript "Beatha Aodha Ruaidh Uí Dhomhnaill" (The Life of Red Hugh O'Donnell).

In the 17th century, another prominent figure, Turlough O'Sweeny (c.1600-1648), was a Catholic priest and historian who wrote the "Descripton of the County of Donegal". This work provides valuable insights into the history and culture of the region during that period.

The name Sweeny has also been associated with various place names in Ireland, such as Sweeny's Cross in County Donegal, which derives its name from the Sweeny clan's influence in the area.

Other notable individuals with the Sweeny surname include:

1. John Sweeny (1821-1899), an Irish-American politician and businessman who served as the first Catholic mayor of St. Louis, Missouri. 2. Robert Sweeny (1853-1909), an American baseball player and manager, considered one of the pioneers of the game. 3. Joseph Sweeny (1904-1968), an American labor leader and president of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters from 1952 to 1957. 4. Anne Sweeny (1919-2005), an American author and screenwriter known for her work on the television series "The Waltons". 5. Stephen Sweeny (1966-present), an Irish actor and director known for his roles in films such as "Michael Collins" and "The Commitments".

While the Sweeny surname has evolved over time and spread across various regions, its roots can be traced back to the historic Gaelic clan in County Donegal, Ireland, where it has left an indelible mark on the region's cultural and historical landscape.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sweeny families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sweeny 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. Lanarkshire leads with 123 Sweenys recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.62x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 123 5.62x
Lancashire 113 1.41x
Middlesex 66 0.97x
Midlothian 50 5.51x
Renfrewshire 41 7.82x
Yorkshire 34 0.51x
Durham 27 1.34x
Surrey 26 0.79x
Glamorgan 24 2.04x
Northumberland 21 2.08x
Dunbartonshire 18 9.89x
East Lothian 17 18.96x
Stirlingshire 14 5.61x
Essex 13 0.97x
Lincolnshire 12 1.11x
Staffordshire 10 0.44x
West Lothian 9 8.83x
Angus 8 1.28x
Monmouthshire 8 1.63x
Cheshire 6 0.40x
Derbyshire 5 0.47x
Kent 5 0.22x
Roxburghshire 5 4.08x
Caernarfonshire 4 1.46x
Flintshire 4 2.20x
Hampshire 4 0.29x
Gloucestershire 3 0.23x
Worcestershire 3 0.34x
Berkshire 2 0.39x
Cardiganshire 2 1.21x
Channel Islands 2 1.00x
Fife 2 0.50x
Sussex 2 0.18x
Argyllshire 1 0.53x
Caithness 1 1.08x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.35x
Clackmannanshire 1 1.79x
Devon 1 0.07x
Herefordshire 1 0.36x
Perthshire 1 0.33x
Royal Navy 1 1.24x
Somerset 1 0.09x
Warwickshire 1 0.06x
Wigtownshire 1 1.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 33 Sweenys recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.09x.

Place Total Index
Govan 33 6.09x
Glasgow 32 8.23x
West Calder 27 151.01x
Barony 23 4.15x
West Greenock 20 21.24x
Rotherhithe 16 19.13x
Widnes 14 24.16x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 13 14.90x
Ormiston 13 546.22x
Liverpool 12 2.46x
Manchester 12 3.32x
St George In East 12 26.06x
Bethnal Green London 11 3.74x
Islington London 11 1.68x
Swansea Town 10 10.35x
Dumbarton 9 35.55x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 9 2.47x
Elswick 9 11.20x
Kirkdale 9 6.66x
Uphall 9 80.29x
Blackburn 8 3.74x
Falkirk 8 13.69x
Haslingden 8 24.05x
Lambeth 8 1.36x
Longbenton 8 18.75x
Bonhill 7 23.97x
Cardiff St John 7 18.18x
Carstairs 7 154.53x
Chorley 7 15.53x
Headingley Cum Burley 7 16.21x
Middle Greenock 7 48.88x
Paisley Low Church 7 42.14x
Cambuslang 6 27.19x
Owston 6 195.44x
Salford 6 2.54x
St Giles 6 47.73x
Sutton In Marsh 6 714.29x
Tipton 6 8.58x
Bothkennar 5 67.11x
Bothwell 5 8.42x
Burnley 5 7.39x
Cadder 5 30.92x
Everton 5 1.95x
Kirknewton East 5 131.93x
Liff Benvie 5 5.25x
South Shoebury 5 93.11x
West Ham 5 1.69x
Winster 5 257.73x
Briton Ferry 4 28.45x
Clifford Cum Boston 4 66.34x
Dawdon 4 16.15x
Holywell 4 17.51x
Hulme 4 2.39x
Kensington London 4 1.06x
Llanbeblig 4 14.40x
Maryhill 4 9.33x
North Meols 4 5.09x
Prescot 4 27.53x
St Martin In Fields 4 9.87x
Stoke Newington London 4 7.59x
Wilton 4 29.74x
Bromley London 3 2.01x
Cheltenham 3 2.93x
Eastwood 3 9.29x
Edinburgh Canongate 3 13.00x
Elland Cum Greetland 3 9.93x
Haddington 3 22.66x
Hedon 3 133.33x
Leeds 3 0.79x
Merthyr Tydfil 3 2.65x
Oldham 3 1.16x
Shotts 3 11.45x
St Botolph Bishopsgate 3 31.32x
St Marylebone London 3 0.83x
Walthamstow 3 6.24x
Bellingham 2 118.34x
Chithurst 2 256.41x
Portsmouth 2 6.26x
St Helier 2 3.06x
Walsall Borough 2 11.27x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 55
Ellen 16
Catherine 13
Margaret 13
Bridget 10
Elizabeth 10
Ann 6
Jane 6
Annie 5
Eliza 4
Sarah 4
Agnes 3
Kate 3
Charlotte 2
Constance 2
Emily 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Susan 2
Alice 1
Anna 1
Annoria 1
C. 1
Cecilia 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Elizah. 1
Elizebeth 1
Fanny 1
Flora 1
Hariet 1
Helena 1
Hellen 1
Jenny 1
Johanna 1
Julia 1
Katy 1
Lillian 1
Lizzie 1
Margret 1
Margt. 1
Maria 1
Maryan 1
May 1
Miney 1
Nancy 1
Nora 1
Rebecca 1
Rosa 1
Rose 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 44
James 28
Edward 13
Patrick 13
Thomas 11
Michael 9
Daniel 8
William 8
Denis 5
Joseph 5
Dennis 4
Peter 4
Charles 3
Richard 3
Thos. 3
Timothy 3
Alfred 2
Christopher 2
Edmund 2
Harry 2
Henry 2
Martin 2
Robert 2
... 1
Alec 1
Archibald 1
Arthur 1
Burnett 1
Charley 1
Chell 1
Connell 1
Corneilus 1
Denice 1
Edwin 1
Eugene 1
Francis 1
Garrett 1
George 1
Jeremiah 1
Johny 1
Mac 1
Miles 1
Omic 1
Orne 1
Patric 1
Roger 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Sweeny surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sweeny surname in 1881?

In 1881, 698 people were recorded with the Sweeny surname. That placed it at #5,198 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sweeny surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 314 in 2016. That gives Sweeny a modern rank of #14,291.

What does the Sweeny surname mean?

Anglicized form of the Irish surname "Mac Suibhne," meaning "son of Suibhne" (pleasant or well-disposed).

What does the Sweeny map show?

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