NameCensus.

UK surname

Sweetland

A locational surname referring to someone from a pleasant or sweet place.

In the 1881 census there were 377 people recorded with the Sweetland surname, ranking it #8,309 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 580, ranked #8,938, down from #8,309 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bovey Tracey, Hennock, London parishes and Chard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Devon, Bridgend and Carmarthenshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Sweetland is 647 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 53.8%.

1881 census count

377

Ranked #8,309

Modern count

580

2016, ranked #8,938

Peak year

1999

647 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Sweetland had 377 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,309 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 580 in 2016, ranked #8,938.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 571 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Sweetland surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Sweetland surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Sweetland 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 300 #7,650
1861 historical 244 #10,087
1881 historical 377 #8,309
1891 historical 410 #8,694
1901 historical 440 #8,843
1911 historical 571 #7,092
1997 modern 627 #7,894
1998 modern 633 #8,076
1999 modern 647 #7,979
2000 modern 644 #7,990
2001 modern 628 #7,995
2002 modern 631 #8,152
2003 modern 613 #8,191
2004 modern 630 #8,028
2005 modern 579 #8,482
2006 modern 567 #8,637
2007 modern 565 #8,722
2008 modern 559 #8,844
2009 modern 587 #8,733
2010 modern 586 #8,946
2011 modern 584 #8,868
2012 modern 570 #8,932
2013 modern 583 #8,920
2014 modern 598 #8,822
2015 modern 596 #8,782
2016 modern 580 #8,938

Geography

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Where Sweetlands are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bovey Tracey, Hennock, London parishes, Chard and Canford Magna. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Devon, Bridgend and Carmarthenshire. 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 Bovey Tracey, Hennock Devon
2 London parishes London 1
3 Chard Somerset
4 London parishes London 3
5 Canford Magna Dorset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Devon 007 East Devon
2 East Devon 005 East Devon
3 Bridgend 008 Bridgend
4 East Devon 001 East Devon
5 Carmarthenshire 017 Carmarthenshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Sweetland

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Sweetland

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Sweetland is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Sweetland 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

Sweetland falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Sweetland

The surname Sweetland is of English origin, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages. It is a locational name, derived from a place called Swetland or Sweetland, which was likely a small hamlet or village that no longer exists.

The name is believed to have originated in the county of Essex, in the southeastern part of England. It may have derived from the Old English words "swete" meaning sweet, and "land" meaning land or estate. This suggests that the original place name referred to a pleasant or fertile area of land.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name Sweetland can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Buckinghamshire from 1198, which mention a person named Adam de Swetland. The name also appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1296, where a Robert de Swetlond is listed.

In the 14th century, there are records of a family with the surname Sweetland residing in the village of Cressing, Essex. A notable member of this family was John Sweetland, who lived from 1350 to 1415 and served as a member of the local parish council.

Another early bearer of the name was William Sweetland, born in 1482 in the village of Sible Hedingham, Essex. He was a prosperous landowner and is mentioned in several historical documents related to property transactions.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, the Sweetland surname began to spread to other parts of England, as members of the family migrated in search of new opportunities. One notable individual from this period was Thomas Sweetland, born in 1595 in Gloucestershire, who was a successful merchant and served as a magistrate in the city of Bristol.

As the name continued to disperse, it underwent various spelling variations, such as Swetland, Sweetlande, and Swetlande. These variations were often influenced by local dialects and the preferences of individual record keepers.

Other notable individuals with the surname Sweetland include:

1. Robert Sweetland (1668-1738), a renowned clockmaker from London. 2. John Sweetland (1712-1789), a prominent surgeon and author from Exeter, Devon. 3. Mary Sweetland (1788-1865), a philanthropist and social reformer who established several schools and charities in London. 4. William Sweetland (1822-1892), a pioneer in the field of photography and a founding member of the Photographic Society of Great Britain. 5. Edward Sweetland (1844-1918), a successful businessman and politician who served as the Mayor of Plymouth, Devon.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Sweetland families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Sweetland 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. Devon leads with 102 Sweetlands recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.08x.

County Total Index
Devon 102 13.08x
Middlesex 76 2.03x
Somerset 50 8.29x
Dorset 33 13.42x
Surrey 25 1.37x
Wiltshire 18 5.43x
Lancashire 11 0.25x
Gloucestershire 10 1.36x
Hampshire 10 1.30x
Glamorgan 9 1.38x
Essex 7 0.95x
Worcestershire 6 1.23x
Kent 4 0.31x
Leicestershire 4 0.96x
Yorkshire 4 0.11x
Buckinghamshire 3 1.32x
Channel Islands 3 2.70x
Warwickshire 3 0.32x
Royal Navy 2 4.48x
Staffordshire 2 0.16x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.84x
Sussex 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Colyton in Devon leads with 25 Sweetlands recorded in 1881 and an index of 836.12x.

Place Total Index
Colyton 25 836.12x
Kinson 21 437.50x
Newington 16 11.56x
Chard 13 178.08x
Bromley London 12 14.56x
Exeter St Sidwell 11 61.59x
Hennock 11 1111.11x
Lyme Regis 11 374.15x
Kensington London 9 4.32x
Llandaff 9 41.47x
Monkton Farleigh 9 1666.67x
Kingsteignton 8 368.66x
West Buckland 8 689.66x
Alverstoke 7 25.19x
Islington London 7 1.93x
Warminster 7 96.42x
Westminster St 7 50.69x
Cheltenham 6 10.59x
East Ham 6 43.73x
Hendon 6 44.51x
Poplar London 6 8.49x
Yarcombe 6 674.16x
Dalwood 5 943.40x
Kirkdale 5 6.69x
Salcombe Regis 5 684.93x
St Luke London 5 8.32x
Tottenham 5 8.38x
Axminster 4 109.29x
Camberwell 4 1.67x
Crediton 4 54.13x
Kenton 4 162.60x
Lambeth 4 1.22x
Little Stanmore 4 360.36x
Melton Mowbray 4 53.55x
Milverton 4 180.18x
Pitminster 4 225.99x
Bedminster 3 5.29x
Birmingham 3 0.95x
Claines 3 22.35x
Combe Florey 3 731.71x
Deptford St Paul 3 3.04x
Everton 3 2.12x
Hammersmith London 3 3.25x
Ilkley 3 49.42x
Liverpool 3 1.11x
South Mimms 3 58.37x
St Peter Port 3 14.61x
Taunton St James 3 34.13x
Tormoham 3 9.09x
Worcester St John 3 51.37x
Wycombe 3 17.77x
Batheaston 2 97.09x
Bristol St Mary Redcliff 2 29.90x
Chelsea London 2 1.77x
Dartmouth Townstall 2 62.89x
Exeter St David 2 30.03x
Friern Barnet 2 24.24x
Hemyock 2 172.41x
Highweek 2 71.94x
Royal Navy 2 5.24x
Yoxall 2 119.76x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 4.08x
Chardstock 1 58.82x
Chew Magna 1 47.39x
Combe St Nicholas 1 68.49x
Cullompton 1 29.41x
Exeter Holy Trinity 1 32.68x
Hackney London 1 0.48x
Holy Rood 1 64.52x
Ilminster 1 23.75x
Lamberhurst 1 62.89x
Pembroke St Mary 1 6.52x
Plymouth Charles The 1 2.91x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 1.33x
St Marylebone London 1 0.50x
Trowbridge 1 6.83x
Walcot 1 3.11x
Westminster St James 1 2.60x
Wiveliscombe 1 29.76x
Wolborough 1 10.14x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 28
Elizabeth 22
Sarah 17
Ann 10
Eliza 9
Alice 6
Ellen 6
Emily 6
Martha 6
Louisa 5
Annie 4
Hannah 4
Jane 4
Amelia 3
Charlotte 3
Elizth. 3
Emma 3
Susan 3
Allice 2
Amy 2
Anna 2
Anne 2
Bessie 2
Clara 2
Elisabeth 2
Francis 2
Harriet 2
Laura 2
Margaret 2
Rebecca 2
Selina 2
Thurza 2
C.E. 1
Edith 1
Emm 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Grace 1
Jessie 1
Kate 1
Lavenia 1
Leah 1
Leama 1
Letitia 1
Lilian 1
Lillie 1
Lucy 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 22
William 20
James 16
George 13
Henry 12
Charles 8
Samuel 7
Thomas 6
Walter 4
Edward 3
Frank 3
Harry 3
Herbert 3
Joseph 3
Richard 3
Robert 3
Abel 2
Albert 2
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
David 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Frederick 2
Thos. 2
Benjamin 1
Bertie 1
Chas. 1
Christopher 1
Collis 1
Edgar 1
Elijah 1
Francis 1
Fredk. 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Jesse 1
Jos.Thom.? 1
Josh 1
Louis 1
Morgan 1
Nathaniel 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Philip 1
Saml. 1
Simeon 1
Stephen 1
Tom 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Sweetland surname: questions and answers

How common was the Sweetland surname in 1881?

In 1881, 377 people were recorded with the Sweetland surname. That placed it at #8,309 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Sweetland surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 580 in 2016. That gives Sweetland a modern rank of #8,938.

What does the Sweetland surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from a pleasant or sweet place.

What does the Sweetland map show?

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