NameCensus.

UK surname

Swetnam

An English habitational surname derived from a place name of uncertain origin.

In the 1881 census there were 75 people recorded with the Swetnam surname, ranking it #22,893 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 102, ranked #30,722, down from #22,893 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolstanton, Newark-on-Trent, East Stoke (East Stoke), Park Leys, Rolleston (Fiskerton), Morton and Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Staffordshire Moorlands, Stoke-on-Trent and Central Bedfordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Swetnam is 127 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 36.0%.

1881 census count

75

Ranked #22,893

Modern count

102

2016, ranked #30,722

Peak year

1901

127 bearers

Map years

4

1901 to 2016

Key insights

  • Swetnam had 75 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,893 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 127 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Swetnam surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Swetnam surname density by area, 2016 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Swetnam 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 78 #19,840
1861 historical 70 #24,911
1881 historical 75 #22,893
1891 historical 77 #27,169
1901 historical 127 #19,893
1911 historical 109 #21,611
1997 modern 82 #29,325
1998 modern 101 #27,479
1999 modern 93 #28,711
2000 modern 95 #28,441
2001 modern 91 #28,670
2002 modern 88 #29,534
2003 modern 90 #29,260
2004 modern 89 #29,623
2005 modern 84 #30,359
2006 modern 86 #30,425
2007 modern 89 #30,383
2008 modern 86 #31,114
2009 modern 92 #30,820
2010 modern 98 #30,540
2011 modern 98 #30,384
2012 modern 99 #30,442
2013 modern 101 #30,591
2014 modern 102 #30,714
2015 modern 102 #30,624
2016 modern 102 #30,722

Geography

Back to top

Where Swetnams are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolstanton, Newark-on-Trent, East Stoke (East Stoke), Park Leys, Rolleston (Fiskerton), Morton, Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall, Blore, Waterfall, Musden Grange, Ilam, Croxden (Uttoxeter, Staffordshire), Woodhouses, Calton and Wigginton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Staffordshire Moorlands, Stoke-on-Trent, Central Bedfordshire and Rotherham. 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 Wolstanton Staffordshire
2 Newark-on-Trent, East Stoke (East Stoke), Park Leys, Rolleston (Fiskerton), Morton Nottinghamshire
3 Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall Staffordshire
4 Blore, Waterfall, Musden Grange, Ilam, Croxden (Uttoxeter, Staffordshire), Woodhouses, Calton Derbyshire
5 Wigginton Oxfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Staffordshire Moorlands 013 Staffordshire Moorlands
2 Stoke-on-Trent 020 Stoke-on-Trent
3 Central Bedfordshire 008 Central Bedfordshire
4 Rotherham 019 Rotherham
5 Stoke-on-Trent 029 Stoke-on-Trent

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Swetnam

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Swetnam

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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Swetnam surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Swetnam household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

City Support Workers

Within London, Swetnam is most associated with areas classed as City Support Workers, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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

Scattered throughout Inner London, these areas house relatively few workers in the most senior roles within organisations, and greater prevalence of administrative roles relative to the Supergroup mean. Residents are less likely to be of Chinese ethnicity and are more likely to have been born in Africa. Relative to the Supergroup average, residents are also more likely to live in social housing and live in overcrowded conditions.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Swetnam is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Swetnam falls in decile 1 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.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Swetnam is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Swetnam

The surname Swetnam has its origins in England and can be traced back to the late 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "swete" meaning sweet and "ham" meaning a homestead or village. This suggests that the name may have referred to someone who lived in a pleasant or sweet-smelling homestead.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Swetnam can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from the year 1198, where a person named William Swetnam is mentioned. The name also appears in the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which lists a Robert de Swetnam.

In the 14th century, the surname Swetnam had various spellings, including Swetnam, Swettenham, and Swytenham. These variations were likely due to the lack of standardized spelling during that time period. The earliest known record of the Swetnam spelling is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire from 1327, which mentions a John Swetnam.

The name Swetnam has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest was Henry Swetnam, born around 1530, who was an English satirist and pamphleteer known for his controversial work "The Arraignment of Lewd, Idle, Froward, and Unconstant Women" published in 1615.

Another prominent figure was Joseph Swetnam, born in 1671, who was an English theologian and author. He published several works, including "An Apology for the Writings of the Ancients" in 1709.

In the 18th century, there was John Swetnam, born in 1735, who was an English clergyman and author. He wrote several religious works, including "The Christian's Manual" published in 1789.

Moving into the 19th century, we find William Swetnam, born in 1810, who was an English architect and surveyor. He was responsible for designing several notable buildings in London and the surrounding areas.

Lastly, in the early 20th century, there was Alfred Swetnam, born in 1892, who was an English artist known for his landscape paintings and watercolors.

While the surname Swetnam may have originated from a humble homestead, it has been carried by individuals who have left their mark in various fields throughout history, spanning literature, theology, architecture, and art.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Swetnam families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Swetnam 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. Staffordshire leads with 57 Swetnams recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.08x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 57 23.08x
Yorkshire 6 0.83x
Warwickshire 5 2.71x
Middlesex 4 0.55x
Lancashire 2 0.23x
Nottinghamshire 1 1.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Stoke Upon Trent in Staffordshire leads with 41 Swetnams recorded in 1881 and an index of 156.61x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 41 156.61x
Birmingham 5 8.13x
Brightside Bierlow 5 35.16x
Croxden 5 10000.00x
Hackney London 4 9.75x
Wolverhampton 4 21.06x
Alton 3 1111.11x
Kingsley 3 652.17x
Liverpool 2 3.79x
Cheadle 1 84.03x
Gayles 1 3333.33x
Radford Lenton 1 400.00x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 5
James 3
John 3
Samuel 3
Thomas 3
George 2
Henry 2
Sidney 2
Abraham 1
Albert 1
Edw.George 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Frederick 1
Levison 1
Luke 1
Richard 1
Rupert 1
Solomon 1

FAQ

Swetnam surname: questions and answers

How common was the Swetnam surname in 1881?

In 1881, 75 people were recorded with the Swetnam surname. That placed it at #22,893 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Swetnam surname today?

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

What does the Swetnam surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from a place name of uncertain origin.

What does the Swetnam map show?

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