NameCensus.

UK surname

Swindle

A surname referring to a deceiver, cheat, or one who defrauds others for personal gain.

In the 1881 census there were 314 people recorded with the Swindle surname, ranking it #9,417 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 218, ranked #18,481, down from #9,417 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Allendale and Alston. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include County Durham, Coventry and Eden.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Swindle is 314 in 1881. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 30.6%.

1881 census count

314

Ranked #9,417

Modern count

218

2016, ranked #18,481

Peak year

1881

314 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Swindle had 314 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #9,417 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 218 in 2016, ranked #18,481.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 314 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Swindle surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Swindle surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Swindle 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 232 #9,296
1861 historical 271 #9,193
1881 historical 314 #9,417
1891 historical 310 #10,812
1901 historical 251 #13,102
1911 historical 238 #13,356
1997 modern 241 #15,638
1998 modern 240 #16,117
1999 modern 239 #16,268
2000 modern 234 #16,470
2001 modern 223 #16,765
2002 modern 232 #16,637
2003 modern 221 #16,987
2004 modern 220 #17,129
2005 modern 209 #17,629
2006 modern 203 #18,105
2007 modern 209 #17,951
2008 modern 209 #18,114
2009 modern 215 #18,179
2010 modern 215 #18,551
2011 modern 216 #18,321
2012 modern 212 #18,481
2013 modern 216 #18,543
2014 modern 224 #18,202
2015 modern 222 #18,225
2016 modern 218 #18,481

Geography

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Where Swindles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Allendale, Alston, Glasgow and Crosthwaite. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to County Durham, Coventry, Eden, Northumberland and Barnsley. 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 Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside Durham
2 Allendale Northumberland
3 Alston Cumberland
4 Glasgow Lanark
5 Crosthwaite Cumberland

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 County Durham 034 County Durham
2 Coventry 024 Coventry
3 Eden 001 Eden
4 Northumberland 005 Northumberland
5 Barnsley 010 Barnsley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Swindle

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Swindle

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Swindle surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Swindle household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Swindle is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Swindle is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Swindle 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 Swindle 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 Swindle, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Swindle

The surname Swindle is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "swindlen," which means "to dwindle" or "to waste away." It is believed to have originated in the late 12th or early 13th century.

The name Swindle was initially used as an occupational surname, referring to individuals who were responsible for drying and preserving provisions, particularly meat and fish. These individuals were known as "swindlers" because they ensured that the provisions did not spoil or dwindle.

The earliest known record of the surname Swindle can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, dated 1327, which mentions a Thomas le Swindler. This indicates that the name was already established in the region during that time period.

In the 15th century, the name Swindle appeared in various records, such as the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire in 1524, which listed a John Swindull. The spelling variations during this period included Swindull, Swindall, and Swindell.

One notable figure bearing the Swindle surname was John Swindle, who lived in the late 16th century and was a merchant from Bristol, England. He was involved in the trade of goods between England and the Americas.

In the 17th century, the Swindle surname was found in various parts of England, including Lincolnshire, where a record from 1642 mentions a Robert Swindle. During this period, the name was also associated with the village of Swindle in Derbyshire, which may have contributed to the spread of the surname.

Another prominent individual with the Swindle surname was William Swindle, born in 1675 in Gloucestershire, England. He was a farmer and landowner who played a significant role in the local community.

The 18th century saw the Swindle surname appearing in various parts of the United Kingdom, including Scotland, where a record from 1785 mentions a James Swindle from Ayrshire.

In the 19th century, the Swindle surname continued to be present in various parts of Britain. One notable figure was Robert Swindle, born in 1828 in Liverpool, England. He was a successful businessman and philanthropist who contributed to the development of his local community.

Throughout history, the Swindle surname has been associated with various professions, including agriculture, trade, and business. The name has also been found in different parts of the English-speaking world, as individuals bearing the surname migrated to other countries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Swindle families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Swindle 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. Cumberland leads with 74 Swindles recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.24x.

County Total Index
Cumberland 74 28.24x
Northumberland 56 12.37x
Durham 43 4.75x
Derbyshire 19 3.99x
Lancashire 19 0.53x
Warwickshire 19 2.48x
Lanarkshire 18 1.83x
Staffordshire 14 1.36x
Yorkshire 10 0.33x
Ayrshire 8 3.51x
Middlesex 8 0.26x
Kent 7 0.67x
Lincolnshire 5 1.03x
Worcestershire 4 1.01x
Hampshire 2 0.32x
Surrey 2 0.13x
Cheshire 1 0.15x
Gloucestershire 1 0.17x
Norfolk 1 0.21x
Shropshire 1 0.38x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Keswick in Cumberland leads with 35 Swindles recorded in 1881 and an index of 1044.78x.

Place Total Index
Keswick 35 1044.78x
Alston 26 538.30x
Allendale 25 595.24x
Glasgow 15 8.58x
Monk Hesleden 13 515.87x
Birmingham 10 3.91x
Aston 9 4.26x
Horton 8 357.14x
Houghton Le Spring 8 127.80x
Kilbirnie 8 146.25x
Walsall Foreign 8 15.07x
Deptford St Paul 7 8.74x
Witton Gilbert 7 196.08x
Dalton In Furness 6 43.04x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 6 15.30x
Henshaw 6 1153.85x
Newbrough 6 750.00x
Winshill 6 197.37x
Belper 5 54.11x
Cowpen 5 47.94x
Crosthwaite 5 1562.50x
Fulham London 5 11.33x
Millom 5 62.27x
Wallsend 5 34.82x
Derby St Peter 4 26.35x
Oulton Cum Woodlesford 4 163.27x
Pedmore 4 769.23x
Sheffield 4 4.17x
Withcall 4 1600.00x
Harborne 3 9.11x
Harpurhey 3 59.88x
Maryhill 3 15.57x
Usworth 3 62.37x
Windle 3 14.76x
Ashtead 2 208.33x
Ashton Under Lyne 2 2.53x
Oldham 2 1.72x
Over Wallop 2 350.88x
Shoreditch London 2 1.52x
Tanfield 2 18.57x
Bilston 1 5.02x
Birkdale 1 10.94x
Cheltenham 1 2.17x
Claverley 1 56.18x
Crook Billy Row 1 8.62x
Derby St Alkmund 1 7.00x
Duffield 1 26.60x
Egremont 1 16.00x
Elland Cum Greetland 1 7.36x
Emneth 1 96.15x
Formby 1 24.45x
Gorton 1 2.95x
Iveston 1 23.98x
Kirkheaton 1 20.45x
Matlock 1 15.63x
Medomsley 1 23.70x
Sedgley 1 2.62x
St Cuthbert W O Carleton 1 138.89x
Stanhope 1 10.70x
Stapenhill 1 14.10x
Stoke Newington London 1 4.22x
Tranmere 1 4.05x
Tynemouth 1 4.12x
Waterhead 1 312.50x
Wolverhampton 1 1.27x
Yarborough 1 357.14x

Top female names

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

FAQ

Swindle surname: questions and answers

How common was the Swindle surname in 1881?

In 1881, 314 people were recorded with the Swindle surname. That placed it at #9,417 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Swindle surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 218 in 2016. That gives Swindle a modern rank of #18,481.

What does the Swindle surname mean?

A surname referring to a deceiver, cheat, or one who defrauds others for personal gain.

What does the Swindle map show?

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