NameCensus.

UK surname

Swinnerton

A locational surname deriving from a place named Swinnerton in Staffordshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 433 people recorded with the Swinnerton surname, ranking it #7,531 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 601, ranked #8,708, down from #7,531 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Edgmond (Edgmond), Chetwynd, Cheswardine, Hinstock and Toxteth Park. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire, Middlesbrough and Stafford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Swinnerton is 705 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 38.8%.

1881 census count

433

Ranked #7,531

Modern count

601

2016, ranked #8,708

Peak year

1911

705 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Swinnerton had 433 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #7,531 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 601 in 2016, ranked #8,708.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 705 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Swinnerton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Swinnerton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Swinnerton 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 289 #7,860
1861 historical 314 #8,088
1881 historical 433 #7,531
1891 historical 443 #8,164
1901 historical 627 #6,833
1911 historical 705 #6,048
1997 modern 600 #8,140
1998 modern 686 #7,598
1999 modern 687 #7,626
2000 modern 670 #7,749
2001 modern 660 #7,704
2002 modern 677 #7,711
2003 modern 633 #7,986
2004 modern 648 #7,861
2005 modern 610 #8,176
2006 modern 616 #8,117
2007 modern 617 #8,184
2008 modern 625 #8,146
2009 modern 630 #8,271
2010 modern 662 #8,125
2011 modern 670 #7,963
2012 modern 628 #8,297
2013 modern 650 #8,226
2014 modern 633 #8,429
2015 modern 619 #8,517
2016 modern 601 #8,708

Geography

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Where Swinnertons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Edgmond (Edgmond), Chetwynd, Cheswardine, Hinstock, Toxteth Park, Madeley and Walsall. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire, Middlesbrough and Stafford. 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 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Edgmond (Edgmond), Chetwynd, Cheswardine, Hinstock Shropshire
3 Toxteth Park Lancashire
4 Madeley Staffordshire
5 Walsall Staffordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 009 Shropshire
2 Shropshire 005 Shropshire
3 Shropshire 033 Shropshire
4 Middlesbrough 019 Middlesbrough
5 Stafford 015 Stafford

Forenames

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First names often paired with Swinnerton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Swinnerton

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Swinnerton is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Swinnerton is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Swinnerton

The surname Swinnerton originated in the county of Staffordshire, England during the Anglo-Saxon era. It is a habitation name derived from the place name Swinnerton, a parish and village located near the town of Stone. The name Swinnerton is believed to come from the Old English words "swin" meaning pig and "tun" meaning farm or enclosure, suggesting the area was once used for keeping pigs.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Swinnerton can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is spelled as "Suinnvretone." This entry indicates that the village of Swinnerton existed during the time of the Norman Conquest and was held by a Saxon named Godric.

In the 13th century, a branch of the Swinnerton family held the manor of Swinnerton and played a significant role in the local affairs of Staffordshire. Robert de Swinnerton, born around 1260, served as a knight and was associated with the Earl of Lancaster during the Barons' War against King Edward II.

The Swinnerton family continued to hold prominence in the region for several centuries. Sir John Swinnerton, born in 1350, was a renowned military leader who fought in the Hundred Years' War and served as the Constable of the Tower of London under King Richard II.

In the 16th century, Thomas Swinnerton, born in 1515, was a Member of Parliament for the borough of Newcastle-under-Lyme during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another notable figure with the Swinnerton surname was John Swinnerton, born in 1667, who was a noted English antiquarian and historian. He authored several works on the history and genealogy of the Swinnerton family and other prominent families in Staffordshire.

The Swinnerton name has also been associated with various place names in Staffordshire, such as Swinnerton Hall, Swinnerton Old Park, and Swinnerton New Park, reflecting the family's long-standing presence in the area.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Swinnerton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Swinnerton 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 154 Swinnertons recorded in 1881 and an index of 10.80x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 154 10.80x
Lancashire 66 1.32x
Shropshire 51 13.98x
Warwickshire 42 3.94x
Cheshire 29 3.11x
Yorkshire 23 0.55x
Middlesex 19 0.45x
Surrey 19 0.92x
Glamorgan 9 1.22x
Denbighshire 7 4.39x
Kent 4 0.28x
Lanarkshire 4 0.29x
Gloucestershire 2 0.24x
Caernarfonshire 1 0.59x
Derbyshire 1 0.15x
Hampshire 1 0.12x
Midlothian 1 0.18x

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 48 Swinnertons recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.75x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 48 31.75x
Cheswardine 21 1346.15x
Walsall Foreign 15 20.37x
Everton 14 8.76x
Madeley 13 366.20x
Kirkdale 11 13.05x
Aberdare 9 17.83x
Bulkington 9 391.30x
Chester St Mary On Hill 9 112.50x
Coleshill 9 263.93x
Eccleshall 9 166.36x
Stoneleigh 9 508.47x
West Derby 9 6.14x
Bury 8 13.97x
Dawley 8 60.24x
Islington London 8 1.95x
Sedgley 8 15.11x
Audley 7 49.61x
Croydon 7 6.13x
Ecclesall Bierlow 7 8.22x
Gresford Gwersyllt 7 141.41x
Hunslet 7 10.73x
Newcastle Under Lyme 7 27.74x
Reeth 7 673.08x
Wellington 7 34.13x
Betley 6 504.20x
Handsworth 6 17.07x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 6 55.97x
Shawbury 6 428.57x
Stone 6 32.89x
Wednesfield 6 28.60x
Monks Coppenhall 5 14.21x
Nuneaton 5 40.52x
Blackburn 4 3.00x
Bradford 4 17.05x
Hackney London 4 1.69x
Lambeth 4 1.09x
Streatham 4 12.76x
West Bromwich 4 4.90x
Adbaston 3 384.62x
Barthomley 3 555.56x
Bilston 3 10.86x
Birmingham 3 0.85x
Bridgnorth St Mary 3 84.27x
Cambusnethan 3 9.89x
Cheetham 3 8.03x
Great Bolton 3 4.52x
Macclesfield 3 7.24x
Manchester 3 1.33x
Smallthorne 3 56.71x
Toxteth Park 3 1.77x
Wimbledon 3 12.98x
Wolverhampton 3 2.74x
Bridgnorth St Leonard 2 48.31x
Burton Upon Trent 2 6.00x
Chelmarsh 2 289.86x
Deptford St Paul 2 1.80x
Exhall 2 124.22x
Kingswinford 2 3.86x
Rowington 2 166.67x
St Luke London 2 2.95x
St Peters 2 29.99x
Staines 2 29.90x
Barony 1 0.29x
Bristol St James St Paul 1 3.62x
Burnley 1 2.37x
Chester St Martin 1 67.57x
Clerkenwell London 1 1.00x
Drayton In Hales 1 13.30x
Edinburgh St Marys 1 9.09x
Filey 1 29.59x
Fillongley 1 65.79x
Gloucester St Catherine 1 42.92x
Kings Bromley 1 121.95x
Llandudno 1 16.42x
Middleton Scriven 1 769.23x
Mile End Old Town 1 1.50x
Paddington London 1 0.64x
Polesworth 1 19.76x
Tranmere 1 2.92x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 34
Sarah 23
Elizabeth 17
Hannah 14
Ann 10
Jane 10
Ellen 7
Eliza 6
Emily 6
Alice 5
Annie 5
Emma 4
Harriet 4
Martha 4
Letitia 3
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Anne 2
Catherine 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Elizth. 2
Florence 2
Louise 2
Maria 2
Rachel 2
Rebecca 2
Amy 1
Bertha 1
Bessie 1
Caroline 1
Eliz. 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Helen 1
Hetty 1
Isabella 1
Julia 1
Lizzie 1
Louisa 1
Lucy 1
Margaret 1
Matilda 1
Matilder 1
Miriam 1
Nora 1
Olive 1
Polly 1
Treak 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 27
John 26
Thomas 21
George 16
Joseph 15
Charles 13
James 13
Henry 10
Samuel 9
Wm. 7
Walter 6
Edward 4
Robert 4
Stephen 4
Albert 3
Benjamin 3
Francis 3
Arthur 2
Daniel 2
Frederick 2
Fredk. 2
Richard 2
Alfred 1
Arnold 1
Bertram 1
Britain 1
Edw. 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Geo. 1
Harry 1
Hedly 1
Herbert 1
Hny. 1
Humphrey 1
Isaac 1
J.E. 1
Jessie 1
Mark 1
Matthew 1
Ralph 1
Reuben 1
Robt. 1
Rowland 1
Rudolf 1
Rupert 1
Simeon 1
Thos. 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Swinnerton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Swinnerton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 433 people were recorded with the Swinnerton surname. That placed it at #7,531 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Swinnerton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 601 in 2016. That gives Swinnerton a modern rank of #8,708.

What does the Swinnerton surname mean?

A locational surname deriving from a place named Swinnerton in Staffordshire, England.

What does the Swinnerton map show?

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