NameCensus.

UK surname

Swinson

Derived from a place name meaning "Sven's son," referring to a descendant of someone named Sven.

In the 1881 census there were 287 people recorded with the Swinson surname, ranking it #10,014 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 455, ranked #10,716, down from #10,014 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Alton, Duffield and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Staffordshire Moorlands, Amber Valley and East Staffordshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Swinson is 502 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 58.5%.

1881 census count

287

Ranked #10,014

Modern count

455

2016, ranked #10,716

Peak year

1998

502 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Swinson had 287 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,014 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 455 in 2016, ranked #10,716.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 425 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Swinson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Swinson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Swinson 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 195 #10,620
1861 historical 187 #12,690
1881 historical 287 #10,014
1891 historical 321 #10,520
1901 historical 417 #9,212
1911 historical 425 #8,877
1997 modern 461 #9,886
1998 modern 502 #9,562
1999 modern 494 #9,752
2000 modern 494 #9,717
2001 modern 487 #9,656
2002 modern 476 #9,999
2003 modern 452 #10,258
2004 modern 459 #10,137
2005 modern 461 #10,022
2006 modern 462 #10,037
2007 modern 453 #10,281
2008 modern 453 #10,345
2009 modern 477 #10,206
2010 modern 483 #10,301
2011 modern 483 #10,215
2012 modern 457 #10,548
2013 modern 455 #10,743
2014 modern 458 #10,749
2015 modern 455 #10,734
2016 modern 455 #10,716

Geography

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Where Swinsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Alton, Duffield, London parishes, Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall and Hammersmith. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Staffordshire Moorlands, Amber Valley, East Staffordshire and Craven. 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 Alton Staffordshire
2 Duffield Derbyshire
3 London parishes London 1
4 Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall Staffordshire
5 Hammersmith London (West Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Staffordshire Moorlands 010 Staffordshire Moorlands
2 Amber Valley 011 Amber Valley
3 Staffordshire Moorlands 011 Staffordshire Moorlands
4 East Staffordshire 002 East Staffordshire
5 Craven 007 Craven

Forenames

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First names often paired with Swinson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Swinson

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Swinson, 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 Swinson surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Swinson 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Swinson 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

Swinson 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

Swinson falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Swinson

The surname Swinson is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval era. It is believed to have emerged in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire, where it was likely derived from the Old English personal name Swein, which means "young man" or "youth."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Swinson name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1166, where it appears as "Sweinson." This early spelling variation highlights the name's evolution over time, with the transition from "Sweinson" to "Swinson" reflecting the natural changes in language and pronunciation.

During the 13th century, the Swinson name gained prominence in the village of Swinshead, located in the historical county of Lincolnshire. It is speculated that the name may have originated from this place name, which itself is derived from the Old English words "swine" (meaning swine or pig) and "heafod" (meaning head or headland).

In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a record of landowners and tenants in England, there is an entry for a William Swynesheuede, whose name is believed to be a precursor to the modern Swinson spelling. This historical document provides invaluable insight into the early iterations of the name and its geographical distribution.

Notable individuals bearing the Swinson surname throughout history include:

1. Robert Swinson (c. 1580-1650), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Beckingham, Lincolnshire. 2. William Swinson (1670-1733), a British naval officer and explorer who led expeditions to the South Pacific and authored accounts of his voyages. 3. Mary Swinson (1787-1865), a prominent philanthropist and social reformer from Yorkshire, known for her work in establishing schools and advocating for women's rights. 4. John Swinson (1825-1901), a Scottish businessman and industrialist who founded the Swinson Textile Mills, a major employer in the city of Glasgow. 5. Elizabeth Swinson (1890-1976), an English author and playwright whose works explored themes of love, loss, and family dynamics.

The Swinson surname has endured through the centuries, with its roots firmly planted in the rich tapestry of English history. From its humble beginnings as a personal name in Yorkshire and Lancashire, it has evolved and spread across various regions, leaving an indelible mark on the annals of time.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Swinson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Swinson 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 108 Swinsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.43x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 108 11.43x
Middlesex 61 2.18x
Derbyshire 43 9.81x
Cheshire 16 2.59x
Warwickshire 15 2.12x
Lancashire 8 0.24x
Hertfordshire 7 3.63x
Durham 6 0.72x
Yorkshire 6 0.22x
Surrey 4 0.29x
Bedfordshire 2 1.38x
Somerset 2 0.44x
Worcestershire 2 0.55x
Devon 1 0.17x
Essex 1 0.18x
Flintshire 1 1.33x
Hampshire 1 0.17x
Kent 1 0.10x
Midlothian 1 0.27x
Wiltshire 1 0.40x

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 29 Swinsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.94x.

Place Total Index
Stoke Upon Trent 29 28.94x
Hammersmith London 25 36.25x
Cheadle 23 506.61x
Alton 17 1666.67x
Horsley 16 606.06x
Aston 9 4.63x
Uttoxeter 9 185.95x
Bilston 8 43.69x
Stapenhill 8 122.70x
Ashwell 7 460.53x
Clerkenwell London 7 10.59x
Macclesfield 7 25.48x
Bishopwearmouth 6 8.39x
Leamington Priors 6 34.54x
Leek Lowe 6 47.73x
Shirland 6 182.93x
St Giles In Fields 6 62.11x
Altrincham 5 46.30x
Islington London 5 1.84x
Leigh Field 5 1851.85x
Preston 5 326.80x
Rocester 5 427.35x
Shoreditch London 5 4.12x
Hurdsfield 4 105.26x
Heaton Norris 3 15.86x
Kingsley 3 170.45x
Limehouse London 3 9.76x
Mickleover 3 222.22x
Ripley 3 55.35x
St George In East 3 15.76x
Bedford St Paul 2 20.12x
Bedminster 2 4.72x
Breightmet 2 136.99x
Derby St Alkmund 2 15.22x
Epsom 2 30.08x
Liverpool 2 0.99x
Mappleton 2 1052.63x
Mayfield 2 169.49x
Pentrich 2 80.97x
Poplar London 2 3.79x
Willesden 2 7.58x
Barnsley 1 3.50x
Bradford On Avon 1 12.61x
Bridge 1 121.95x
Clapham 1 2.86x
Croydon 1 1.32x
Droitwich St Nicholas 1 73.53x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 1 0.66x
Gratwich 1 1428.57x
Kirkham 1 22.78x
Marston Montgomery 1 270.27x
Mold 1 14.64x
Northwood 1 12.24x
Prittlewell 1 13.05x
Spitalfields London 1 4.75x
St George Hanover 1 2.74x
St Pancras London 1 0.44x
Stoke Prior 1 44.44x
Yarcombe 1 149.25x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 23
Elizabeth 17
Sarah 8
Eliza 6
Ann 5
Ellen 5
Emma 5
Hannah 5
Jane 5
Caroline 4
Harriett 4
Edith 3
Margeret 3
Rebecca 3
Ada 2
Alice 2
Amy 2
Anne 2
Annie 2
Eleanor 2
Elizth. 2
Emily 2
Lucy 2
Martha 2
Adelaide 1
Agusta 1
Amelia 1
Cicly 1
Deborah 1
Dorothy 1
Fanny 1
Frances 1
Francis 1
Georgana 1
Gertrude 1
Harriot 1
Kattrony 1
Lenah 1
Levinia 1
Louisa 1
Lousia 1
Maria 1
Millicent 1
Rhoda 1
Rosanna 1
Susannah 1
William 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 20
William 19
George 16
Henry 11
Thomas 11
James 9
Joseph 9
Charles 4
Edward 4
Aaron 3
Arthur 3
Samuel 3
Edwin 2
Francis 2
Frederick 2
Saml. 2
Wm. 2
Ada 1
Albet 1
Alfred 1
Anthony 1
Carl 1
Chas.H. 1
Claude 1
Enos 1
Eric 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Herbert 1
Hugh 1
Hy. 1
Jabez 1
Nathan 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Robert 1
Thos.J. 1
Tom 1
Trevor 1
Walter 1
Wilhelm 1

FAQ

Swinson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Swinson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 287 people were recorded with the Swinson surname. That placed it at #10,014 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Swinson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 455 in 2016. That gives Swinson a modern rank of #10,716.

What does the Swinson surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "Sven's son," referring to a descendant of someone named Sven.

What does the Swinson map show?

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