NameCensus.

UK surname

Swinton

A locational surname derived from the Old English words "swin" meaning pig and "tun" meaning enclosure or settlement.

In the 1881 census there were 616 people recorded with the Swinton surname, ranking it #5,709 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 846, ranked #6,610, down from #5,709 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Cupar, Hawick and Wilton and Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include IZ12, IZ14 and Denholm and Hermitage.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Swinton is 849 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 37.3%.

1881 census count

616

Ranked #5,709

Modern count

846

2016, ranked #6,610

Peak year

2015

849 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Swinton had 616 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,709 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 846 in 2016, ranked #6,610.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 717 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Swinton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Swinton surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Swinton 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 491 #5,090
1861 historical 446 #5,796
1881 historical 616 #5,709
1891 historical 667 #5,835
1901 historical 717 #6,159
1911 historical 419 #8,985
1997 modern 777 #6,691
1998 modern 773 #6,949
1999 modern 792 #6,860
2000 modern 803 #6,749
2001 modern 786 #6,738
2002 modern 804 #6,747
2003 modern 797 #6,671
2004 modern 789 #6,752
2005 modern 786 #6,695
2006 modern 790 #6,701
2007 modern 792 #6,750
2008 modern 802 #6,733
2009 modern 812 #6,801
2010 modern 846 #6,719
2011 modern 843 #6,657
2012 modern 817 #6,724
2013 modern 842 #6,688
2014 modern 845 #6,687
2015 modern 849 #6,608
2016 modern 846 #6,610

Geography

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Where Swintons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Cupar, Hawick and Wilton, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, London parishes and Edinburgh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to IZ12, IZ14, Denholm and Hermitage, Islington and West Lindsey. 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 Cupar Fife
2 Hawick and Wilton Roxburgh
3 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
4 London parishes London 3
5 Edinburgh Edinburgh

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 IZ12 East Lothian
2 IZ14 East Lothian
3 Denholm and Hermitage Scottish Borders
4 Islington 023 Islington
5 West Lindsey 004 West Lindsey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Swinton

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Swinton

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

Established but Challenged

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

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, Swinton 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

Swinton is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Swinton

The surname Swinton originated in England, specifically in the county of Yorkshire. It is derived from the Old English words "swin" meaning "pig" and "tun" meaning "farm" or "enclosure." The name likely referred to a pigsty or a farm where pigs were raised.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Swinton can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Swintone." This indicates that the name was already established in the region by the late 11th century.

In the 12th century, the name Swinton was associated with a village in Yorkshire that bore the same name. This village, now known as Swinton, was mentioned in various historical records from the period.

One of the earliest known individuals with the surname Swinton was Robert de Swinton, who lived in the 13th century. He was a landowner in Yorkshire and held estates in the village of Swinton.

During the 14th century, the spelling of the name varied, with forms such as Swynton, Swynneton, and Swyntoun being used interchangeably. This was a common occurrence in English surnames during this period, as standardized spellings were not yet established.

In the 15th century, a notable figure with the Swinton surname was John Swinton, a Scottish knight who fought in the Wars of Scottish Independence. He was captured at the Battle of Homildon Hill in 1402 and later released.

The 16th century saw the rise of the Swinton family as prominent landowners and nobles. One of the most notable members was John Swinton (1556-1616), a Scottish lawyer and judge who served as Lord President of the Court of Session.

In the 17th century, Sir John Swinton (1619-1679) was a Scottish soldier and royalist who fought for King Charles I during the English Civil War. He was later knighted for his services.

During the 18th century, the Swinton family continued to be prominent in Scottish society. Samuel Swinton (1735-1799) was a Scottish clergyman and author who wrote several works on theology and philosophy.

In the 19th century, one of the most famous individuals with the Swinton surname was Archibald Campbell Swinton (1863-1930), a British army officer and pioneer of armored warfare. He played a significant role in the development of tanks during World War I.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Swinton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Swinton 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. Fife leads with 90 Swintons recorded in 1881 and an index of 25.26x.

County Total Index
Fife 90 25.26x
Lincolnshire 52 5.40x
Middlesex 52 0.86x
Cheshire 50 3.76x
Nottinghamshire 48 5.92x
Angus 40 7.17x
Midlothian 34 4.22x
Lancashire 33 0.46x
Berwickshire 31 42.54x
Roxburghshire 26 23.85x
Durham 16 0.89x
Staffordshire 15 0.74x
Perthshire 12 4.44x
Lanarkshire 10 0.51x
Selkirkshire 10 18.37x
Stirlingshire 10 4.50x
Northamptonshire 9 1.59x
Warwickshire 8 0.53x
Devon 7 0.56x
Yorkshire 7 0.12x
Gloucestershire 6 0.51x
Leicestershire 6 0.90x
Essex 5 0.42x
Surrey 5 0.17x
Brecknockshire 3 2.49x
East Lothian 3 3.76x
Kent 3 0.15x
Worcestershire 3 0.38x
Hampshire 2 0.16x
Norfolk 2 0.22x
Northumberland 2 0.22x
Oxfordshire 2 0.54x
Shropshire 2 0.38x
Bedfordshire 1 0.32x
Berkshire 1 0.22x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.26x
Clackmannanshire 1 2.01x
Cumberland 1 0.19x
Denbighshire 1 0.44x
Dorset 1 0.25x
Hertfordshire 1 0.24x
Inverness-shire 1 0.56x
Ross-shire 1 0.61x
Sussex 1 0.10x
West Lothian 1 1.10x
Wiltshire 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Edinburgh St Cuthberts in Midlothian leads with 25 Swintons recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.71x.

Place Total Index
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 25 7.71x
Caythorpe 16 864.86x
Wemyss 15 99.54x
Dundee 14 6.73x
Cupar 12 77.47x
Rushall 12 100.33x
Islington London 11 1.89x
Monks Coppenhall 11 21.94x
Nottingham St Mary 11 5.24x
St Andrews 11 67.86x
Wilton 11 91.97x
Barry 10 149.48x
Kinderton Cum Hulme 10 892.86x
Ropsley 10 746.27x
Gordon 9 523.26x
Mansfield 9 32.06x
Melrose 9 65.69x
Peterborough 9 21.96x
Ayton 8 189.13x
Dunfermline 8 14.60x
Hawick 8 32.79x
Pittenweem 8 182.23x
Radford 8 19.41x
Runcorn 8 26.12x
Cornforth 7 132.83x
Kennoway 7 216.05x
Marwood 7 421.69x
St Vigeans 7 23.26x
Tattershall 7 707.07x
Bow London 6 7.83x
Dysart 6 25.01x
Forteviot 6 465.12x
Hucknall Torkard 6 29.17x
Linby 6 909.09x
Market Harborough 6 198.68x
Paddington London 6 2.71x
Poulton With Fearnhead 6 392.16x
Shoreditch London 6 2.30x
Barony 5 1.02x
Clifton 5 8.38x
Crail 5 137.36x
Mains 5 105.49x
Markinch 5 41.32x
Melrose 5 53.02x
Muiravonside 5 88.65x
Polmont 5 60.98x
West Ham 5 1.91x
Aston 4 0.96x
Bethnal Green London 4 1.53x
Coxhoe 4 78.74x
Edinburgh St Stephens 4 25.20x
Edrom 4 128.21x
Forgan 4 58.57x
Legerwood 4 347.83x
Poplar London 4 3.52x
St Maryle Wigford 4 53.48x
Westminster St 4 18.03x
Widnes 4 7.77x
Burton Upon Trent 3 6.31x
Coventry St Michael 3 6.15x
Crowton 3 315.79x
Croydon 3 1.84x
Glasgow 3 0.87x
Great Malvern 3 18.29x
Houghton Middleton 3 600.00x
Kirkby In Ashfield 3 34.56x
Liff Benvie 3 3.54x
Llangasty Talyllyn 3 681.82x
Newton 3 5.45x
Onston 3 1578.95x
Prestonpans 3 56.07x
Sandbach 3 26.48x
Shotton 3 67.72x
St Pancras London 3 0.62x
Swinton 3 150.75x
Warrington 3 3.54x
Habergham Eaves 2 3.06x
Kilmany 2 152.67x
South Leith 2 2.20x
West Derby 2 0.96x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 21
William 14
Robert 11
George 8
Thomas 8
James 7
Joseph 7
Edward 5
Thos. 5
Charles 4
Henry 4
Richard 4
Arthur 3
David 3
Alfred 2
Allen 2
Christopher 2
Francis 2
Fred 2
Frederick 2
Tom 2
Walter 2
Albert 1
Allan 1
Antony 1
Archd. 1
Archibald 1
Benj. 1
Cornelius 1
Ebenezer 1
Edmond 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Fredk. 1
Harry 1
Herbert 1
Isaac 1
J. 1
J.W. 1
Jacob 1
Jas.O. 1
Jos. 1
Peter 1
Reuben 1
Robt.George 1
Samuel 1
Thos 1
Wm. 1
Zenas 1

FAQ

Swinton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Swinton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 616 people were recorded with the Swinton surname. That placed it at #5,709 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Swinton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 846 in 2016. That gives Swinton a modern rank of #6,610.

What does the Swinton surname mean?

A locational surname derived from the Old English words "swin" meaning pig and "tun" meaning enclosure or settlement.

What does the Swinton map show?

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