NameCensus.

UK surname

Swithenbank

The surname denotes a person residing on a bank of land belonging to someone named Swithin.

In the 1881 census there were 382 people recorded with the Swithenbank surname, ranking it #8,222 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 359, ranked #12,898, down from #8,222 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Calverley, Mirfield and Birstall. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Leeds, Wakefield and Craven.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Swithenbank is 579 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 6.0%.

1881 census count

382

Ranked #8,222

Modern count

359

2016, ranked #12,898

Peak year

1901

579 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Swithenbank had 382 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #8,222 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 359 in 2016, ranked #12,898.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 579 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Swithenbank surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Swithenbank surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Swithenbank 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 245 #8,920
1861 historical 213 #11,419
1881 historical 382 #8,222
1891 historical 457 #7,988
1901 historical 579 #7,261
1911 historical 567 #7,127
1997 modern 404 #10,931
1998 modern 411 #11,122
1999 modern 418 #11,071
2000 modern 395 #11,503
2001 modern 377 #11,723
2002 modern 384 #11,794
2003 modern 353 #12,345
2004 modern 370 #11,936
2005 modern 358 #12,176
2006 modern 363 #12,123
2007 modern 369 #12,098
2008 modern 374 #12,086
2009 modern 391 #11,925
2010 modern 407 #11,824
2011 modern 403 #11,806
2012 modern 373 #12,344
2013 modern 381 #12,360
2014 modern 382 #12,408
2015 modern 368 #12,661
2016 modern 359 #12,898

Geography

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Where Swithenbanks are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Calverley, Mirfield, Birstall, Batley and Bradford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Leeds, Wakefield, Craven, Barnsley and Kirklees. 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 Calverley Yorkshire, West Riding
2 Mirfield Yorkshire, West Riding
3 Birstall Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Batley Yorkshire, West Riding
5 Bradford Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Leeds 101 Leeds
2 Wakefield 024 Wakefield
3 Craven 001 Craven
4 Barnsley 012 Barnsley
5 Kirklees 011 Kirklees

Forenames

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First names often paired with Swithenbank

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Swithenbank

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

Nationally, the Swithenbank surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Swithenbank household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Swithenbank is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, 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

These very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Swithenbank is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Swithenbank falls in decile 3 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.

3
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Swithenbank

The surname Swithenbank is of English origin and dates back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from a place name, likely referring to a location where the family originated. One possible source is the Old English word "swīthene," which means "strong" or "mighty," combined with the word "banc," meaning "ridge" or "slope." This suggests that the name may have referred to a strong or mighty ridge, possibly in an area where the family lived.

The Swithenbank name can be traced back to the 13th century, with records showing variations such as Swythenbanke and Swythinbanke. One of the earliest documented instances of the name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where a person named Thomas de Swythinbanke is mentioned.

In the 14th century, the name appears in the Corpus Christi Guild Rolls of York, which lists a John Swythenbanke as a member in 1369. This record provides evidence of the name's presence in the city of York during that time.

Swithenbank is also found in the Hearth Tax Returns of 1674, which recorded households and their taxable hearths. Entries for the name can be found in various locations, including Lincolnshire and Yorkshire.

One notable individual with the Swithenbank surname was John Swithenbank (1592-1662), an English clergyman who served as the rector of Houghton le Spring in County Durham. He was known for his involvement in religious controversies during the English Civil War period.

Another figure of historical significance was William Swithenbank (1736-1804), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the American Revolutionary War. He participated in several battles, including the Battle of the Chesapeake in 1781.

In the 19th century, Thomas Swithenbank (1828-1896) was a prominent English architect who designed several notable buildings in Yorkshire, including the Church of St. Peter in Huddersfield and the Huddersfield Railway Station.

John Swithenbank (1849-1932) was a English businessman and politician who served as the Mayor of Huddersfield in 1910-1911. He was also involved in the textile industry and was a notable figure in the local community.

Lastly, Richard Swithenbank (1901-1988) was a British track and field athlete who competed in the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris. He participated in the long jump and triple jump events, showcasing the Swithenbank name on the international athletic stage.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Swithenbank families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Swithenbank 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. Yorkshire leads with 334 Swithenbanks recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.05x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 334 9.05x
Lancashire 45 1.02x
Cumberland 1 0.31x
Gloucestershire 1 0.14x
Middlesex 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Mirfield in Yorkshire leads with 46 Swithenbanks recorded in 1881 and an index of 226.94x.

Place Total Index
Mirfield 46 226.94x
Bradford 41 45.87x
Leeds 31 14.87x
Pudsey 26 131.71x
Horton In Bradford 21 36.42x
Bowling 20 54.69x
Soothill 16 119.94x
Manningham 14 30.78x
Liversedge 13 79.08x
Baildon 11 158.27x
Blackburn 11 9.35x
Halifax 11 20.29x
Hunslet 11 19.10x
Pilkington 9 53.57x
Potter Newton 9 138.25x
Armley 7 42.97x
Heckmondwike 7 58.92x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 7 53.07x
Holy Trinity 6 6.76x
Oldham 6 4.20x
Shipley 5 26.10x
Clayton 4 44.25x
Droylsden 4 27.74x
Holbeck 4 16.35x
Manchester 4 2.01x
Rusholme 4 33.93x
Shelf 4 113.31x
Dewsbury 3 7.92x
Idle 3 17.52x
Nether Hallam 3 6.00x
Poulton Barre 3 59.64x
Wortley In Bramley 3 10.26x
Keighley 2 5.08x
Kirkheaton 2 33.39x
Bow London 1 2.11x
Chapel Allerton 1 18.08x
Cheltenham 1 1.77x
Ecclesfield 1 3.69x
Fulwood 1 20.92x
Huddersfield 1 1.86x
Lancaster 1 3.80x
North Meols 1 2.31x
Stansfield 1 7.36x
Todmorden Walsden 1 8.44x
Workington 1 5.44x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 29
Sarah 23
Ann 13
Elizabeth 11
Martha 10
Alice 8
Jane 8
Annie 6
Eliza 6
Emily 4
Emma 4
Florence 4
Ada 3
Edith 3
Hannah 3
Harriet 3
Clara 2
Elizth. 2
Esther 2
Fanny 2
Frances 2
Gertrude 2
Margaret 2
Maria 2
Ruth 2
Susan 2
Agnes 1
Anne 1
Bertha 1
Bessie 1
Christana 1
Deborah 1
Dora 1
Eleanor 1
Elizh. 1
Elizth.Ann 1
Ellen 1
Elz. 1
Grace 1
Hanh. 1
Henrie. 1
Julia 1
Lavinia 1
Lily 1
Louisa 1
Mabel 1
Marison 1
Marth. 1
Minnie 1
Zilliah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 17
James 14
William 13
George 10
Joseph 8
Charles 7
Harry 7
Arthur 6
Henry 6
Samuel 5
Walter 5
Albert 4
Edward 4
Edwin 4
Fred 4
Joshua 4
Alfred 3
Herbert 3
Sam. 3
Charlie 2
Chas. 2
Ferrand 2
Isaac 2
Joe 2
Josh. 2
Sam 2
Thomas 2
Thos. 2
Willie 2
Atoll 1
Benjamin 1
Charls. 1
Eardley 1
Ebor 1
Ezra 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fred. 1
Frederick 1
Harold 1
Harvey 1
Joah. 1
Josiah 1
Lepton 1
Lionel 1
Louis 1
Luke 1
Michael 1
Midgley 1
Wilson 1

FAQ

Swithenbank surname: questions and answers

How common was the Swithenbank surname in 1881?

In 1881, 382 people were recorded with the Swithenbank surname. That placed it at #8,222 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Swithenbank surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 359 in 2016. That gives Swithenbank a modern rank of #12,898.

What does the Swithenbank surname mean?

The surname denotes a person residing on a bank of land belonging to someone named Swithin.

What does the Swithenbank map show?

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