Find out how popular the last name Swails is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Swails.

Swails, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Swails surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Swails in America

Swails is the 23768th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Swails surname appeared 1,064 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Swails.

We can also compare 2010 data for Swails to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Swails

The surname SWAILS has its origins in England, tracing back to the 14th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "swale," which referred to a low-lying, marshy area or a valley between hills. The name likely originated as a topographic name, given to individuals who resided in or near such geographic features.

The earliest recorded instances of the SWAILS surname can be found in various historical documents from the Middle Ages. One notable mention is in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1379, where a certain "Robertus de Swale" is listed as a taxpayer. This suggests that the name was already in use by that time and may have been associated with a specific location called Swale.

Another significant reference to the SWAILS name appears in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. Here, the name is recorded as "Swaledale," referring to a valley in the Yorkshire Dales region of northern England. This lends credence to the theory that the surname originated as a place name, possibly derived from the Old Norse words "svalr" meaning "cold" and "dalr" meaning "valley."

Throughout the centuries, several notable individuals have borne the SWAILS surname. One of the earliest recorded was Sir Robert de Swale (c. 1290 - c. 1350), a prominent English landowner and military commander who fought in the Hundred Years' War. Another notable figure was John Swale (1547 - 1622), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Provost of Eton College.

In the 18th century, William Swale (1701 - 1783) gained recognition as a successful merchant and plantation owner in Jamaica. He was also a prominent member of the local Anglican church and played a significant role in the development of the island's infrastructure.

Moving into the 19th century, George Swale (1818 - 1892) was a distinguished English architect and surveyor who contributed to the design of several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Albert Hall and the Natural History Museum.

Lastly, in the 20th century, Sir Michael Swale (1920 - 2002) was a highly respected British diplomat and civil servant who served as the Ambassador to the United Nations and played a crucial role in various international negotiations and peacekeeping efforts.

While the SWAILS surname may not be among the most common in modern times, its rich history and connections to various regions of England, as well as its representation by notable individuals across different fields, illustrate the enduring legacy of this name and its deep roots in the country's cultural and geographic landscape.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Swails

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Swails.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Swails was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Swails has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Swails was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Swails, please contact us.

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