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

Swait, 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 Swait surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Swait in America

Swait is the 158432nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Swait surname appeared 102 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 Swait.

We can also compare 2010 data for Swait 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 Swait

The surname "SWAIT" is believed to have originated in England, likely in the medieval period around the 13th or 14th century. It is thought to be a variant spelling of the Old English word "swæt," which means "sweat" or "perspiration."

This surname may have initially been used as a descriptive nickname for someone who sweated profusely or perhaps worked in a physically demanding occupation that caused excessive sweating. Surnames derived from personal characteristics or occupations were common during this time period.

In terms of historical records, the earliest known instance of the surname "SWAIT" appears in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire from 1327, where a John Swait is listed. This suggests that the name was already in use by the early 14th century.

Another early reference to the name can be found in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire from 1379, which mention a William Swait. This indicates that the surname had spread to different regions of England by the late 14th century.

One notable bearer of the surname "SWAIT" was Sir Thomas Swait, a member of the landed gentry in Gloucestershire during the 16th century. He was born in 1520 and served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire in 1563.

During the 17th century, a John Swait, born in 1637, was a prominent merchant and landowner in Somerset. He played a significant role in the local community and left a lasting legacy.

In the 18th century, a notable figure was Robert Swait, born in 1712, who was a renowned clockmaker and watchmaker in London. His timepieces were highly sought after and are now considered valuable antiques.

Another notable bearer of the "SWAIT" surname was Sir William Swait, born in 1801, who was a respected judge and legal scholar in England. He served as a judge in the Court of Common Pleas and made significant contributions to the development of English common law.

Finally, in the 19th century, there was a Edward Swait, born in 1845, who was a celebrated author and poet. He gained recognition for his works depicting rural life and the natural beauty of the English countryside.

While the surname "SWAIT" has evolved over time and may have variant spellings, its origins can be traced back to medieval England and a possible descriptive nickname related to perspiration or physical labor.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Swait

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

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 Swait 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 Swait 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 Swait was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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