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

Swall, 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 Swall surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Swall in America

Swall is the 98982nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Swall surname appeared 183 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 Swall.

We can also compare 2010 data for Swall 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 Swall

The surname SWALL is of English origin, originating in the 16th century. It is thought to have derived from the Old English word "swalu," meaning "swallow" or "the bird." This suggests that the name may have initially been a nickname or a descriptive name given to someone who bore a resemblance to the swallow bird or was particularly adept at catching or hunting them.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name SWALL can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Nottinghamshire, England, where a John Swall was listed as a resident in 1587. The name also appears in the Subsidy Rolls of 1628 for the county of Worcestershire, where a Thomas Swall is recorded as a land-holder.

In the late 17th century, a notable figure bearing the SWALL surname was Robert Swall, a merchant and prominent Quaker who was born in Yorkshire in 1650. He was an influential member of the Society of Friends and played a significant role in the establishment of Quaker communities in the north of England.

Another individual of historical significance was Sir William Swall, a military officer who fought in the English Civil War. Born in Gloucestershire in 1620, he served as a captain in the Parliamentarian forces and was later knighted for his bravery and service in the conflict.

During the 18th century, the SWALL name was also found in various parts of England, including Lincolnshire, where a family of Swalls owned a substantial estate in the village of Swallowbeck. This village's name is believed to be derived from the same Old English root as the surname, further reinforcing the connection between the name and the swallow bird.

In the 19th century, a notable figure was James Swall, a prominent industrialist and philanthropist from Manchester. Born in 1785, he made his fortune in the textile industry and was known for his charitable works, particularly his support for education and the establishment of schools for underprivileged children.

While not as common as some other English surnames, the name SWALL has persisted throughout the centuries, with various spellings and variations appearing in historical records across different regions of England. Its origins as a descriptive name or nickname related to the swallow bird have remained a consistent theme throughout its history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Swall

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

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

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

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