2010
#158,432
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 102
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.03
Very Rare Last name
Swallom
A locational surname derived from places named Swallow or Swaledale in England.
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 123 Americans carry the last name Swallom. That puts it at #151,639 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,786,621 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Swallom surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
123
1 in 2,786,621
Census rank
#151,639
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
107
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 107 bearers of the surname Swallom in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 151639th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Swallom, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.3%. The next largest groups are American Indian/Alaska Native (2.8%) and Hispanic (1.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Swallom
The surname SWALLOM is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "swallow," referring to the small migratory bird. This suggests that the name may have initially been a nickname for someone who had a particular affinity or resemblance to the swallow.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the SWALLOM name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a landowner named Swallom in the county of Lincolnshire.
In the 13th century, variations of the name, such as Swalowe and Swalewe, appeared in various historical records across different regions of England. These variations likely reflect the evolving spelling and pronunciation of the name over time.
One notable early bearer of the SWALLOM name was Sir John Swallom, a knight who fought in the Wars of the Roses during the 15th century. He was known for his bravery and loyalty to the House of Lancaster.
Another prominent figure was William Swallom, born in 1562 in Oxfordshire. He was a renowned scholar and author who wrote extensively on subjects such as philosophy and theology. His works were widely read and influential during the Elizabethan era.
In the 17th century, the SWALLOM name was associated with the town of Swallowfield in Berkshire. This place name is believed to have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the surname in that region.
During the 18th century, a notable bearer of the SWALLOM name was Elizabeth Swallom (1720-1798), a successful businesswoman who owned and operated a tavern in London. She was known for her entrepreneurial spirit and was a respected figure in her community.
Another significant figure was John Swallom (1776-1856), a prominent architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Opera House. His works were widely admired for their elegant and innovative designs.
While the surname SWALLOM is not as common today as it once was, it has a rich history that spans centuries and reflects the diverse experiences and accomplishments of those who bore this name throughout England's past.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Swallom
Among Census respondents with the surname Swallom, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.3%. The next largest groups are American Indian/Alaska Native (2.8%) and Hispanic (1.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Swallom bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Swallom surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White95.3% · 102
- American Indian and Alaska Native2.8% · 3
- Hispanic or Latino1.9% · 2
Timeline
Historical Census data for Swallom
Swallom appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#151,639
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 107
+5 bearers (+4.9%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Up 6,793 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #158,432 | 102 | 0.03 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #151,639 | 107 | 0.04 | +5 bearers (+4.9%) | Up 6,793 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Swallom surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #158,432 | #151,639 | 4.3% |
| Count | 102 | 107 | 4.9% |
| Per 100K | 0.03 | 0.04 | 19.3% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Swallom bearers went from 102 to 107 (+4.9% change). The surname moved up 6,793 positions in the national ranking, going from #158,432 to #151,639.
FAQ
Swallom surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Swallom?
Name Census estimates that about 123 living Americans carry the surname Swallom. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,786,621 residents.
How common is Swallom?
Swallom ranks #151,639 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 107 people with the surname Swallom. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (123), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Swallom.
Has Swallom become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Swallom went from 102 recorded bearers to 107. That is an increase of 5 (+4.9%). In the national ranking it rose from #158,432 to #151,639.
What does the Census say about the background of Swallom?
Among Census respondents with the surname Swallom, the largest self-reported group is White at 95.3%. The next largest groups are American Indian/Alaska Native (2.8%) and Hispanic (1.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
White is the largest self-reported group for the surname Swallom in the 2020 Census, accounting for 95.3% (102 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Swallom appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are White (95.3%), American Indian/Alaska Native (2.8%), Hispanic (1.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Swallom (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Swallom mean?
A locational surname derived from places named Swallow or Swaledale in England. The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Swallom (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people have the last name Swallom?
Our sister site HowManyOfMe.org answers how many people have the last name Swallom at a glance, with the living-bearer count up front.