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

Swan, 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 Swan surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Swan in America

Swan is the 1564th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Swan surname appeared 23,001 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 8 people would have the surname Swan.

We can also compare 2010 data for Swan 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 Swan

The surname Swan has its origins in England, with records of the name dating back to the 12th century. It is an occupational name, derived from the Old English word 'swan', referring to someone who was a keeper or breeder of swans. In medieval times, swans were highly prized birds, and ownership was often restricted to the nobility and royalty.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the Swan surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Worcestershire in 1182, which mentions a Roger Swan. The Hundred Rolls of 1273 also include references to individuals with the Swan surname, such as Willelmus le Swan and Johannes le Swan.

The Swan name appears in various parts of England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Norfolk. It is likely that the name originated in these regions, where swan-keeping was a common occupation. Some early records suggest that the name may have also been derived from place names like Swanton in Norfolk or Swanscombe in Kent.

In the 14th century, a notable figure bearing the Swan surname was John Swan (c. 1310 - c. 1380), a Franciscan friar and theologian from Lincolnshire. He was an influential scholar and author, known for his work on the theology of the Immaculate Conception.

Another prominent individual with the Swan surname was Sir William Swan (c. 1545 - 1616), an English merchant and Member of Parliament for Southwark. He was involved in the establishment of the East India Company and served as its governor from 1607 to 1609.

In the literary world, John Swan (1753 - 1821) was an English poet and playwright from Derbyshire. He is best known for his satirical works, including the play "The Worshippers" and the poem "The Village Curate."

The Swan surname has also been associated with notable figures in the arts and sciences. Caleb Swan (1758 - 1809) was an American engraver and painter, renowned for his portraits and historical scenes. Joseph Swan (1828 - 1914), a chemist and physicist from Sunderland, England, is credited with inventing the first practical incandescent light bulb before Thomas Edison.

Throughout history, the Swan surname has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, reflecting its occupational origins and widespread distribution across England. While the name may have evolved over time, its connection to the graceful and revered swan has endured, contributing to its enduring legacy.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Swan

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

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

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

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!