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

Swanier, 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 Swanier surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Swanier in America

Swanier is the 114424th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Swanier surname appeared 153 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 Swanier.

We can also compare 2010 data for Swanier 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 Swanier

The surname SWANIER is of English origin, first recorded in the late 16th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "swanere," which referred to a person who kept or tended swans. This occupation was particularly prevalent in parts of East Anglia, where swans were a valuable commodity for their meat, eggs, and feathers.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, where a Robert Swanier was mentioned in 1592. The name also appears in the Norfolk Musters of 1638, listing a John Swanier among the able-bodied men of the county.

During the 17th century, the surname SWANIER began to spread to other parts of England, particularly to the neighboring counties of Essex and Cambridgeshire. In 1647, a Henry Swanier was recorded as a landowner in the village of Radwinter, Essex.

Notable individuals bearing the surname SWANIER throughout history include William Swanier (1620-1678), a wealthy merchant and alderman in the city of Norwich, Norfolk. His descendants continued to play a prominent role in the local community for several generations.

Another notable figure was Thomas Swanier (1734-1811), a renowned clockmaker from Ipswich, Suffolk, whose intricate timepieces were highly sought after by the gentry of the region. Some of his works can still be found in museums and private collections today.

In the 19th century, the name SWANIER was also associated with the literary world. Elizabeth Swanier (1815-1892), born in Wymondham, Norfolk, was a celebrated poet and essayist, known for her vivid descriptions of rural life in East Anglia.

Across the Atlantic, the SWANIER surname found its way to the American colonies in the late 17th century. One of the earliest recorded instances is that of John Swanier (1665-1732), who settled in Virginia and became a prominent landowner and tobacco planter.

While the surname SWANIER remains relatively uncommon, it has left a notable mark in the annals of English history, particularly in the counties of Norfolk and Suffolk, where its roots can be traced back to the occupation of swan-keeping in the medieval era.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Swanier

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

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

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

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