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

Swann, 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 Swann surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Swann in America

Swann is the 2916th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Swann surname appeared 12,293 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Swann.

We can also compare 2010 data for Swann 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 Swann

The surname Swann has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "swan," which referred to the graceful waterfowl. This suggests that the name may have initially been a descriptive nickname for someone who resembled a swan or lived near a body of water frequented by swans.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Swann can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landholdings and taxation commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a landowner named Swann in Northamptonshire.

The name Swann has various spellings throughout history, including Swanne, Swayne, and Swann. These variations likely emerged due to regional dialects and the inconsistent spelling conventions of the time.

In the 13th century, the surname Swann appeared in the Pipe Rolls of Bedfordshire, indicating the presence of individuals bearing this name in the county. Additionally, records from the 14th century mention a John Swann, a prominent figure in the village of Swannington, Leicestershire, which may have derived its name from the Swann family.

Notable individuals with the surname Swann include:

1. Thomas Swann (c. 1509-1554), an English Protestant martyr who was burned at the stake during the Marian Persecutions under Queen Mary I.

2. Joseph Swann (c. 1760-1828), an English engraver and painter known for his landscape and architectural etchings.

3. Alfred Swann Taylor (1806-1880), an English architect and surveyor who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Hampshire County Hospital.

4. Mary Swann (1819-1892), an English author and poet who wrote under the pseudonym "Esperance."

5. Claude Swann (1885-1954), a British actor and theatre manager who worked extensively in the West End and on Broadway.

The surname Swann has also been associated with various place names, such as Swannington in Leicestershire, Swannington in Norfolk, and Swanton Morley in Norfolk, further underscoring its deep roots in English history and geography.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Swann

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

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

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

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