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

Sweeper, 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 Sweeper surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Sweeper in America

Sweeper is the 130610th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Sweeper surname appeared 130 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 Sweeper.

We can also compare 2010 data for Sweeper 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 Sweeper

The surname SWEEPER is an occupational name originating from England in the medieval period. It derives from the Old English word "sweopere," meaning a person who sweeps or cleans. This name was likely given to individuals who worked as sweepers, cleaners, or chimney sweeps in their respective towns or villages.

In the Middle Ages, occupational surnames were common, as they helped identify individuals by their trade or profession. The surname SWEEPER can be traced back to the 13th century, with early records mentioning individuals with this name in various parts of England.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name SWEEPER appears in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, which mentions a person named "William le Swepere." This record suggests that the name was already in use during the 13th century.

Another notable mention of the SWEEPER surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1301, where a "Robert le Swepere" is listed. These historical records provide evidence of the surname's existence and usage during the medieval period.

Over the centuries, the name SWEEPER has undergone minor spelling variations, such as "Sweper," "Swepper," and "Sweaper." These variations were common due to the lack of standardized spelling practices in earlier times.

One of the earliest known individuals with the SWEEPER surname was John Sweeper, born in 1542 in Lincolnshire, England. He was a prominent figure in his local community and served as a church warden in the village of Stamford.

Another notable SWEEPER was William Sweeper (1674-1741), a successful merchant and landowner from Somerset. He was known for his business acumen and contributed to the local economy through his trade ventures.

In the 18th century, a family of SWEEPERs became prominent in the city of Bristol. Thomas Sweeper (1712-1789) was a respected businessman and civic leader, serving as a alderman and mayor of Bristol during his lifetime.

The SWEEPER surname also has connections to the United States, with records showing individuals bearing this name arriving in the American colonies as early as the 17th century. One such individual was John Sweeper, who settled in Virginia in 1635.

Another notable American SWEEPER was Samuel Sweeper (1796-1872), a successful farmer and landowner from Pennsylvania. He played an active role in his local community and was known for his contributions to agricultural development.

While the SWEEPER surname may not be as common today, its rich history and occupational origins serve as a testament to the diverse tapestry of surnames that emerged from the trades and professions of medieval times.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Sweeper

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

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

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

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