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

Swei, 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 Swei surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Swei in America

Swei is the 150452nd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Swei surname appeared 109 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 Swei.

The history of the last name Swei

The surname SWEI has its origins in Germany, dating back to the 16th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old German word "swei," meaning "to roam" or "to wander." This suggests that the name may have initially been given to people who led a nomadic or traveling lifestyle.

In the early 1500s, records show the name appearing in various regions of Germany, such as Bavaria and Saxony. It was often spelled as "Sweye" or "Sweie" in these early documents.

One of the earliest known references to the name SWEI can be found in a document from the town of Nuremberg, dated 1523. This document mentions a certain "Hans Sweye," who was a merchant trader traveling between various cities in the region.

By the 17th century, the name had spread to other parts of Europe, particularly the Netherlands and Scandinavia. In the Dutch city of Amsterdam, there are records of a family named SWEI living in the area around 1640.

One notable individual with the surname SWEI was Johann Swei, a German mathematician and astronomer born in 1678 in Leipzig. He made significant contributions to the field of celestial mechanics and is credited with developing a method for calculating the orbits of comets.

Another historical figure was Anna Swei, a German writer and playwright born in 1791 in Berlin. She was known for her works that explored themes of social inequality and women's rights during the Romantic era.

In the 19th century, the name SWEI appeared in various parts of Europe, including France and England. For example, there was a French artist named Pierre Swei (1825-1901) who was renowned for his landscape paintings depicting the countryside of Normandy.

Moving into the early 20th century, one notable SWEI was Karl Swei, a German political activist born in 1892 in Hamburg. He was a prominent figure in the labor movement and played a key role in organizing strikes and protests for workers' rights.

Lastly, in the field of music, there was a Swedish composer named Erik Swei (1907-1983) who gained recognition for his symphonic works and contributions to the development of modern classical music in Scandinavia.

While the surname SWEI may not be as common today as it once was, its rich history and varied origins across Europe continue to reflect the diverse cultural influences that have shaped this intriguing name over the centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Swei

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

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 Swei 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.

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

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

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