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

Swindle, 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 Swindle surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Swindle in America

Swindle is the 6989th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Swindle surname appeared 4,793 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Swindle.

We can also compare 2010 data for Swindle 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 Swindle

The surname Swindle is of English origin, derived from the Old English word "swindlen," which means "to dwindle" or "to waste away." It is believed to have originated in the late 12th or early 13th century.

The name Swindle was initially used as an occupational surname, referring to individuals who were responsible for drying and preserving provisions, particularly meat and fish. These individuals were known as "swindlers" because they ensured that the provisions did not spoil or dwindle.

The earliest known record of the surname Swindle can be found in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, dated 1327, which mentions a Thomas le Swindler. This indicates that the name was already established in the region during that time period.

In the 15th century, the name Swindle appeared in various records, such as the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire in 1524, which listed a John Swindull. The spelling variations during this period included Swindull, Swindall, and Swindell.

One notable figure bearing the Swindle surname was John Swindle, who lived in the late 16th century and was a merchant from Bristol, England. He was involved in the trade of goods between England and the Americas.

In the 17th century, the Swindle surname was found in various parts of England, including Lincolnshire, where a record from 1642 mentions a Robert Swindle. During this period, the name was also associated with the village of Swindle in Derbyshire, which may have contributed to the spread of the surname.

Another prominent individual with the Swindle surname was William Swindle, born in 1675 in Gloucestershire, England. He was a farmer and landowner who played a significant role in the local community.

The 18th century saw the Swindle surname appearing in various parts of the United Kingdom, including Scotland, where a record from 1785 mentions a James Swindle from Ayrshire.

In the 19th century, the Swindle surname continued to be present in various parts of Britain. One notable figure was Robert Swindle, born in 1828 in Liverpool, England. He was a successful businessman and philanthropist who contributed to the development of his local community.

Throughout history, the Swindle surname has been associated with various professions, including agriculture, trade, and business. The name has also been found in different parts of the English-speaking world, as individuals bearing the surname migrated to other countries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Swindle

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

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

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

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