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

Swink, 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 Swink surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Swink in America

Swink is the 8690th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Swink surname appeared 3,779 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Swink.

We can also compare 2010 data for Swink 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 Swink

The surname SWINK has its origins in England, dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "swink," meaning "labor" or "toil," suggesting that the name was likely given to someone who worked hard or performed laborious tasks.

The earliest recorded instance of the name SWINK can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it appears as "Swynk." This historical record provides evidence of the name's existence and its connection to the Old English word.

During the medieval period, the name SWINK was primarily concentrated in the counties of Oxfordshire and Berkshire, where it was associated with families engaged in agricultural or manual labor. The name may have been given as a descriptive surname to individuals who were known for their diligence and hard work.

In the 16th century, the SWINK surname appeared in various spellings, such as "Swinke," "Swincke," and "Swynke," reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling common during that era.

One notable individual bearing the SWINK surname was John Swink, born in 1625 in Berkshire. He was a farmer and landowner known for his agricultural innovations and contributions to the local community.

Another prominent figure was Elizabeth Swink, born in 1712 in Oxfordshire. She was a philanthropist and advocate for education, establishing several schools in her region to provide educational opportunities for underprivileged children.

In the 18th century, the SWINK surname spread beyond its traditional heartlands, with families settling in other parts of England and even venturing to the American colonies. One such individual was William Swink, born in 1745 in Oxfordshire, who later emigrated to Virginia and became a prosperous merchant.

The 19th century saw the rise of notable individuals bearing the SWINK name, including the writer and poet Mary Swink, born in 1822 in Berkshire. Her works explored themes of rural life and the experiences of the working class.

Another figure of note was Robert Swink, born in 1879 in Lancashire. He was a pioneering engineer who made significant contributions to the development of early aviation technology, working closely with the Wright brothers.

Throughout its history, the surname SWINK has maintained a strong connection to its Old English roots, reflecting the hard-working and industrious nature associated with its meaning.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Swink

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

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

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

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