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

Swinnea, 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 Swinnea surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Swinnea in America

Swinnea is the 137327th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Swinnea surname appeared 122 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 Swinnea.

We can also compare 2010 data for Swinnea 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 Swinnea

The surname SWINNEA has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "swine," which means pig or swine, combined with the suffix "-ea," denoting a meadow or pasture. This suggests that the name may have originally referred to a person who owned or managed a pasture where swine were raised.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The name appears as "Swinea" in this historical document, indicating its presence in Anglo-Saxon England.

By the 13th century, the surname had evolved into various spellings, such as "Swynney," "Swinney," and "Swinea." These variations reflect the inconsistencies in spelling during that era, as well as regional dialects and pronunciation differences.

Notable individuals bearing the surname SWINNEA include Sir John Swinnea, a prominent landowner and knight who lived in the 14th century. His estate, known as Swinnea Manor, was located in the county of Derbyshire. Records also mention a William Swinnea, a merchant from the city of York, who traded extensively with the Hanseatic League in the late 15th century.

In the 16th century, a branch of the SWINNEA family settled in the village of Swinney, located in the county of Gloucestershire. This place name is likely derived from the surname itself, suggesting that the family had a strong presence in the area and may have contributed to its naming.

Another noteworthy figure was Robert Swinnea, born in 1625, who served as a captain in the English Civil War and fought alongside the Parliamentarian forces. His bravery and leadership during the Battle of Naseby in 1645 were widely celebrated.

In the 18th century, a prominent scholar and linguist named Elizabeth Swinnea, born in 1712, made significant contributions to the study of ancient languages. Her translations of classical Greek and Latin texts were highly regarded in academic circles.

As the centuries passed, the SWINNEA surname continued to spread across England and eventually to other parts of the British Isles and beyond. While its origins can be traced back to the medieval era, the name has endured and been carried forward by countless individuals throughout history.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Swinnea

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

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

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

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