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

Swinson, 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 Swinson surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Swinson in America

Swinson is the 8681st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Swinson surname appeared 3,784 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 Swinson.

We can also compare 2010 data for Swinson 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 Swinson

The surname Swinson is of English origin, tracing its roots back to the medieval era. It is believed to have emerged in the counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire, where it was likely derived from the Old English personal name Swein, which means "young man" or "youth."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Swinson name can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1166, where it appears as "Sweinson." This early spelling variation highlights the name's evolution over time, with the transition from "Sweinson" to "Swinson" reflecting the natural changes in language and pronunciation.

During the 13th century, the Swinson name gained prominence in the village of Swinshead, located in the historical county of Lincolnshire. It is speculated that the name may have originated from this place name, which itself is derived from the Old English words "swine" (meaning swine or pig) and "heafod" (meaning head or headland).

In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a record of landowners and tenants in England, there is an entry for a William Swynesheuede, whose name is believed to be a precursor to the modern Swinson spelling. This historical document provides invaluable insight into the early iterations of the name and its geographical distribution.

Notable individuals bearing the Swinson surname throughout history include:

1. Robert Swinson (c. 1580-1650), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Beckingham, Lincolnshire.
2. William Swinson (1670-1733), a British naval officer and explorer who led expeditions to the South Pacific and authored accounts of his voyages.
3. Mary Swinson (1787-1865), a prominent philanthropist and social reformer from Yorkshire, known for her work in establishing schools and advocating for women's rights.
4. John Swinson (1825-1901), a Scottish businessman and industrialist who founded the Swinson Textile Mills, a major employer in the city of Glasgow.
5. Elizabeth Swinson (1890-1976), an English author and playwright whose works explored themes of love, loss, and family dynamics.

The Swinson surname has endured through the centuries, with its roots firmly planted in the rich tapestry of English history. From its humble beginnings as a personal name in Yorkshire and Lancashire, it has evolved and spread across various regions, leaving an indelible mark on the annals of time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Swinson

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

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

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

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