Surname Swalwell - Meaning and Origin
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Swalwell: What does the surname Swalwell mean?
The surname Swalwell is English in origin and believed to be derived from a place name meaning “swallow well”, referring to a place known for its plentiful supply of swallows. Swalwell is most commonly found in the North East of England, particularly in County Durham.
The first recorded reference of the surname Swalwell appears to be in 1172, where a Robert de Swalwelle is mentioned in the registers of Durham. This suggests a long-standing family tradition in the area, with enlarged numbers appearing in Durham in the 13th century.
The Swalwell surname is still found in the North East today and there is an established community supporting each other. The Swalwell Community Association was established in 1892, and provides a range of services from a library, drop-in centre and a successful football team.
People who bear this name may find that they have a strong family connection to the North East of England, spanning over 800 years. This could be traced through their surname, and it may also be likely that people with the Swalwell surname have many relatives, cousins or even great-grandparents in the same area still.
Order DNA origin analysisSwalwell: Where does the name Swalwell come from?
The last name Swalwell is most commonly found in the United Kingdom. According to surname distribution data gathered by Forebears, Swalwell is the 90,311th most common family name in the world, the 4,716th most common surname in the United Kingdom, and the 2,778th most common last name in England.
The surname first appeared in the records of a single family in Scotland in 1435, though the Swalwell surname was most likely derived from Pevsner's derivation of an Old English personal name, "Walweall," which would have been used by someone surnamed "Waltheof" (son of Walter). Swalwell immigrants traveled to the United States in the 1600s, when some of the population began to move to the New World.
The Swalwell family eventually spread throughout the United States. However, today the most significant population of Swalwells is located in Warrington, Cheshire, in the north-west of England. With a population of approximately 2,000, Swalwell is now the home of the Swalwell family and its descendants.
There are also significant populations of the Swalwell surname throughout the United Kingdom, with clusters in, London, Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, Norfolk, Suffolk, Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Hampshire, and Suffolk, as well as smaller populations in other parts of the country.
Variations of the surname Swalwell
The Swalwell surname has many variants, spellings, and other surnames that share the same root. Variants include Swalwel, Swalwelll, Swolwell, Swalwelve, and Swalwel. Additionally, similar sounding surnames include Swalow, Swallow, Swallowell, Swallowe, Swalowes, Swell, Swellwell, Swellwol, and Swalles.
The Swalwell surname has a long history in the northwest of England. The first recorded reference to the Swalwell name dates back to 1209 in Cumberland, England. Early records of the name mention Ansellus de Swalwele, a witness at the 1260 assize.
The Swalwell originates from Dunston-on-Tees in County Durham, England. This small village was owned by a family of Swalwells in the 17th century and remains the home of many descendants of this ancient name.
The Swallowell and Swalwel variants were most common in northeast England, while in the south the spelling Swalwell was more common. The name also spread to the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
In modern times, the Swalwell name is associated with a number of prominent individuals, including the British Member of Parliament and Labour Party leader John Robert Steel Swalwell, Australian Director of the National Gallery of Australia Neil Gordon Swalwell, and US entrepreneur and investor Andrew Bramwell Swalwell.
Famous people with the name Swalwell
- Eric Swalwell: Congressman from California’s 15th district
- Josh Swalwell: Soccer player who currently plays for Glasgow Rangers in the Scottish Premier League
- Scott Swalwell: Retired Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Kansas City Royals
- James Swalwell: Former English footballer who played for a number of teams in the twentieth century
- Alexander Swalwell: Canadian racecar driver
- Tony Swalwell: Actor and British television presenter
- Mike Swalwell: Former NHL player who played for multiple teams
- Ryan Swalwell: Professional Australian rules footballer
- Patrick Swalwell: Canadian actor and musician
- Walter Swalwell: Retired Canadian teacher and politician
- John Swalwell: Northern Kentucky University professor and folk singer-songwriter
- Charlie Swalwell: Australian rugby league player