Surname de Swinton - Meaning and Origin
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de Swinton: What does the surname de Swinton mean?
The surname "de Swinton" is of territorial origin and derives from the town of Swinton in England. The "de" prefix is common in French and suggests 'from', indicating a location or place of origin. So, "de Swinton" would mean "from Swinton." Territorial surnames were typically granted to lords and landowners, or to people who migrated from one place to another. The town of Swinton itself derives its name from the Old English "Swynton" or "Swinton," meaning "swine town" or "pig farm." It's important to know that surnames developed over centuries and their meanings can vary, often reflecting information about the initial bearers, such as their occupation, location, or father's name (patronymic). In further tracing its lineage, it's noteworthy that the de Swinton family originally belonged to the noble classes in Britain with a coat of arms granted to them, a testament to their historical and social status.
Order DNA origin analysisde Swinton: Where does the name de Swinton come from?
The last name de Swinton is commonly found in England, Scotland, and Ireland where its roots can be traced back to the 12th century. In England, de Swinton is an Anglicised form of the Old Norse personal name Sveinn-Tóni, which is derived from the name Sveinn (meaning “boy”) and the patronymic surname Tóni (meaning “son of”).
In modern times, de Swinton remains a relatively common surname in the United Kingdom, with many found in major British cities like London, Birmingham, Manchester, and Leeds. Additionally, there are a few de Swinton’s who have emigrated to North America, and it is also still widely used in Scotland, Ireland, & Wales.
The de Swinton family is currently represented by the Swinton of Leeds branch, a venerable and distinguished family of baronets whose achievements range from military service to industrialised Doncaster. Swinton House was built in 1595 and is still owned by de Swinton family today. Its members have achieved honourable and influential positions in society for centuries. There are also branches of the de Swinton family residing around the world including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, & Thailand.
Though the Swinton family has a long and notable history in the United Kingdom, the number of people who bear this surname is much lower when compared to other popular last names in the region. That being said, the last name de Swinton is still commonly used today in its original homelands, as well as in other countries and across the world.
Variations of the surname de Swinton
The surname de Swinton has four variants: Swindon, Swinden, Swinton and Swyndon.
The spelling of the surname typically depends on the country or region in which it is used. In areas where English is spoken, the most common spelling of the surname is Swinton. In France, Switzerland and Belgium, the spelling is often Swindon; in Scotland, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands the spelling is generally Swinden; and in some parts of England and Wales the spelling is Swyndon.
The most common surnames with the same origin as de Swinton are Sewinton, Swinton, Sydney, Sinden, Swinden, Swindon, Swindell, Swinyard, Tindall, Twyford, Swanten and Tinden.
The de Swinton name has some interesting variations and spellings, but regardless of its spelling, it can all be traced back to the same origin. It is an old and noble name and has been used throughout the centuries to refer to a person who had a certain rank or a family of noble descent.
Famous people with the name de Swinton
- Tilda Swinton: British actress who has appeared in films such as "The Chronicles of Narnia", "We Need to Talk About Kevin", and "The Grand Budapest Hotel"
- Jack De Swinton: former superintendent of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police
- André de Swinton: Canadian World War II fighter pilot, known for his heroic exploits in the Battle of Britain
- Michael de Swinton: Canadian political science professor
- Andrew de Swinton: British explorers who surveyed the Arizona and New Mexico territories in the mid-1800s
- Peter de Swinton: English cricketer
- John de Swinton: British composer and arranger
- Edwin de Swinton: British artist and illustrator
- Hon. George Dean de Swinton: British judge
- George de Swinton: British Army officer and recipient of the Order of the British Empire