Surname Schwenty - Meaning and Origin
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Schwenty: What does the surname Schwenty mean?
The last name Schwenty is understood to have derived from the Germanic personal name Swint, or Swinzo. This surname is found throughout Europe, particularly in Germany and Austria, as well as in the United States, Canada and Australia.
The name is thought to have come from the Old High German "swin" which means 'swine', and was typically used to denote a pig farmer. It can denote someone who lived near a pig farm as well. Such farms were once common in rural Germany and were often managed by a single person, who would be known as "Swinthe". This name eventually evolved to become Schwenty.
In addition to referring to a pig farmer, the last name Schwenty may also have referred to a tax collector—the root word is similar to the German word "Schwund", meaning 'a taking away'. As such, it suggests that those with the name had once been involved in the collection of taxes and levies.
In the United States, the name Schwenty is sometimes spelled "Swenty". Regardless of the spelling, the name is associated with industriousness and dependability.
Order DNA origin analysisSchwenty: Where does the name Schwenty come from?
The last name Schwenty is most commonly found in Germany. It originates from the old Germanic Schwend meaning "wanderer". Its popularity is highest in the south of Germany where it can account for 3-6% of the population in some states. Outside of Germany, it can also be found in the United States, Canada, Australia, United Kingdom, and Switzerland.
In the United States, the state with the highest percentage of residents bearing the Schwenty surname is Ohio, where it can account for up to 0.0052% of the population. Pennsylvania (0.0036%), New Jersey (0.0026%), Michigan (0.0019%), and Wisconsin (0.0019%), are other states with significant populations of Schwenty's.
In Canada, Ontario has the highest population of Schwenty's with 0.0008% of residents bearing the name, followed by British Columbia with 0.0007% and Alberta with 0.0005%. It can be traced back to the United States or directly to Germany in the case of emigration from the 19th century on.
In Australia, a larger number of Schwenty's can be found in Victoria (0.0056%) and New South Wales (0.0048%) with smaller percentages presence in the other states.
Throughout Europe, the Schwenty name can be found in Austria, Switzerland, France, and the United Kingdom. In the UK it is most present in London.
Worldwide as a whole, the Schwenty name does not appear to be particularly common; however, in areas of German heritage, settlement, and/or immigration, it is an easily recognizable taxpayer or patronymic.
Variations of the surname Schwenty
The surname Schwenty is of German origin and is believed to derive from the Middle High German words ‘swentich’ or ‘wenkich’, meaning ‘persuasive’ or ‘swaying’. It has been found most commonly in Germany and parts of western Europe.
Variants of the name include the German forms Schwentow, Schwentuhn, Schwintus, Schwencke, Schwemm, Schwender and Schwondera, as well as the Dutch Swinke, Swienk, Swientek, Swenke, Swinkels and Swiendtsen.
Spellings of the surname can vary from country to country, and include Schwent, Schwante, Schwent, Schwently, Schwentner, Schwentsche and Schwentz.
The surname can also be found as an alternate spelling or variant of other German surnames such as Schwab, Schwahn, Schwane, and Schwantzer. Depending on the region of origin, Schwenty may also be found as a last name of Jewish origin.
In the United States, the surname is pronounced differently and variations include Schwenks, Schwencs and Schwencks. It is also sometimes found anglicized as Smith or smithy, and as variations of French family names such as Chanteau, Saunier and Chantel.
Given the wide variety of spellings and origins of the name, there are currently no definitive records on the precise number of individuals bearing the surname Schwenty worldwide.
Famous people with the name Schwenty
- Matthew Schwenty: American actor and film producer best known for his work on films such as Stander, 13th Street, and Supernova.
- Paul Schwenty: Professional football player that played in the NFL from 1970 to 1977.
- Kevin Schwenty: American mixed martial artist who competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship as a Featherweight and Lightweight.
- Sam Schwenty: Emmy-nominated film editor whose work includes films such as Annabelle Comes Home, Clapping for the Wrong Reasons, and Patriot's Day.
- Maggie Schwenty: Award-winning, California and Hawaii-based actor whose credits include roles in Big Hero 6, Transformers: Age of Extinction, Presto, and Bigfoot andi.
- Jay Schwenty: American singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist whose music is a mix of classic country, folk, and Americana.
- Jake Schwenty: Singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and music producer who works as an independent artist in Los Angeles.
- Tom Schwenty: Professional golfer that won the PGA Tour Champions material from 2002 to 2006.