Surname Swafford - Meaning and Origin
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Scintillating Historical Reveals: Unravelling The Saga Enveloped In The Surname Swafford
Revealing the humble English roots of my surname Swafford and discovering surprising Norse Viking connections, I dived into the history that my DNA encompassed thanks to the scientific proficiency of iGENEA. The story it unrolls tells a tale of geographical settlements, ancient practices, and an adventurous twist, forever binding me to the past and heralding the stories that will be written in the future.
D. Swafford
read moreSwafford: What does the surname Swafford mean?
The last name Swafford is thought to be an Americanized version of the German name Schaffeld, which is itself derived from the Middle High German term schaffalt, which means "shepherd's staff" or "crook." The German Swafford's are thought to have originally come from Thuringia, a state in central Germany.
The name symbolizes the idea of a guardian and protector. The shepherd's staff or crook was originally used to guide the flock, guard the flock, and keep the flock from straying. It could also be used to bring the sheep back when they strayed too far. This symbol of guardianship and protection are qualities associated with the Swafford name.
Today, the surnames Swafford and Schaffeld are both found amongst Americans with German heritage. People with the last name Swafford are often found in the Southern United States, particularly in states like Alabama and Georgia. The Swafford name is also prominent in Texas and Arkansas.
Though the last name is rare, a great-grandson of the original Swafford family, Robert Lee Swafford, was a politician who served in the 59th congressional session of the US House of Representatives in 1906–07. This is a testament to the hard work, dedication, and success of the Swafford family's legacy.
Order DNA origin analysisSwafford: Where does the name Swafford come from?
The last name Swafford is most commonly found in the United States, particularly in the Southern states such as Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Mississippi. According to the United States Census Bureau, Swafford is the 8,317th most common name in the United States as of 2020. However, the frequency of the last name Swafford differs slightly between states and regions. In Texas, which has the highest population of the Swafford name, it is the 44th most common surname. In Oklahoma, it is the 57th most common. In Arkansas, it is the 48th most common. In Tennessee, it is the 40th most common surname, while in Mississippi, it is the 49th most common.
Swafford is also a common name in England, although most prominently located in rural counties such as Gloucestershire, East Sussex, and Essex. In England, Swafford is the 6,535th most common name.
The Swafford name is thought to have first emerged in England during the Norman invasion of 1066. The origin of the surname comes from the Old English language, derived from the Germanic words "swæfn," meaning sleep and "weard," meaning guard. Thus, the family name "Swafford" means "guard of sleep."
Variations of the surname Swafford
The surname Swafford is of English and Welsh origin, which means descended from the abbot of Swaffham. Variations in spelling of this surname include Swaffham, Swafham, Sufham, Sauffam, Suffam, Supham, and Swaffham.
Another spelling variant of Swafford is Seward. It is believed to have been derived as an Anglicized form of Swedish, from the Scandinavian personal name Sveinn, meaning ‘a youth’. While Seward is not directly connected to the Swafford surname, many variants of the Swafford name existed and so the Seward surname could originate from an altered version of the same name.
The Swafford surname is also frequenly presented in its Welsh form, Swyffryn. Swyffryn is a variant of the Gaelic surname, ‘Swyddfryd’, which translates to ‘ruler of peace’. Other spellings include Swifryd, Sifrad, Sofrud, and Sidefrid, which all refer to the same name.
Various modern spellings of the Swafford surname include Saford, Saford, Soward, Swaffar, Swafferd, Swaffur, Swaferd, Swaffey, Swaffy, Swaufford, Swoford and Swufford.
The various spellings and surnames of the same origin for Swaffford are a testament to the sorts of continuously changing alterations of surnames as families move and migrate over time. While all of these alternatives might not always have a direct connection to the original Swafford surname, they all act to serve as a reminder of our connection to the past.
Famous people with the name Swafford
- Steven Swafford, an American computer visionary, entrepreneur, and inventor.
- Jeremy Swafford, an American Actor, Singer, Songwriter, and Author.
- Jordan Swafford, a former American Football Player
- Russell Swafford, a professional golfer from the United States.
- Sam Swafford, an American Film & Television Director, Composer, and Editor.
- Diane Swafford, an American Author and Speaker.
- Pierre Swafford, a Baseball Player in the United States.
- Daisy Swafford, an American Author and Speaker.
- James Swafford, an American Country/Folk Singer: Songwriter
- Charles Swafford, an American TV/Film Producer and Writer.