Surname Swallow - Meaning and Origin

Swallow: What does the surname Swallow mean?

The surname Swallow is of English origin and is derived from the Old English word swallae meaning a person or family who lived near or owned a woodland area. This likely describes someone who lived near or owned a wooded area in the past. This is typical for English surnames, as those surnames usually come from a certain place or profession.

In addition to a wooded area, there are other explanations for the surname Swallow. People with this surname may have lived near a person, creature, or symbol associated with swallows, such as William de Swalwe, who was found in documents from the 12th century. Other people may have taken the surname Swallow to reflect a certain trait or characteristic; for instance, someone could have taken the name for its associations with freedom, independence, migration, or communication, as these characteristics are often attributed to the swallow.

The Swallow surname is still very common today, particularly in the United Kingdom, and is likely to have derived from multiple sources. Consequently, its literal meaning is quite difficult to determine. Generally, however, the Swallow surname probably originated due to an individual's familial or geographic connection to a wooded area, a person, creature, or symbol associated with swallows, or a trait or characteristic represented by the swallow.

Swallow: Where does the name Swallow come from?

The last name Swallow is of English origin and was first found in various parts of England and Scotland. It is most commonly found in Surrey, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, and Worcestershire in England and in Ayrshire, Lanarkshire, Midlothian, and Argyle in Scotland.

Swallow is today most common in the United Kingdom, but it is also found in other countries around the world. It is especially popular in Canada, the United States, and Australia. In the United States, Swallow is the 8,241st most popular name, found in 0.001 percent of the population. In Canada, Swallow is the 4,019th most popular surname, being found in 0.007 percent of the population.

In Australia, Swallow is the 5,118th most popular name, appearing in 0.002 percent of the population. The name is also popular in South Africa, where it is the 2,386th most popular surname, and in New Zealand, where it is the 3,216th most popular name.

Outside of the English-speaking world, the surname Swallow is also found in Germany, where it is the 10,256th most popular name, and in France, where it is the 9,597th most popular surname. It is also relatively popular in Ireland, where it stands at the 3,621st most common name.

Variations of the surname Swallow

The surname Swallow is a common name in England and many other English-speaking countries, and it has a variety of variants and spellings.

In England, the most common variants and spellings of Swallow are Swallowe, Swalow, Swallowes, and Swallows. These all have the same origin, but have evolved over the years due to regional pronunciation changes.

In Scotland the name is sometimes listed as Swalwell, although it is still the same surname. In Wales, the name is often found as Swalwho or Swalwoh.

In America, the main variants are Swall, Swallowe, Swalwell and Swaler. Swalwell is one of the most common spellings, and it is used to refer to the original Swallow family that immigrated to Pennsylvania in the 1700s.

There are also numerous surname derivations from the original Swallow surname. Some of these include Swalweller, Swaltz, Swallagher, Swalloch, Swalsty, Swallom, Swalowe, Swalloway, Swallen, Swallington, Swalhorn, and Swallowsmith.

Overall, the surname Swallow has been around for centuries and has evolved and adapted to many changes and different regions. It is also still used in England today and can be found in the United States as well.

Famous people with the name Swallow

• Sam Swallow: Professional climber
• Louise Swallow: British Paralympic swimmer
• Lola Swallow: American Olympic diver
• Steve Swallow: Jazz bassist
• Edith Swallow: American film actress
• Bruce Swallow: Former NFL player
• Bryan Swallow: Professional cricketer and businessman
• Gordon Swallow: British Royal Air Force officer
• Patrick Swallow: French competitive sailor
• Leon Swallow: American internet entrepreneur
• Jack Swallow: Australian rugby player
• John Swallow: English lawyer
• Margaret Swallow: British pianist and composer
• Charles Swallow: Canadian businessman and politician
• Megan Swallow: British recording artist
• Katherine Swallow: Canadian art director
• Elizabeth Swallow: American educator
• Daniel Swallow: British computer scientist
• Adele Swallow: British costume designer
• Rupert Swallow: British Olympic skeet shooter

Other surnames

SwalloSwallwell