Surname Swartwood - Meaning and Origin

Swartwood: What does the surname Swartwood mean?

Swartwood is an anglicized version of the Dutch surname "Zwartwoud", which originates from the Netherlands. The name is derived from the Dutch words "zwart" which means "black" and "woud" which means "forest". Therefore, Swartwood, or Zwartwoud translated literally means "black forest." This could possibly refer to a family's geographic location near a darkly wooded area or a dense, black forest. In general, surnames during the time were often created based on a person's occupation, the location they lived, or their father's name. Therefore, someone with the last name Swartwood may have ancestors who lived in or near a black forest, or it may figuratively imply a person who is mysterious or hard to 'read'. 다

Swartwood: Where does the name Swartwood come from?

The surname Swartwood is not very common today. However, it is primarily associated with the United States. According to the 2020 United States Census, there are only seven Swartwoods who live there, making it one of the least common surnames in the United States.

Swartwood is a fairly uncommon surname in the United Kingdom too. According to a 1911 census, it was found to only have 12 individuals living in the country, and today there are only a handful of people who carry the name Swartwood.

When looking at other countries sites such as Australia and Canada they appear to have a lot of Swartwood families spread out. In Canada, there are around 30 individuals who possess the Swartwood surname. It is believed to be rooted mainly in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia, where families immigrated to in the 19th century.

On the other hand, the surname Swartwood is found throughout Europe, mostly in countries like Norway, Poland, and Hungary. However, when looking into the data, it is seen that the name is most popular in the Netherlands, with its frequency reaching 0.07%. Although it is still relatively rare there, it was the home for the Swartwood lineage for many years, and the most Swartwood individuals in any given country have been recorded there.

Overall, the surname Swartwood has always been a rare one. While the numbers have declined over the past couple of centuries, there are still people with the surname scattered around the world.

Variations of the surname Swartwood

The Swartwood surname has quite a few spelling and surname variations, all of which are believed to have derived from the Dutch surname "Zwartewoud". The most common variations of the Swartwood surname include Swartwood, Swartwoud, Swartout, Swartwalt, Swartwoode, Swartzwalt, Swartzwald, Schwartzwald, Swartzwalder, and Zwartewoud.

In terms of spelling variations, the most common are Swartwood and Swartwoud. Swartwood is the European version of the surname and refers to the "black woods or forest". Swartwoud is the Dutch form of the surname, arising from the combination of "Zwarte" (black) and "woud" (forest) – hence the literal translation is "black woods”.

Other spelling variations of the surname are less common in the United States and include Swartout, Swartwalt, Swartwoode, Swartzwalt, Swartzwald, Schwartzwald, Swartzwalder, and Zwartewoud. All of these spellings and surnames are ultimately related to the same surname origin.

Those with the Swartwood surname can be found in many locations across the United States, including Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Illinois, Ohio, Massachusetts, Iowa, Georgia, and even into Canada and Australia. It is possible that, through further genealogical research, even more spellings and variants of the Swartwood surname can be found.

Famous people with the name Swartwood

• Emily Swartwood: Miss Iowa USA 2019.
• George Swartwood: engineer of the Nobel Prize-winning atmospheric diving suit.
• Doctor George Swartwood: prominent American physician and surgeon.
• John Swartwood: American fiddle player and conservationist.
• Barbara Swartwood: playwright and theatre director.
• Polly Swartwood: American centenarian who was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest living person in the world from November 1999 to July 2000.
• Bob Swartwood: American fiction writer.
• William Swartwood: early American historical painter.
• Mildred Swartwood: American author and artist.
• Kay Allenbaugh Swartwood: American theologian and author.

Other surnames

Swartwout