Surname Swinfield - Meaning and Origin
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Swinfield: What does the surname Swinfield mean?
The last name Swinfield is an English locational surname of Anglo-Saxon descent. The name is derived from the Old English place name "swin" indicating a “pig farm,” combined with the second element “feld” which translates to “open country,” indicating an area specifically used for raising swine, or pigs. In the Middle Ages, swineherding was a major agricultural activity throughout England, which is perhaps why this particular place name became popular in so many English counties.
The first known instance of the Swinfield name dates back to the 1200s, where a man by the name of Thomas de Swinfield was recorded in 1280 in the Subsidy Rolls in County Lincoln. Later records exist throughout England showing the prominent presence of this surname, including in Staffordshire during the 16th century, and also in Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire during the 17th century.
Today the name Swinfield is spread throughout the United Kingdom, Australia, and the United States, where it is still held as a proud record of a family’s origins.
Order DNA origin analysisSwinfield: Where does the name Swinfield come from?
The last name Swinfield is most commonly found in the United Kingdom. According to a UK website called Forebears, the Swinfield surname is most frequent in England, where it is carried by 6,067 people, and the next most common countries are Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. It is also found in small numbers in many other countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, Germany and France.
The Swinfield surname can be traced back to early English documents. The earliest records of the name can be found in the late 1200s and early 1300s in the records of the famous towns of Leicester and Newark in England. The name is believed to have come from the Old English words “swin” meaning "pig," and "feld" meaning "field," which can be interpreted to mean a farm or field with many pigs. The Swinfield family name was first found in Lancashire in areas of Cheshire and Lancashire, and they were one of the most powerful families of the Anglo-Norman Conquest.
The Swinfield surname is very popular in areas like England, Scotland and Wales. It is less common in the United States and other parts of the world, but with increased immigration in the 20th century, the name has spread to many other lands.
Variations of the surname Swinfield
The surname Swinfield is an uncommon English locational surname suggesting that the original bearer of the name originated from the village of Swinfield in Shropshire, England. The name is first recorded in the 17th century, possibly suggesting that the family moved away from the village at an earlier stage.
Variants, spellings and other surnames of the same origin include: Swindell, Swindale, Swinstead, Swinfell, Swinfielde, Swinford, Swinfill, Sviefield, Svifell, Svifield, Svivill, Svingfield, Svingill, Swangfild and Swightfild.
The variants and spellings of the surname Swinfield vary in spelling depending on the period in which they were documented. During the 16th and 17th centuries, "i" was often used instead of "y" and "e" was used instead of "f". For example, Svingfield was the preferred spelling in 17th century documents. The modern spelling of the surname Swinfield is however usually spelled with an "f" in place of the original old English letter "þ".
Variations of the surname Swinfield are commonly found in England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and other countries where English people have migrated over time.
Widespread usage of the surname is thought to have began after the Norman Conquest of 1066, when many Norman French words were added to the English language, including the word swin meaning swine or pigs, which is where the name Swinfield is believed to have originated from.
Famous people with the name Swinfield
- Heather Swinfield: Actress who has appeared in films such as Jericho and Spooks: The Greater Good.
- Bob Swinfield: British businessman and former Chairman of the financial services company Schroders.
- Julia Swinfield: Australian actress best known for her roles in television programs Salvage and Lost Islands.
- David Swinfield: British television writer and producer of popular shows such as EastEnders, The Bill and The InBetweeners.
- Oliver Swinfield: English actor known for roles in productions such as The Worlds End and The Evacuees.
- Brian Swinfield: American jazz guitarist, composer and producer who has worked with the San Francisco Jazz Collective and the Mingus Dynasty Big Band.
- Fred Swinfield: English actor who has appeared in television shows such as Coronation Street and EastEnders.
- George Swinfield: Film director and producer who has worked on films such as A Room with a View and Howards End.
- Rachel Swinfield: Canadian actress best known for her roles in productions like One Step Closer and seventies’ classic The Changeling.
- Jess Swinfield: British singer and musician known for her roles in television programs such as The X Factor and Pop Idol.