Swan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland
England

The saga of the name Swan begins among the Viking settlers who arrived in Scotland in the medieval era. The name Swan is derived from the Old English personal name Swein, which was originally derived from the Old Norse name Sveinn. This was one of the most common Scandinavian names in medieval Britain. Another source claims the name was an occupational name for someone "who acted as a servant or attendant; one who tended swine; descendant of Swain (young man, or boy servant)." 1

Sweyn or Svein (d. 1014), was "King of England and Denmark, called Forkbeard, son of Harold Blaatand, King of Denmark, probably by his Queen Gunhild, though it was said that his mother was a Slav, a servant in the house of Palna-Toki, or Tokko, in Funen. " 2

Earl Sweyn or Swegen (d. 1052), "the eldest son of Earl Godwin or Godwine and his wife Gytha, was early in 1043, when Edward or Eadward, called the Confessor, had become king, appointed to an earldom that was partly Mercian and partly West-Saxon, for it included Oxfordshire, Berkshire, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, and Somerset. " 2

Early Origins of the Swan family

The surname Swan was first found in Lanarkshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Lannraig) a former county in the central Strathclyde region of Scotland, now divided into the Council Areas of North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire, and the City of Glasgow, from very early times.

Further south in England, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed early spelling of the family: John le Swein and Robert le Swein in Oxfordshire; and Geoffrey le Sueyn in Norfolk. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 lists: Robertus Swaynne. 3

"The ancient name of Swain, which is now best represented in Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire, and Devonshire, was established in the form of Sweyn, rarely of Swayn, during the 13th century in Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, and Oxfordshire, being most numerous in the last two counties. " 4

Early History of the Swan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Swan research. Another 204 words (15 lines of text) covering the years 1100, 1214, 1250, 1499, 1510, 1521, 1540, 1542, 1550, 1585, 1609, 1680, 1690 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Swan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Swan Spelling Variations

Contemporary spellings of ancient Scottish names often bear little resemblance to the original recorded versions. These spelling variations result from the fact that medieval scribes spelled words and names alike according to their sounds. Swan has been spelled Swan, Swann, Swanner, Swani, Swayne, Swein, Sweing, Sweyn and many more.

Early Notables of the Swan family

Notable amongst the Clan from early times was

Charles Swan (killed 1690), who was forced into piracy by his crew in the 1680s. He was killed when he attempted to escape back to England on a Dutch ship with five thousand pounds

Swan World Ranking

In the United States, the name Swan is the 1,471^st most popular surname with an estimated 19,896 people with that name. 5 However, in Australia, the name Swan is ranked the 466^th most popular surname with an estimated 8,182 people with that name. 6 And in New Zealand, the name Swan is the 727^th popular surname with an estimated 988 people with that name. 7 The United Kingdom ranks Swan as 768^th with 8,748 people. 8

Migration of the Swan family to Ireland

Some of the Swan family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 70 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Swan migration to the United States +

The colonies on the fertile east coast of North America soon had many farms run by Scots. These hardy settlers provided a backbone for the great nations of the United States and Canada that would emerge in the next centuries. Early North American immigration records have revealed a number of people bearing the Scottish name Swan or a variant listed above, including:

Swan Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Richard Swan, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1634 9
Jon Swan, (Swana), aged 18, who landed in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Globe" 9
Edgar Swan, who landed in Virginia in 1635
Edward Swan, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 9
William Swan, who arrived in New England in 1636 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Swan Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Mary Swan, who arrived in Virginia in 1703 9
Margaret Swan, who arrived in Virginia in 1711 9
Eliza Swan, who landed in Virginia in 1714 9
John Swan, who arrived in Annapolis, Maryland in 1766 9

Swan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Joseph Swan, who arrived in New York, NY in 1812 9
Margaret Swan, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1816 9
Walter Swan, who landed in New York in 1816 9
David Swan, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1816 9
Alexander Swan, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1816 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Swan migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Swan Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Caleby Swan, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1760
Francis Swan, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1760
Mr. Thomas Swan U.E., (Swann) who arrived at Port Roseway, [Shelbourne], Nova Scotia on December 13, 1783 was passenger number 421 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on November 14, 1783 at East River, New York, USA 10
Mrs. Jemima Swan U.E., (Swann) who arrived at Port Roseway, [Shelbourne], Nova Scotia on December 13, 1783 was passenger number 503 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on November 14, 1783 at East River, New York, USA 10
Mr. Bryan Swan U.E. who settled in Charlotte County, New Brunswick c. 1784 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Swan Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

James Swan from Stevenstone in Ayrshire settled in St. John's, Newfoundland in 1813 11
Mr. Thomas Swan, aged 20 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Ajax" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in June 1847 12
Lady Swan, who landed in Victoria, British Columbia in 1862
W Swan, who landed in Victoria, British Columbia in 1862

Swan migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Swan Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. John Swan, (b. 1762), aged 41, English labourer who was convicted in Kent, England for life for larceny, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1833 13
Miss Mary Swan, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Experiment" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
Mr. William Swan, English convict who was convicted in Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
Robert Swan, a smith, who arrived in New South Wales, Australia sometime between 1825 and 1832
Thomas Swan, a joiner, who arrived in Van Diemen’s Land (now Tasmania) sometime between 1825 and 1832
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Swan migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Swan Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. James Swan, (b. 1823), aged 18, British agricultural labourer travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lord William Bentinck" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 24th May 1841 15
Mr. Stephen Swan, (b. 1820), aged 21, British agricultural labourer travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lord William Bentinck" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 24th May 1841 15
Miss Frances Swan, (b. 1823), aged 18, British sempstress travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lord William Bentinck" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 24th May 1841 15
Miss Sarah Ann Swan, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lord William Bentinck" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 24th May 1841 15
Stephen Swan, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1842
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Swan migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 16

Swan Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Frances Swan, who landed in Barbados in 1670

Contemporary Notables of the name Swan (post 1700) +

Robert Swan (1945-2023), American actor, known for his roles in 'The Untouchables,' 'Rudy' and 'Natural Born Killers'
Karl George Swan (1931-2022), American politician, born in Tooele, Utah
Richard Gordon Swan, American mathematician, developer of Swan's theorem
James Gilchrist Swan (1818-1900), American Indian agent in Washington state
Lieutenant General Guy C Swan III (b. 1954), Commanding General United States Army North
Cyrus Swan, American politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Sharon, 1824-25, 1827-28 17
Clyde H. Swan, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Massachusetts, 1932 17
Cleve H. Swan, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for New York State Senate 40th District, 1936 17
Charles E. Swan, American Republican politician, Mayor of Calais, Maine, 1897-98 17
Charles C. Swan, American Republican politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Clinton; Elected 1926 17
... (Another 46 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Swan family +

Empress of Ireland

Mr. John H. Swan, British 10th Engineer from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland (1914) and survived the sinking 18
Mr. Charles Swan (1851-1914), Canadian Third Class Passenger from Montreal, Quebec, Canada who survived the sinking on the Empress of Ireland 18

Halifax Explosion

Mrs. Ada Swan (1890-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who survived the Halifax Explosion (1917) but later died due to injuries 19

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. F H Swan, British R D F Ops from London, England, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 20

Pan Am Flight 103 (Lockerbie)

Anthony Selwyn Swan (1959-1988), Trinidadian Passenger from Brooklyn, New York, America, who flew aboard the Pan Am Flight 103 from Frankfurt to Detroit, known as the Lockerbie bombing in 1988 and died 21

The Swan Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Fidelitas
Motto Translation: Fidelity.

Citations +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 57)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 21) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
Pan Am Flight 103's victims: A list of those killed 25 years ago | syracuse.com. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2013/12/pan_am_flight_103s_victims_a_list_of_those_killed_25_years_ago.html