Show ContentsSwanwick History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Swanwick family

The surname Swanwick was first found in Derbyshire in Swanwick, a hamlet, in the parish of Alfreton, union of Belper, hundred of Scarsdale. Alternatively the name could have originated in Swanwick, a markettown and parish, in the union of Wareham and Purbeck, hundred of Rowbarrow in Dorset. This latter parish dates back to "the Saxon Chronicle [where] this place is called Swanawic; Asser Menevensis styles it Swanavine and Gnavewic, and in Domesday Book it is written Swanwic and Sonwic. The earliest and principal historical circumstance on record connected with it is the destruction by a violent storm, in 877, of a Danish fleet of 120 sail, on Peveril Point." 1 Literally both places mean "dairy farm of the herdsman," from the Old English words "swan" + "wic." 2 Conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of the lands in the parish of Alfreton in Derbyshire, held by Ingran from Roger de Bully, a Norman Baron, who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086.

Early History of the Swanwick family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Swanwick research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1279 and 1604 are included under the topic Early Swanwick History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Swanwick Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Swannick, Swanwick, Swancock, Swank, Swannick, Swennick, Swancot, Swancott, Swancock and many more.

Early Notables of the Swanwick family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • the Swanwick family of Derbyshire


United States Swanwick migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Swanwick Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • David Swanwick, aged 30, who immigrated to the United States from Leicester, in 1892
  • Mrs. David Swanwick, aged 26, who landed in America from Leicester, in 1892
  • David Swanwick, aged 4, who settled in America from Liverpool, in 1899
  • Carrie Swanwick, aged 3, who landed in America from Liverpool, in 1899
  • Lydia Swanwick, aged 6, who landed in America from Liverpool, in 1899
Swanwick Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Thomas Swanwick, aged 44, who landed in America from Nottingham, in 1900
  • Thomas Swanwick, who immigrated to the United States, in 1903
  • Harry C. Swanwick, aged 51, who landed in America from Douglas, Isle of Man in 1904
  • Philip Swanwick, aged 42, who settled in America from Nottingham, in 1906
  • Ida Swanwick, aged 35, who immigrated to America from Liverpool, England, in 1907
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Swanwick migration to Australia +

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

Swanwick Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Frderick F. Swanwick, (b. 1839), aged 24, Scottish labourer travelling from Queenstown, Ireland aboard the ship "Golden Empire" arriving in Brisbane, Australia in July 1863 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Swanwick (post 1700) +

  • James Swanwick (b. 1975), Australian-born, American investor and television host
  • Michael Swanwick (b. 1950), American five-time Hugo Award winning and Nebula Award winning science fiction author, two-time nominee for the Nebula Award for Best Short Story
  • John Swanwick (1760-1798), American poet and United States Representative from Pennsylvania (1795-1798)
  • Peter Michael Swanwick (b. 1945), former English cricketer who played for Staffordshire (1967-1971)
  • Frederick ffoulkes Swanwick (d. 1913), English-born, Australian politician, Member of the Queensland Legislative Assembly for Bulimba (1878-1882)
  • Frederick Swanwick (1810-1885), English civil engineer, known for his work in the North and Midlands of England, an assistant to George and Robert Stephenson
  • Anna Swanwick (1813-1899), English author and feminist
  • Peter Swanwick (1922-1968), English television and film actor, best known for his role as the Supervisor in the 1967 TV series, The Prisoner
  • Chris Swanwick (b. 1993), British racing car driver, awarded the Hard Charger Trophy in 2010
  • Helena Swanwick (1864-1939), British feminist and pacifist

Victoria steamboat disaster
  • Letitia Swanwick, Canadian passenger who was killed in the Victoria steamboat disaster when the boat capsized in 1881


  1. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. The Ships List Passenger Lists Ship Golden Empire (Retrieved 26th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.ozlists.com/genies/shipping/special_lists/s_golden_empire.htm


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