Show ContentsSwart History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Swart family

The surname Swart was first found in Cornwall where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor of Sward. Cornwall was a land set apart, a land of mystique and quaint customs, more strongly related to Brittany and Wales than to England. It was not until the 10th century that they submitted to the Saxon rule of England. Since then, their influence has moved east into Devon, Somerset and Dorset.

Early History of the Swart family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Swart research. Another 81 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Swart History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Swart Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Sward, Swardestost, Swardscote, Swardicote and others.

Early Notables of the Swart family

More information is included under the topic Early Swart Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Swart World Ranking

In the United States, the name Swart is the 9,893rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1 However, in Netherlands, the name Swart is ranked the 280th most popular surname with an estimated 5,165 people with that name. 2 And in South Africa, the name Swart is the 124th popular surname with an estimated 46,104 people with that name. 3


United States Swart migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Swart Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Gerrit Swart, who arrived in New Netherland(s) in 1620-1664 4
  • Jacob Swart, who arrived in New York City from Texal in 1638 aboard the ship "De Liefde (the Love)"
  • Jacomyntje Swart, who arrived in New York in 1641 4
  • Teunis Cornelisse Swart, who arrived in New York in 1641 4
  • Gerard Swart, who arrived in New York in 1652 4
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Swart Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Hans Adam Swart, who landed in New York in 1709 4
  • Nickel Swart, aged 20, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1739 4

Canada Swart migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Swart Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Simon Swart U.E. who settled in Ernest Town [Ernestown], Lennox & Addington, Ontario c. 1786 he served in the Royal Regiment of New York 5

Contemporary Notables of the name Swart (post 1700) +

  • Peter Swart (1752-1829), United States Representative from New York, New York state court judge
  • Frank Swart (b. 1961), American composer and musician
  • Charles Robberts Swart (1894-1982), English diplomat, last Governor-General of the Union of South Africa
  • Jesaia "Sjaak" Swart (b. 1938), former Dutch footballer
  • Peter Douglas Swart (1946-2000), Zimbabwean first class cricketer
  • Michael Richard "Micky" Swart (b. 1982), Australian first class cricketer
  • Melvin Leroy "Mel" Swart (1919-2007), Canadian politician, member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1975 to 1988
  • K. W. Swart (1916-1992), Dutch historian
  • Colla Swart (b. 1930), South African photographer
  • Izak Stephanus de Villiers "Balie" Swart (b. 1964), South African rugby union footballer


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. "Most Common Last Names in Netherlands." Forebears, https://forebears.io/netherlands/surnames
  3. "Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/surnames
  4. 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)
  5. 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


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