Sweed History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe name Sweed is of Anglo-Saxon origin. It was name for a person who was referred to as swete, which is an Old English word used to describe a sweet or gentle person. 1 Another source claims the name was "probably an Anglo-Saxon personal name, having reference to character." 2 Early Origins of the Sweed familyThe surname Sweed was first found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 where the name was found as both a forename and a surname: Swet le Bone, Norfolk; Adam Swet, Oxfordshire; and Roger Swet, Cambridgeshire. 3 In Somerset, Walter Swete was listed there 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III) 4 and later the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Johannes Suete and Johannes Swete as holding lands there at that time. 3 Early History of the Sweed familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sweed research. Another 265 words (19 lines of text) covering the years 1578, 1583, 1660, 1672, 1685, 1700, 1708, 1712, 1752, 1770, 1774, 1777, 1781 and 1821 are included under the topic Early Sweed History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Sweed Spelling VariationsSpelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Sweed have been found, including Sweit, Sweet, Swete, Sweete, Sweett and others. Early Notables of the Sweed familyMore information is included under the topic Early Sweed Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Sweed family to IrelandSome of the Sweed family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become powerful new nations. Among early immigrants of the Sweed surname to cross the Atlantic and come to North America were: Sweed Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
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