Swiftay History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

The name Swiftay is of Anglo-Saxon origin. It was name for a person who because of his physical abilities was referred to as swifte, which was an Old English word used to denote one who was quick, typically "speed of foot." 1 This was a name often given to a messenger or courier. 2 A broad and miscellaneous class of surnames, nickname surnames referred to a characteristic of the first person who used the name. They can describe the bearer's favored style of clothing, appearance, habits, or character.

One source notes that the name may be "local, from Swift, a river of England." 3 4

Early Origins of the Swiftay family

The surname Swiftay was first found in Norfolk where the mononym Suift was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of 1166. Years later, Nicholaus filius Swift was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1222 and William Swift was found in the Pipe Rolls for Hampshire in 1167 and in the Assize Rolls for Yorkshire in 1219. 5 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 proved the widespread use of the name: Matilda Swyft, Cambridgeshire; Roger Swyft, Buckinghamshire; and Arnulph Swyft, Norfolk. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included an entry for Henricus Swyft. 6

Pointing to the occupational nature of the name, the source Issues of the Exchequer, edited by Frederick Devon includes an entry for Ralph Swyft, courier to Edward III.

"The name of Swift is also established in Derbyshire, the West Riding, and Nottinghamshire. In the 13th century there were Swifts and Swyfts in Derbyshire, Bucks, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk." 7

To the north in Scotland, the "family of this name were burgesses of Edinburgh, and the chartulary of St. Giles contains frequent notices of them in the time of James II. John Swyft was burgess of Edinburgh in 1427." 8

Early History of the Swiftay family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Swiftay research. Another 109 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1478, 1534, 1599, 1627, 1634, 1640, 1667, 1707, 1713, 1726, 1734, 1736, 1739, 1745, 1746, 1754, 1783 and 1815 are included under the topic Early Swiftay History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Swiftay Spelling Variations

Spelling 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 Swiftay have been found, including Swift, Swifte, Swyft, Swyfte and others.

Early Notables of the Swiftay family

Distinguished members of the family include Robert Swift (1534?-1599), Chancellor of Durham, born at Rotherham about 1534, belonged to a Yorkshire family settled there; and Jonathan Swift (1640-1667), English father of Jonathon Swift, the satirist. Jonathan Swift (1667-1745), Dean of St. Patrick's and satirist, son of Jonathan Swift, by Abigail (Erick) of Leicester, was born at 7 Hoey's Court, Dublin, on 30 Nov. 1667 (a drawing of the house, now destroyed, is in Wilde's Closing Years of Swift's Life, p. 89). The elder Jonathan was a younger son of Thomas Swift, vicar of Goodrich, near Ross, by Elizabeth (Dryden), niece of...
Another 215 words (15 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Swiftay Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Swiftay family to Ireland

Some of the Swiftay family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 102 words (7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Swiftay family

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 Swiftay surname to cross the Atlantic and come to North America were: Mr. Swift who arrived in Virginia in 1623; Anne Swift came to Barbados in 1673; James Swift arrived in Virginia in 1610; Thomas and William Swift settled in New England in 1640.

The Swiftay 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: Festina lente
Motto Translation: Be quick without impetuosity.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
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.
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)