| ![Show Contents]() Swopes History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 Germany The Swopes family name first began to be used in the German state of Bavaria. After the 12th century, as hereditary surnames began to be adopted, names that were derived from locations became particularly common. The family name Swopes is a local surname. Originally denoting the proprietorship of an estate or influence within a village, the German preposition von, which means from or of, used with local names, was taken as a mark of aristocracy. The surname Swopes was given to someone who lived in Swabia, a medieval dukedom that was in southwestern Germany. This is a regional name for a person who was form Swabia having derived from the Germanic word Schwaben, which means Swabian and is derived from the name of the Germanic tribe that inhabited this region. The Latin form of the tribal name is Suebi or Suevi. Early Origins of the Swopes familyThe surname Swopes was first found in Franconia and later Mecklenburg, where the name became prominent as many branches of the same house acquired distant estates, some in foreign countries such as Austria. They were always elevating their social status by intermarriage and by their great contributions to society. The name Schwab has been traced to Mecklenburg as early as 1298, when Ulrich Schwab, the first Count of Nemerow, lived. Chronicles also mention Christian Schwabel in Franconia in 1414. Early History of the Swopes familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Swopes research. Another 222 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1540, 1575, 1615, 1645, 1714, 1784, 1810 and 1840 are included under the topic Early Swopes History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Swopes Spelling VariationsMany cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Swopes include Schwab, Schwabe, Schwabel, Schwebel, Swab and others. Early Notables of the Swopes familyAnother 39 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Swopes Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Swopes RankingIn the United States, the name Swopes is the 13,904th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1 Migration of the Swopes familyThe great European flow of migration to North America, which began in the middle of the 17th century and continued into the 20th century, was particularly attractive to those from Bavaria who wished to escape either poverty or religious persecution. For many Bavarian tenant farmers, the chance to own their own land was a major incentive. So the widespread colonization of the United States began in 1650, when many immigrants from Germany settled in pockets in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. In Canada, German settlement centered in Ontario and the prairie provinces. Among those of this surname listed in various historical records were: Conrad Schwab and Philip Schwab, both of whom came to England and/or America in 1709. They were followed by Joggi Schwab and Hans Michael Schwab, who both arrived in Pennsylvania in 1749. Adam Schwabel arrived in Philadelphia in 1754.
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