| ![Show Contents]() Swart History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The name Swart most often comes from the Irish name O Suaird, which, when Anglicized in a Fiant of 1562, becomes O'Sword. In County Down, in the early 17th century, the name was recorded in the Ulster Inquisitions as Swords, Swoordes, and Sourdes. In County Kildare the name Swords was often a mistranslation of the Irish name O Claimhin, which was mistakenly equated with the Irish word "claidheamh" meaning "sword." Thus, the name Clavin is a synonym for Swords. In County Mayo Claveen is also a synonym. In the 14th century the name de Swerdes, derived from the village, appeared in several places in Ireland. Early Origins of the Swart familyThe surname Swart was first found in Counties Offaly, Leix, and Kildare, where in 1016, the successor of St. Brigid, abbess of Kildare, was named O Suairt according to the Four Masters. Early History of the Swart familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Swart research. More information is included under the topic Early Swart History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Swart Spelling VariationsThe recording of names in Ireland in the Middle Ages was an inconsistent endeavor at best. The many regional dialects and the predominate illiteracy would have made common surnames appear unrelated to the scribes of the period. Research into the name Swart revealed spelling variations, including Swords, O'Sword, O'Swerte, Swoordes, Sourdes, Swerdes, Clavin and many more. Early Notables of the Swart familyMore information is included under the topic Early Swart Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Swart World RankingIn 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]
 Swart migration to the United States | + |
Many destitute Irish families in the 18th and 19th centuries decided to leave their homeland, which had in many ways been scarred by English colonial rule. One of the most frequent destinations for these families was North America where it was possible for an Irish family to own their own parcel of land. Many of the early settlers did find land awaiting them in British North America, or even later in America, but for the majority of immigrants that arrived as a result of the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s the ownership of land was often a long way off. These Irish people were initially put to work on such industrial projects as the building of bridges, canals, and railroads, or they worked at manufacturing positions within factories. Whenever they arrived, the Irish made enormous contributions to the infant nations of Canada and the United States. Some of the earliest immigrants to bearer the name of Swart were found through extensive research of immigration and passenger lists:
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]
| 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
- 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
- Charles Robberts Swart (1894-1982), English diplomat, last Governor-General of the Union of South Africa
- Izak Stephanus de Villiers "Balie" Swart (b. 1964), South African rugby union footballer
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: Paratus
Motto Translation: Paratus.
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- "Most Common Last Names in Netherlands." Forebears, https://forebears.io/netherlands/surnames
- "Most Common Last Names in South Africa." Forebears, https://forebears.io/south-africa/surnames
- 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)
- 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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Swart migration to the United States 
Swart migration to Canada 
England
Ireland
