| ![Show Contents]() Sweathan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
England
Etymology of SweathanWhat does the name Sweathan mean? Of all the Anglo-Saxon names to come from Britain, Sweathan is one of the most ancient. The name is a result of the original family having lived in the county of Cheshire, where they held a family seat at Swettenham. The surname Sweathan is a habitation name that was originally derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. The surname originated as a means of identifying individuals from a particular area. In the Middle Ages people often assumed the name of the place that they originally lived as their surname during the course of travel. Early Origins of the Sweathan familyThe surname Sweathan was first found in Cheshire at Swettenham, a small village and civil parish. The place name was originally Suetenham in the late 12th century which literally meant "homestead or enclosure of a man called Sweta." 1 Swettenham Hall is a country house located there dating back to the 17th century. The first Saxon Lord of Swettenham, Peter, had his estates confirmed by King William Rufus. Early History of the Sweathan familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sweathan research. Another 63 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1500, 1577, 1602, 1606, 1617, 1618 and 1622 are included under the topic Early Sweathan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Sweathan Spelling VariationsThe first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Sweathan has been spelled many different ways, including Swettenham, Swetenham, Sweetham, Swetnam and others. Early Notables of the Sweathan familyJoseph Swetnam (fl. 1617), called the woman-hater, " he kept a fencing school at Bristol. He must be distinguished from his contemporary namesake, Joseph Swetnam, Sweetnam, or Sweetman (1577-1622), a native of...
Another 32 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Sweathan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Sweathan familyThousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Sweathans to arrive in North America: Francis Swettnam who settled in Barbados in 1685; Alfred Swettenham, aged 22, who arrived at Ellis Island, in 1923; Constance S. Swettenham, aged 44, who arrived at Ellis Island from London, in 1903.
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: Ex sudore vultus
Motto Translation: By the sweat of the face.
- Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
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