Sweetlove History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Sweetlove

What does the name Sweetlove mean?

The name Sweetlove has a long Anglo-Saxon heritage. The name comes from when a family lived in the area that was referred to as Sweetland found in the county of Devon. The surname Sweetlove 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. As a general rule, the greater the distance between an individual and their homeland, the larger the territory they were named after. For example, a person who only moved to another parish would be known by the name of their original village, while people who migrated to a different country were often known by the name of a region or country from which they came.

Early Origins of the Sweetlove family

The surname Sweetlove was first found in Devon where from ancient times they held Sweetland's Farm, a name which would later become a surname and a place name in Devon. 1

Another source presumes that the name could have been from Swithland, a parish, in the union of Barrow-upon-Soar, hundred of West Goscote,in Leicestershire. 2

Early History of the Sweetlove family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Sweetlove research. Another 51 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Sweetlove History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Sweetlove 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 Sweetlove have been found, including Sweetland, Swithland and others.

Early Notables of the Sweetlove family

More information is included under the topic Early Sweetlove Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Sweetlove 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 for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Sweetlove, or a variant listed above: H.B. Sweetland and his wife Mrs. J. Sweetland arrived in San Francisco Cal. in 1852. In Newfoundland, Henry Sweetland settled in St. John's in 1787.

Sources +

Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
Charnock, Richard, Stephen, Ludus Patronymicus of The Etymology of Curious Surnames. London: Trubner & Co., 60 Paternoster Row, 1868. Print.