Swifte History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

The ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of England produced the name of Swifte. It was given to 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 Swifte family

The surname Swifte 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 Swifte family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Swifte 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 Swifte History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Swifte Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Swifte has appeared include Swift, Swifte, Swyft, Swyfte and others.

Early Notables of the Swifte family

Distinguished members of the family include

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...

Migration of the Swifte family to Ireland

Some of the Swifte 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.

Swifte migration to the United States +

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Swifte arrived in North America very early:

Swifte Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Thomas Swifte, who landed in Virginia in 1622 9
William Swifte, aged 21, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 aboard teh ship "Primrose" 9
Abram Swifte, aged 23, who landed in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Primrose" 9
Jane Swifte, aged 23, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 9
Jo Swifte, aged 23, who landed in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Primrose" 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The Swifte 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)
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)