Swifte History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

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 and had a lot of speed. This was a name often given to a messenger or courier. 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.

Early Origins of the Swifte family

The surname Swifte was first found in Norfolk where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D. and were recorded on a list of Taxpayers in 1327 when Christopher Swift held lands in that county.

Early History of the Swifte family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Swifte research. Another 92 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1478, 1634, 1534, 1599, 1534, 1640, 1667, 1667, 1745 and 1726 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 (pre 1700)

Another 34 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Swifte Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

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 [1]
William Swifte, aged 21, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 [1]
Abram, Jane, William and Jo Swifte, who settled in Virginia in 1635
Abram Swifte, aged 23, who landed in Virginia in 1635 [1]
Jane Swifte, aged 23, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 [1]
... (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 +

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)