Show ContentsSwinden History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Swinden family

The surname Swinden was first found in Berwickshire, in Scotland, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, they were descended from Edulf of Swinton, living about 1050 A.D. Other early records revealed Alanus de Svint' witnessed a charter by the first earl of Dunbar and Sir Alan de Swynton witnessed a deed of sale of Adam, son of Thurill c. 1240. 1

Early History of the Swinden family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Swinden research. Another 169 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1388, 1552, 1621, 1625, 1660, 1674, 1678, 1679, 1682, 1688, 1689, 1700 and 1719 are included under the topic Early Swinden History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Swinden Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Swinton, Swintone, Swynton, Swyntone and others.

Early Notables of the Swinden family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was

  • Tobias Swinden (d. 1719), was an English divine, "probably the son of Tobias Swinden, appointed a canon of York in 1660. He was admitted to Jesus College, Cambridge, as a pensioner, on 3 Dec. 1674, gr...


Australia Swinden migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Swinden Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Swinden who was convicted in West Riding, Yorkshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Bussorah Merchant" on 24th March 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 2
  • Charles Swinden, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Ganges" in 1839 3

New Zealand Swinden migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Swinden Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • John Swinden, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Claramont" in 1863

Contemporary Notables of the name Swinden (post 1700) +

  • Albert Swinden (1901-1961), English-born, American abstract painter, one of the founders of the American Abstract Artists
  • Henry Swinden (1716-1772), English antiquary, a schoolmaster and afterwards a land-surveyor at Great Yarmouth, Norfolk
  • James Frederick "Jim" Swinden (1905-1971), English professional footballer
  • Dr T Swinden, English first director of research for United Steel, eponym of SwindenHouse, Rotherham, South Yorkshire


  1. 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)
  2. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bussorah-merchant
  3. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) GANGES 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Ganges.gif


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