Swineshead History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

Etymology of Swineshead

What does the name Swineshead mean?

The distinguished family Swineshead claim Lincolnshire as their ancient homestead where conjecturally, the surname is descended from the tenant of the village and lands of Swinstead, held by Walter d'Aincourt, a Norman Baron, who was recorded in the Domesday Book census of 1086. 1

At that time, the parish in the union of Bourne, wapentake of Beltisloe, parts of Kesteven 2 was known recorded as Suinhamstede and literally meant "homestead where pigs are kept," from the Old English word "swim" + "ham-stede." 3

As one author notes, the name "does not refer to the 'pig-headedness' of the race, but to their ancient residence in Lincolnshire, famous in old times for its Abbey, and the disaster of King John." 4

Early Origins of the Swineshead family

The surname Swineshead was first found in Lincolnshire where the Hundredorum Rolls of 1276 list Gocelin de Swynested as holding lands there at that time. However, earlier records show Walter de Swinesheved in the Curia Regis Rolls for Huntingdonshire in 1207. The Assize Rolls for Staffordshire list Robert de Swyneshved as holding lands there in 1269 and John Swynesheved was later recorded in 1288. 5

Of note about this time was Richard Swineshead (fl. 1350), an English "mathematician, apparently a native of Glastonbury, was educated at Merton College, Oxford. He was a fellow of Merton College, and took a leading part in the riots about the election of a chancellor in 1348. Leland gives his Christian name as Roger, but this seems to be a mistake. " 6

Some of the family moved to Scotland as today, Swinston Lodge, Culzean Castle is found in South Ayrshire.

Early History of the Swineshead family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Swineshead research. Another 76 words (5 lines of text) covering the years 1207, 1276 and 1583 are included under the topic Early Swineshead History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Swineshead Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Sinstead, Swineshead, Swinsted, Swinshead, Swinston and many more.

Early Notables of the Swineshead family

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

Migration of the Swineshead family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..

Sources +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print