Show ContentsSwinston History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Swinston Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Swinston

What does the name Swinston mean?

The distinguished family Swinston 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 Swinston family

The surname Swinston 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 Swinston family

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

Swinston Spelling Variations

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

Early Notables of the Swinston family

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

Swinston migration to the United States +



Swinston Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Emanuel Swinston, who arrived in Maryland in 1676 7
Swinston Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Joha Swinston, aged 40, British settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Yorktown" in 1861 8
  • Oliver Swinston, aged 25, Canadian settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Arizona" in 1868 8
Swinston Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Agdn. L. Swinston, aged 25, Swedish settler who arrived in New York aboard the ship "Hellig Olav" in 1908 8

Swinston migration to Australia +

Swinston Settlers in Australia in the 20th Century
  • Mrs. Janet Swinston, settler from Breman who arrived in Fremantle, Australia aboard the ship "Frieten" in 1910 9
  • Mr. Alexander Swinston, settler from Breman who arrived in Fremantle, Australia aboard the ship "Frieten" in 1910 9

Contemporary Notables of the name Swinston (post 1700) +

  • Robert Swinston, American Artistic Director of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company, New York City
  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  4. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  5. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  6. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  7. 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)
  8. Ellis Island Search retrieved 21st October 2021. Retrieved from https://heritage.statueofliberty.org/passenger-result
  9. National Archives of Australia retrieved 15th November 2022. Retrieved from https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ListingReports/PassengerListing.aspx

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