Swope History, Family Crest & Coats of ArmsThe German state of Bavaria is the ancestral home of the Swope family. Swope is a local name. Swope is a name for someone who lived in Swabia, a medieval dukedom that was in southwestern Germany. This is a regional name for a person who was form Swabia having derived from the Germanic word Schwaben, which means Swabian and is derived from the name of the Germanic tribe that inhabited this region. The Latin form of the tribal name is Suebi or Suevi. Early Origins of the Swope familyThe surname Swope was first found in Franconia and later Mecklenburg, where the name became prominent as many branches of the same house acquired distant estates, some in foreign countries such as Austria. They were always elevating their social status by intermarriage and by their great contributions to society. The name Schwab has been traced to Mecklenburg as early as 1298, when Ulrich Schwab, the first Count of Nemerow, lived. Chronicles also mention Christian Schwabel in Franconia in 1414. Early History of the Swope familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Swope research. Another 222 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1540, 1575, 1615, 1645, 1714, 1784, 1810 and 1840 are included under the topic Early Swope History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Swope Spelling VariationsMany cultural groups lived in the German states in medieval times. Each had its own dialect and traditions, and unique variations of popular names. Low German, which is similar to contemporary Dutch, was spoken in Westphalia. German names are characterized by additions such as regional suffixes and phrases that tell something about the origin or background of its original bearer. Further contributing to the variation in German names was the fact that there were no spelling rules in medieval times: scribes recorded names according to their sound. The recorded spelling variations of Swope include Schwab, Schwabe, Schwabel, Schwebel, Swab and others. Early Notables of the Swope familyAnother 39 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Swope Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Swope RankingIn the United States, the name Swope is the 4,540th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 1
European migration to North America began in the mid-17th century and continued unabated until the mid-20th. Many Bavarians made the long trip to escape poverty or persecution based on their religious beliefs. The chance for tenant farmers to own their own land was also a major drawing card. They settled all across the United States in Pennsylvania, Texas, New York, Illinois, and California. Many came to Canada also, settling in Ontario and the prairie provinces. Analysis of immigration records has shown some of the first Swopes to arrive in North America, and among them were: Swope Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
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