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Swell Family History

Swell Surname Meaning

Primarily from Upper and Lower Swell (Gloucs) recorded as Suelle in 1221 but also from Swell (Somerset) which is recorded as Swella in about 1080.

The place-names derive from Old English (ge)swell *swelle ‘swelling’ also ‘rising piece of ground hill’.

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016


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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Swell family from?

You can see how Swell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Swell family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Swell families were found in USA in 1920. In 1891 there were 8 Swell families living in Berkshire. This was about 22% of all the recorded Swell's in United Kingdom. Berkshire had the highest population of Swell families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Swell surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Swell ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Colliery Hewer (below) Heavy Worker and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Swell. 50% of Swell men worked as a Colliery Hewer (below) Heavy Worker and 83% of Swell women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Swell were General Labourer and Incapacitated.

View Census Data for Swell | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Colliery Hewer (below) Heavy Worker
    50%
  • General Labourer
    50%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    83%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    11%
  • Incapacitated
    7%

What Swell family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 4,000 census records available for the last name Swell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Swell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Swell

Passenger Lists

There are 636 immigration records available for the last name Swell. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Swell immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Swell. For the veterans among your Swell ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Swell military records

You've only scratched the surface of Swell family history

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What is the average Swell lifespan?

Between 1957 and 1998, in the United States, Swell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1996, and highest in 1984. The average life expectancy for Swell in 1957 was 52, and 61 in 1998.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Swell

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Swell ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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