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Sweem Family History

Sweem Surname Meaning

Dutch: nickname from Middle Dutch sweem the name of a waterbird or a topographic name from Middle Dutch sweme ‘wet land pond’. Alternatively perhaps Dutch form of the related German surname Schwemm (see Schwemmer).

The surname Sweem is not found in the Netherlands. Compare Swaim, Swim, and Swims.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

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Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Sweem family from?

You can see how Sweem families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Sweem family name was found in the USA, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Sweem families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there was 1 Sweem family living in Lanarkshire. This was 100% of all the recorded Sweem's in Scotland. Lanarkshire had the highest population of Sweem families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Sweem 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 Sweem ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Farmer was the top reported job for people in the USA named Sweem. 31% of Sweem men worked as a Farmer.

View Census Data for Sweem | 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.

United States shown, England data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Farmer
    31%
  • Laborer
    31%
  • Salesman
    24%
  • Operator
    16%

What Sweem family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 1,000 census records available for the last name Sweem. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Sweem census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Sweem

Passenger Lists

There are 69 immigration records available for the last name Sweem. 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 Sweem immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 237 military records available for the last name Sweem. For the veterans among your Sweem ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Sweem military records

You've only scratched the surface of Sweem family history

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What is the average Sweem lifespan?

Between 1959 and 2004, in the United States, Sweem life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1969, and highest in 1981. The average life expectancy for Sweem in 1959 was 77, and 84 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Sweem

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Sweem 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.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Sweem family tree

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