Swift History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

Etymology of Swift

What does the name Swift mean?

The name Swift is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. Swift was a name used for a person who because of his physical abilities was referred to as swifte, which was an Old English word used to denote one who was quick, typically "speed of foot." 1 This was a name often given to a messenger or courier. 2 A broad and miscellaneous class of surnames, nickname surnames referred to a characteristic of the first person who used the name. They can describe the bearer's favored style of clothing, appearance, habits, or character.

One source notes that the name may be "local, from Swift, a river of England." 3 4

Early Origins of the Swift family

The surname Swift was first found in Norfolk where the mononym Suift was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of 1166. Years later, Nicholaus filius Swift was listed in the Curia Regis Rolls of 1222 and William Swift was found in the Pipe Rolls for Hampshire in 1167 and in the Assize Rolls for Yorkshire in 1219. 5 The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 proved the widespread use of the name: Matilda Swyft, Cambridgeshire; Roger Swyft, Buckinghamshire; and Arnulph Swyft, Norfolk. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included an entry for Henricus Swyft. 6

Pointing to the occupational nature of the name, the source Issues of the Exchequer, edited by Frederick Devon includes an entry for Ralph Swyft, courier to Edward III.

"The name of Swift is also established in Derbyshire, the West Riding, and Nottinghamshire. In the 13th century there were Swifts and Swyfts in Derbyshire, Bucks, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk." 7

To the north in Scotland, the "family of this name were burgesses of Edinburgh, and the chartulary of St. Giles contains frequent notices of them in the time of James II. John Swyft was burgess of Edinburgh in 1427." 8

Early History of the Swift family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Swift research. Another 109 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1478, 1534, 1599, 1627, 1634, 1640, 1667, 1707, 1713, 1726, 1734, 1736, 1739, 1745, 1746, 1754, 1783 and 1815 are included under the topic Early Swift History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Swift Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Swift include Swift, Swifte, Swyft, Swyfte and others.

Early Notables of the Swift family

Distinguished members of the family include

Robert Swift (1534?-1599), Chancellor of Durham, born at Rotherham about 1534, belonged to a Yorkshire family settled there; and Jonathan Swift (1640-1667), English father of Jonathon Swift, the satir...
Jonathan Swift (1667-1745), Dean of St. Patrick's and satirist, son of Jonathan Swift, by Abigail (Erick) of Leicester, was born at 7 Hoey's Court, Dublin, on 30 Nov. 1667 (a drawing of the house, now...
Theophilus Swift (1746-1815), Irish writer, born, probably in Hertfordshire, in 1746, was son of Deane Swift of Dublin, by his wife, daughter of Mrs. Martha Whiteway, his cousin. Both father and mothe...

Swift Ranking

In the United States, the name Swift is the 1,397^th most popular surname with an estimated 22,383 people with that name. 9 However, in the United Kingdom, the name Swift is ranked the 485^th most popular surname with an estimated 13,322 people with that name. 10

Migration of the Swift family to Ireland

Some of the Swift family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 102 words (7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Swift migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Swift were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Swift Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

James Swift, who was aboard the ship "Sea Venture" who wrecked in Bermudas in 1609, they managed to build a new ship to continue to Jamestown in 1610. 11
Jon Swift, who landed in Virginia in 1618 11
Thomas Swift, who arrived in Virginia in 1622 aboard the ship "Tyger"
William Swift, who arrived in Watertown, Massachusetts in 1630 11
Thomas Swift, who landed in Dorchester, Massachusetts in 1633 aboard the ship "Recovery" 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Swift Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Thomas Swift, who settled in Boston Massachusetts in 1716
Lattice Swift, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1721-1726 11
William Swift, who landed in Bermuda in 1722 11
Daniel Swift, aged 21, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1778 11
John White Swift, who arrived in New York in 1798 11

Swift Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Ann Swift, aged 30, who landed in America in 1822 11
Seth Swift, who landed in Texas in 1835 11
James Swift, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1849 11
H Swift, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 11
R W Swift, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Swift migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Swift Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Jane Swift, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1750
Mr. Joseph Swift U.E. born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, USA who settled in Nova Scotia c. 1784 he eventually returned to Philadelphia, USA where he died in 1826 12

Swift Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Anthony Swift, aged 19, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Sea Horse" from Galway, Ireland
James Swift, aged 35, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the ship "Britannia" from Sligo, Ireland
John Swift, who settled in Harbour Grace, Newfoundland in 1834
Miss. Jane Swift, aged 2 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Wolfville" departing 25th April 1847 from Sligo, Ireland; the ship arrived on 10th June 1847 but she died on board 13
William Swift was a fisherman of Bay de Loup, Newfoundland in 1859 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Swift migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Swift Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Alexander Swift, British Convict who was convicted in Canterbury, Kent, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 4th December 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
Mr. Owen Swift, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 16th January 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
Mr. William Swift, British Convict who was convicted in Kent, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Batavia" in October 1817, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 17
Mr. John Swift, British Convict who was convicted in York, Yorkshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Coromandel" on 27th October 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 18
Thomas Swift, Welsh convict from Brecknock, who was transported aboard the "Adamant" on March 16, 1821, settling in New South Wales, Australia 19
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Swift migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Swift Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

John Swift, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Mermaid" in 1859 20
Mr. John Swift, British settler travelling from Liverpool aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 19th October 1859 21
Mr. Michael Swift, (b. 1847), aged 18, British farm labourer travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 1st January 1866 21
Miss Annie Swift, (b. 1835), aged 32, British nurse travelling from London aboard the ship "Lancashire Witch" sailing to Auckland and Lyttelton, New Zealand on 29th July 1867 21
James Swift, aged 32, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Strathnaver" in 1874
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Swift migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 22

Swift Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Anne Swift, who settled in Barbados in 1673

Contemporary Notables of the name Swift (post 1700) +

Jonathan Swift (1667-1745), Irish satirist, essayist, political pamphleteer, best remembered for his book Gulliver's Travels
Taylor Alison Swift (b. 1989), American multiple award-winning country pop singer-songwriter, musician and actress who has an estimated net worth by Forbes and Bloomberg News at $1.1 billion as of October 2023, who has sold over 50 million album sales and 150 million single sales as of 2019, winner of the Grammy Award Album of the Year for the fourth time, setting a new record in 2024
Richard Swift (1977-2018), American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, producer and short-film maker
Allan Byron Swift (1935-2018), American Democratic Party politician, Broadcaster, public affairs director, KVOS-TV; Administrative assistant to U.S. Rep. Lloyd Meeds, 1965-69; U.S. Representative from Washington 2nd District, 1979-95
Zephaniah Swift (1759-1823), American politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Windham, 1787-89, 1820-22; U.S. Representative from Connecticut at-large, 1793-97; Member of Connecticut council of assistants, 1799, 1801
Willis E. Swift, American Republican politician, Mayor of Augusta, Maine, 1917-18
William F. Swift, American Republican politician, Member of Michigan State Senate 31st District, 1881-82; Delegate to Republican National Convention from Michigan, 1884
William C. N. Swift, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Massachusetts, 1860, 1864
William Swift (b. 1794), American politician, Mayor of Lexington, Kentucky, 1855-58. English ancestry
Warren A. Swift, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Massachusetts, 1912
... (Another 72 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Swift family +

HMS Repulse

Mr. Walter Edward Swift (b. 1917), English Stoker 1st Class from Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire, England, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 23

RMS Lusitania

Mr. Edward Swift, English Third Cook from Liverpool, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 24

RMS Titanic

Mrs. Margaret Welles Swift, (née Barron), aged 46, American First Class passenger from New York City, New York who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping in life boat 8 25

SS Atlantic

P. O. Swift, Irish traveler aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking

The Swift Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Festina lente
Motto Translation: Be quick without impetuosity.

Citations +

Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
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)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 97)
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 22nd March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel-and-experiment
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/batavia
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 12th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/coromandel
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Adamant voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1821 with 144 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/adamant/1821
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 5th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html