This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Swahn family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Swahn Family History

Swahn Surname Meaning

Swedish: variant of Svan ornamental name from svan ‘swan’. Compare Swan.

Americanized form of German Schwahn a cognate of 1 above.

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


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Swahn family from?

You can see how Swahn families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Swahn family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1871 and 1920. The most Swahn families were found in USA in 1920. In 1911 there were 4 Swahn families living in Ontario. This was about 50% of all the recorded Swahn's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Swahn families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Swahn surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Swahn ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Clerk and Housewife were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Swahn. 23% of Swahn men worked as a Clerk and 25% of Swahn women worked as a Housewife. Some less common occupations for Americans named Swahn were Carpenter and Seamstress.

View Census Data for Swahn | 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, Canada data unavailable

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Clerk
    23%
  • Salesman
    17%
  • Laborer
    17%
  • Carpenter
    17%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Housewife
    25%
  • Maid
    25%
  • Stenographer
    25%
  • Seamstress
    25%

What Swahn family records will you find?

Census Records

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

Search Canadian census records for Swahn

Passenger Lists

There are 663 immigration records available for the last name Swahn. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Swahn immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 203 military records available for the last name Swahn. For the veterans among your Swahn ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Swahn military records

You've only scratched the surface of Swahn family history

Discover More

What is the average Swahn lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2004, in the United States, Swahn life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1962, and highest in 2002. The average life expectancy for Swahn in 1962 was 55, and 83 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Swahn

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Swahn 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 Swahn family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial