The old family of Swinton may be of Anglian origin, as a charter of David I shows the lands of Swinton (Swintun) in possession of (1) Edolf, (2) Liulf son of Edolf, and (3) Udard, his grandson (Not. MSS., I, 21). Alan us de Svint' witnessed a charter by Patrick, first earl of Dunbar (Raine, 116). Sir Alan de Swynton was one of the witnesses to the deed of sale of Adam, son of Thurkill, to the prior of Coldingham, c. 1240 (ibid., 337). Cospatric de Swinton and Hugh, his son, witnessed a charter by Duncan, earl of Fife, to the nuns of North Berwick (CMN., 5). Hugh of Swinton and his son Duncan, who acquired the "thanedom" of Arbuthnot from Walter Olifard, and ejected the Scolocs from their portion of the property most unceremoniously, were the first known members of the Arbuthnot family (Robertson, Scotland under her early kings, II, p. 493n). Henry de Swyntone of Berwickshire rendered homage, 1296 (Bain, II, p. 206). John, lord of Swyngton, had a safe conduct into England, 1377 (ibid., IV, 254). John Swyntoune of that Ilk, a Berwickshire laird in 1530 (Trials, I, p. 147). John Swontoun was retoured heir of Robert Swontoun de eodem in the lands of Swontoun, etc., in Berwickshire, 1628 (Retours, Berwick, 157). Thomas Swentoun, minister at Kirkwall, 1603 (OSR., I, p. 226). The name was carried to France in the fifteenth or early sixteenth century by emigrant adventurers, and appears there as Vincton. In the Berry ar morial the name is given as "Sancton." Suentoun 1512, Suyntoune 1637, Sweintoun 1624, Swenton 1539, Swentoun 1549, Swentoune 1655, Swintonne 1658, Swyintoune 1656, Swyntoune 1633.

(English) belonging to Swinton; or Dweller at the Swine-Enclosure or -Farm [Old English swín + tún]

(English, Scottish) One who came from Swinton (pig farm), the name of four places in England and one in Scotland.

1. Two townships and a chapelry in Yorkshire. 2. The Swintons of Swinton Rank, co. Peebles, derive their origin from the barony of Swinton in Berwickshire, and from a Saxon proprietor called Edulphus de Swinton, who flourished in the reigns of Macbeth and Malcolm Canmore. B.L.G. The family, who continue to write themselves ' of that Ilk,' have numbered some distinguished military men, among whom stands conspicuous Sir John Swinton, who, at the battle of Beauge in France, killed the Duke of Clarence, brother of King Henry V.

Local: from the Barony of Swinton in Berwickshire. The family are descended from Edulph de Swinton, 1060.

Swinton is the name of a town both in Lancashire and Yorkshire Amongst the old names now rare in the county is that of Snead or Sneyd. During the 15th and 16th centuries there was a Chester family of this name, members of which frequently filled the office of mayor and also represented the city in Parliament (H.).