Swart
A nickname surname meaning “swarthy” or “dark,” especially common in English and Scandinavian traditions.
The #7,418 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 68,763 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Swart comes from a word meaning “dark” or “swarthy.” The historical forms cited by surname scholars connect Middle English swart(e) with Old English and Old Norse words for dark coloration, ultimately related to the German word schwarz. It was originally a descriptive nickname for someone with a dark complexion, hair, or clothing.
History
The surname is recorded in medieval English forms such as le Swarte, and it also appears in Scandinavian and Dutch naming traditions. In the modern era, Swart is especially familiar in Dutch and Afrikaner usage, where related forms like Zwart and De Swart are also found. English examples survived as a relatively uncommon surname, while spelling variation was common across languages and regions.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The same old color word behind Swart also shows up in many related surnames across Europe, including Dutch Zwart and German Schwarz.
From the historical record
“Latic, Ing., A.D. 1286. SWART (Eng. and Scand.) Swarthy, Dark [M.E. swart(e, O.E. sm(e)art = O.N. suart-r (= Ger. schwarz] hrsefen wandrode, swearta.ndssa.lo- brfln”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)