Explore the Family Name Sweetwood
The meaning of Sweetwood
Americanized form (translation into English) of German Süssholz ‘sweet wood’, an occupational name for a herbalist who processed and sold the plant (liquorice root), which was used for medicinal purposes or enjoyed by children in place of candy; or a nickname for a soft talker.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Sweetwood in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, the popularity of the surname Sweetwood has slightly decreased between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, Sweetwood was the 51,583rd most popular surname in the United States, but by 2010 it had dropped to the 55,619th position, a decrease of 7.82 percent. During this same time period, the number of people with the surname Sweetwood also experienced a small decline from 379 individuals in 2000 to 369 in 2010, representing a decrease of 2.64 percent. The proportion of persons named Sweetwood per 100,000 individuals also dropped by 7.14 percent.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #51,583 | #55,619 | -7.82% |
| Count | 379 | 369 | -2.64% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.14 | 0.13 | -7.14% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Sweetwood
Looking at the ethnic identity breakdown for those carrying the Sweetwood surname based on the Decennial U.S. Census data, there was no representation amongst Asian/Pacific Islander, Hispanic, Black, or American Indian and Alaskan Native populations in either 2000 or 2010. However, there was a slight increase in the percentage of individuals identifying as White, from 94.20 percent in 2000 to 94.85 percent in 2010, suggesting a minor shift in the ethnic identity associated with the surname. Additionally, the proportion of individuals who identified as having two or more races saw a decrease from 3.43 percent in 2000 to 2.71 percent in 2010, a change of -20.99 percent.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 94.2% | 94.85% | 0.69% |
| Two or More Races | 3.43% | 2.71% | -20.99% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Hispanic | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |