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ArchivesRe: Svombo / Swambo / Svombos - History and Origins
in reply to a message by Tricia Mason
Hello Tricia. This is an intriguingly rare surname! I've read your other post in 2007 and about the Greek origin, and that Svombo could not be pronounced in Greek. Well, I was searching for the possibility of a Scandinavian origin and I came up with something very interesting. I know that you spent a lot of time researching this surname, this could be interesting.
I looked up a similar surname, Svabo, and according to http://lastnames.myheritage.com/last-name/Svabo , most of the bearers are from Faroe Island! Now Faroe Island is north of the UK, similar to Shetland and Orkney of Scotland. I went in deeper and founded the Norwegian surname Svabø. This probably explains the Svabo of Faroe Island, as they are of Norwegian origin. When the name Svabø is pronounced, it sounds almost identical to "Swambo"! This explains why the surname Swambo changed, and if Swambo is a variant of Svombo, then perhaps Svombo is a variant of Svabø! So, there is a possibility that your surname Svombo/Swambo could have originated from Norway, and it was originally Svabø.
But I want to clarify this. I've also seen your other posts on other sites and that you traced your great great grandfather from Greece. Is your great great grandfather Nicholas Svombo?, the one who married Ellen Barry? and did you actually traced Nicholas Svombo from Greece? as he actually once lived there? If so did you find any records of him in Greece?
I looked up a similar surname, Svabo, and according to http://lastnames.myheritage.com/last-name/Svabo , most of the bearers are from Faroe Island! Now Faroe Island is north of the UK, similar to Shetland and Orkney of Scotland. I went in deeper and founded the Norwegian surname Svabø. This probably explains the Svabo of Faroe Island, as they are of Norwegian origin. When the name Svabø is pronounced, it sounds almost identical to "Swambo"! This explains why the surname Swambo changed, and if Swambo is a variant of Svombo, then perhaps Svombo is a variant of Svabø! So, there is a possibility that your surname Svombo/Swambo could have originated from Norway, and it was originally Svabø.
But I want to clarify this. I've also seen your other posts on other sites and that you traced your great great grandfather from Greece. Is your great great grandfather Nicholas Svombo?, the one who married Ellen Barry? and did you actually traced Nicholas Svombo from Greece? as he actually once lived there? If so did you find any records of him in Greece?
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Replies
I've come across the Greek form the name Svobos. It is Σβομπος, and when translated, it comes out in English as "svoboda", meaning "freedom". This means that Σβομπος could also mean "freedom", and possibly a Greek form of svoboda.
Also, while looking for Nicholas Svombo on the Census records, I found out that his place of birth is Greece. This is very interesting. I'll try to find out more.
Also, while looking for Nicholas Svombo on the Census records, I found out that his place of birth is Greece. This is very interesting. I'll try to find out more.
This message was edited 7/24/2012, 1:33 AM
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I think the surname Svombo is of Southern Slavic origin, ultimately of Proto-Slavic, and possibly could be of Serbo-Croatian. The etymology of Svombo is identical to the etymology of Svoboda, meaning "freedom". The people who originally bear this surname migrated to Greece and became the name Σβομπος, like you said. I think this surname Svoboda also migrated to France and Scandinavia, also changing its form, possibly Sobo, Sabo, Sambo, Sombo, and others. This explains why the surname Svombo and the Greek form are so rare, because the surname has spread across Europe becoming variants, taking different forms. Now, when the French people pronounced Svoboda, it sounds like Swomboda. This is also true with the Scandinavians, pronouncing it "Sombos" instead of "Sobos". I think the Svombos was influenced by the French or Scandinavians before coming into the UK. I think Nickolas Svombo departed from France, or Norway, and there, Nickolas had his surname changed according to them and how they pronounced it. From France or Norway, Nickolas was originally from Greece, possibly didn't have the form of "mb" until he came to France or Norway first, before coming to England.
Now, I hypothesize that the Faroes Svabo and the Norwegian Svabø are too of the same origin. I'll have to look into them further though.
Now, I hypothesize that the Faroes Svabo and the Norwegian Svabø are too of the same origin. I'll have to look into them further though.
This message was edited 7/26/2012, 1:51 PM
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Hello Charles :)
Thank you for your interest!
I am intrigued, do you have a connection to the name or the area?
Anyway, I'm very sorry for the delay in replying. I only just found your comments.
Yes, 'Svombo' (plus variants) is an unusual name. I'm fascinated by it.
My gt gt grandfather was, indeed, the Nicholas Svombo who married Ellen Barry. They had a lot of children, including my gt grandfather, Constantine.
I haven't actually found any records for Nicholas, prior to his arrival in the British Isles, but there are records of a Svombo family on Hydra. I'd love to research them, but my Greek isn't good enough. A Svombo lady did transcribe some of them for me.
I do have several family photos ~ including one of Nicholas ~ and the connection certainly looks more Mediterranean than Scandinavian. My grandmother, for example, had black hair and black eyes.
A cousin did actually suggest a Scandinavian connection, when he saw a similar name on a Scandinavian cheese ~ and I did try to check into that surname. (Indeed, there are quite a few similar surnames in Northern and Eastern Europe and some may well be connected to us and to each other.)
I seem to recall ~ and I may be wrong ~ that the Scandinavian 'Svabo' came from 'swan farmstead / homestead', while Svobo / Svobos / Svoboda / Sloboda etc, (+ possible Svombos) as you said, come from the Slavic word for 'freedom'.
I contacted some prople, at universities in the Balkans, and was given a few ideas. It's possible that names like Szambo, Szabo, etc, are also connected in some way. One suggested a possible link with Schwabien / Swabia in Germany. Looking at the Ellis Island records I have found quite a lot of potentially related names.
Whatever his ancestral origins, though, my great great grandfather definitely seems to have come from somewhere in Greece. That is how he is described in records. The whole family considered themselves to be part Greek. My late Uncle said that the name wasn't originally 'Svombo', but was more like 'Gzombos' ~ ie Svombos.
Thank you for your interest!
I am intrigued, do you have a connection to the name or the area?
Anyway, I'm very sorry for the delay in replying. I only just found your comments.
Yes, 'Svombo' (plus variants) is an unusual name. I'm fascinated by it.
My gt gt grandfather was, indeed, the Nicholas Svombo who married Ellen Barry. They had a lot of children, including my gt grandfather, Constantine.
I haven't actually found any records for Nicholas, prior to his arrival in the British Isles, but there are records of a Svombo family on Hydra. I'd love to research them, but my Greek isn't good enough. A Svombo lady did transcribe some of them for me.
I do have several family photos ~ including one of Nicholas ~ and the connection certainly looks more Mediterranean than Scandinavian. My grandmother, for example, had black hair and black eyes.
A cousin did actually suggest a Scandinavian connection, when he saw a similar name on a Scandinavian cheese ~ and I did try to check into that surname. (Indeed, there are quite a few similar surnames in Northern and Eastern Europe and some may well be connected to us and to each other.)
I seem to recall ~ and I may be wrong ~ that the Scandinavian 'Svabo' came from 'swan farmstead / homestead', while Svobo / Svobos / Svoboda / Sloboda etc, (+ possible Svombos) as you said, come from the Slavic word for 'freedom'.
I contacted some prople, at universities in the Balkans, and was given a few ideas. It's possible that names like Szambo, Szabo, etc, are also connected in some way. One suggested a possible link with Schwabien / Swabia in Germany. Looking at the Ellis Island records I have found quite a lot of potentially related names.
Whatever his ancestral origins, though, my great great grandfather definitely seems to have come from somewhere in Greece. That is how he is described in records. The whole family considered themselves to be part Greek. My late Uncle said that the name wasn't originally 'Svombo', but was more like 'Gzombos' ~ ie Svombos.
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