Heraldry
The following chapter is a description of the heraldry of the two families that the current Swetnams possibly originate from in England. This is the only recorded information that suggests a possibility of the Swetnam origins. The two families are the Swettenhams of Swettenham and the Swetenhams of Somerford Booths.
There is a tradition of descendency from the House of Stuart. A Virginia descendent has a 17th century Bible brought to America by the ancestor of this family; another has a pair of candlesticks said to have been in the family 16 or 17 generations; another has a pair of silver candlesticks with the Stuart Coat of Arms.
It is believed by some, from interpretations of these Coats of Arms, that these families were early weapons manufacturers. As the age of Knights and chivalry came to an end, these families had to find a more profitable profession. They became makers of farm implements. Forging shovels instead of swords. This is said to be the reason for the spades on the Coats of Arms.
View Crest
Swettenham of Swettenham
Arms: Argent, on a bend Sable three spades of the first.
Translation: Silver, on a Black left diagonal bend three Silver spades
Crest: On a Wreath a tree Vert, on the sinister side of it a lion rampant Gules.
Translation: On a naturally colored tree, on the right side of it a Red lion rampant
Motto: Ex sudore vultus.
Translation: By the sweat of their brow
View Crest
Swetenham of Somerford Booths
Arms: Argent, on a bend Vert, three spades of the first, shod Sable points downwards.
Translation: Silver, on a Green left diagonal bend, three Silver spades, with Black points downwards.
Crest: A porcupine’s head Azure, erased Gules, gouttee Argent, collared, chained, tusked and penned Or, langued Gules.
Translation: A Blue porcupine’s head, raised on Red, gouttee Silver, collared, chained, tusked and penned Gold, langued Red.
