Schweickhardt to Swagerty, origins
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In reply to:
Re: ABRAHAM SWAGERTY b. 1755 PA--Children?
Denise Scott 3/10/02
"My recollection and knowledge of father Swagerty is not extensive, or it seems so to me. His father's name I do not know, any more than Swagerty, and I know he came over from Holland."
A significant number of the refugees from the Palatinate (Baden, Pfalz, Wuertemberg, Germany) embarked by ship from the great port of Rotterdam and came to the new world. The Palatinate persecutions were excessive even by 17th century European standards. England opened up colony emigration to the refugees, many of them went from Rotterdam to Philadelphia. The emigrations were heavy from 1680 to 1750.
A significant number of the refugees with the names Schweickhardt, Schweickart, Schweickert, Schweigart, came from Baden. Some emigrated to Holland first, some to England, most seem to have gone to Rotterdam and boarded ships for the American colonies.
The name, never a fixed entity to begin with in German, was changed in America and these are some of the variants
Schweichart, Schweichert, Schweickardt, Schweickart, Schweickert, Schweickhard, Schweickhardt, Schweigart, Schweigert, Schweikard, Schweikardt, Schweikert, Schweikhard, Schweikhardt, Swacker, Swager, Swaggert, Swaggerty, Sweigart, Sweigert, Swickard, Swickert, Swigart, Swiger, Swigert, Swiggart, Swikert, Zwigard
regards,
Michael Swigart
[email protected]