Vancouver / Names / S / Swanston

A family name in Vancouver's city directories

The Swanstons

In the city directories 1940 · eight people at five addresses

The directories print eight people named Swanston at five addresses in 1940 in four of the city's neighbourhoods, with the close spelling Swainston. No first name or initials tie one address to another: we can't tell if they're one family. The most under one roof: three Swanstons at 2776 West 31st in 1940.

Reserve this family's book, freeThe name in every directory we hold from 1901 to 1945, at every address, each line with its page, to read here or save as a PDF. About $29 when orders open.

Where the Swanstons lived

Each pin is on its own block, numbered as the households below. Today's land, parks, main roads and local areas: City of Vancouver Open Data (Open Government Licence – Vancouver).
  1. 1

    1924 Comox Street

    West End, 1940

    • A S Swanston, who worked for National Schools 1940

    Next door in 1940: J K H Currie at 1938. The block, door by door

  2. 2

    1206 Haro Street

    West End, 1940

    • R Swanston, retired 1940
    • George Swanston, a bookkeeper for F Deeley 1940

    Next door in 1940: H Everett at 1230. The block, door by door

  3. 3

    2776 West 31st Avenue

    Arbutus Ridge, 1940

    • Miss I M Swanston 1940
    • Irene M Swanston, a stenographer at the Canadian Government 1940
    • Jean E Swanston, a stenographer at the Canadian Government 1940

    Next door in 1940: H B Lowden at 2754 and J G Callaghan at 2786. The block, door by door

  4. 4

    926 West 8th Avenue

    Fairview, 1940

    • Mrs M Swainston, widow of R 1940

    Next door in 1940: F H Trimble at 910 and F L Henderson at 928. The block, door by door

  5. 5

    4424 West 8th Avenue

    West Point Grey, 1940

    • H W Swanston, retired 1940

    Next door in 1940: Mrs M I McMurtrie at 4414 and Mrs H L Mowat at 4432. The block, door by door

What they did

The name section prints a trade for three of the eight: a stenographer (2) and a bookkeeper. Two of them worked for Canadian Government. One is a widow, listed under her own name.

Their neighbourhoods

The addresses are in West End (2), Arbutus Ridge, Fairview and West Point Grey. Each neighbourhood's page shows its trades, its people and every street in it, the way the directory printed them.

The story, address by address

In 1940 the directory lists A S Swanston at 1924 Comox Street. The 1940 name section, where each person's work is printed, lists Alex S Swanston there as the householder, who worked for National Schools. In 1940 the directory lists R Swanston at 1206 Haro Street. The 1940 name section lists Ralph Swanston there as the householder, retired, with George Swanston, a bookkeeper for F Deeley.

In 1940 the directory lists Miss I M Swanston at 2776 West 31st Avenue. The 1940 name section lists Irene M Swanston there as the householder, a stenographer at the Canadian Government, with Jean E Swanston, a stenographer at the Canadian Government. In 1940 the directory lists Mrs M Swainston at 926 West 8th Avenue. The 1940 name section lists Margaret Swainston there as the householder, widow of R.

In 1940 the directory lists H W Swanston at 4424 West 8th Avenue; the 1940 line is marked *: some member of the family owns the property, to the best of our knowledge (the directory's own mark). The 1940 name section lists Hector W Swanston there as the householder, retired.

Today

2776 West 31st and 4424 West 8th still have their buildings from before 1946; 1924 Comox (1987) has a newer building, by the City's record; the City no longer lists 1206 Haro and 926 West 8th, so those buildings are probably gone (inferred).

Every line as printed

All 12 lines printed under the name through 1945, each with its page at the Vancouver Public Library.
1940

British Columbia and Yukon Directory, street section

The book of the Swanstons

Every directory, as one book

The family book reads the Swanston name in each Vancouver directory we hold from 1901 to 1945: everyone printed under it at every address, their work from the name sections, who lived next door, and the page behind every line, to read here or save as a PDF to print or give.

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Sources

Henderson's and successor city directories for Vancouver, read by us line by line: the street sections for 1905, 1915, 1925, 1935, 1940 and 1945, and the name section for 1930 and 1940 where we've read it (Vancouver Public Library, BC City Directories). Names are shown through 1945, as printed. Close spellings are grouped, as on the house pages, since a family's name was often spelled differently from one year to the next; one name can still be several families, and we join lines only where the first names or initials agree. Many Chinese, Japanese and other residents weren't named by the canvassers, so they can't be listed by name: their houses' pages say where. More family names under S. Want a name removed? Tell us.