Swinburne Coats of Arms
The Arms of Adam de Swynburne of East Swinburn
'Gules three boars heads argent' are the arms entered in Manuscript L.14 at the College of Arms, London (1240-45) and in Manuscript 158, Queen's College, Oxford (1308-1314) for Adam de Swynburne of East Swinburne, born about 1160 (see Ulfchill de Swyneburne). These are the oldest recorded arms for Swinburne
Adam de Swynburne's grandson, Sir John de Swyneburne, used a different coat of arms, 'Argent on a cross gules five garbs or'These arms were also used by his son Sir Adam de Swynburne. They are given in Glover's Ordinary as the arms of SWINBURN. In Hodgson's History of Northumberland, the author writes that these arms were probably derived through an heiress, possibly connected with the garbs of the Comyns of Tynedale. On his seal (which is in the Treasury at Durham) Sir Adam surrounded this shield with three boars heads as accessories. 
His brother Robert, who had purchased an estate in Essex, used the arms of his paternal ancestors, that is the three boars heads, but surrounded with crosses crosslet for difference (arms on left). To these Thomas de Swyneburn of East Mersey added a label (arms on right), the cadency mark of an eldest son.
The Arms of Sir John Swinburne of Capheaton in Northumberland, England. Sir John was created a Baronet in 1660 and so the shield contains the small red hand on a white background which denotes a Baronet
The heraldic description of the arms is:
Arms: Per fesse gules and argent three cinquefoils counter-changed.
Crest: Out of a ducal coronet or, a demi-boar rampant argent, crined of the first, langued gules.
Motto: Semel et Semper (Once and Always)
The arms, crest and motto are all shown on a family tree of Sir John Swinburne at Heraldry, Calligraphy & Illumination
Burke's General Armory lists the following Swinb(o)urne/Swynburne coats of arms:
Swinbourne - (Hewthwayt, Cumberland), Gules semee of crosses crosslet three boars heads' couped argent. Crest - A boar's head couped and erect argent. These arms (but not the crest) are the same as those adopted by Robert Swyneburne of Essex (living c.1325), brother of Sir Adam, suggesting that the Hewthwaite, Cumberland branch of the family may be descended from Robert
Swinbourne - Argent on a chief indented gules three roses of the first.
Swinbourne - Gules three boars' heads couped argent, armed or, a border of the second (see illustration to the right)
Swinbourne - Argent on a cross gules five garbs or (see above)
Swinbourne - Sable a fret ermine
Swinbourne - Argent, a fret ermines
Swinburne - (Pontop Hall, co. Durham) Per fesse gules and argent three cinquefoils counterchanged. Crest - Out of a ducal coronet or, a demi boar rampant argent crined of the first, langued gules. Motto - Semel et Semper. These arms are the same as those of Sir John Swinburne, 1st Baronet. Thomas Swinburne of Pontop Hall (1705-1772) was a younger brother of the 3rd baronet, he acquired Pontop Hall through his marriage to Mary Thornton nee Meaburne, co-heiress of Anthony Meaburne of Pontop Hall, Co. Durham
Swinburne - (Chopwell, co. Durham; granted by Harvey, Norroy King of Arms, 6 September 1551). Per fess gules and argent three cinquefoils counterchanged, a border componee argent and azure. Crest - Out of a ducal coronet or, a demi boar issuant argent, crined and armed of the first.
These arms were granted to John Swinburne II of Chopwell, (see Swinburne of Chopwell and Wylam), the son of John Swinburne who was an illegitimate son of Thomas Swinburne of Nafferton. The arms are the same as those of Sir John Swinburne, 1st Baronet, but with a border componee which was often used in heraldry to denote illegitimacy. Thomas Swinburne of Nafferton was himself an illegitimate son of John Swinburne, the son of Sir William Swinburne VII. Sir William was living c.1415-c.1453 and was a direct ancestor of Sir John, 1st baronet so it seems likely that the arms used by Sir John date back at least to this time.
Swynbourne - Argent on a chevron sable three boars heads couped or.
Swynburne - Argent, a boar's head couped gules tusked or, between six crosses crosslet fitchee of the second.
Swynburne - Argent on a cross gules five garbs or (see above).
Another Swinburne coat of arms exists for Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia. The founder of the University was the Hon. George Swinburne who was born in Benwell, Northumberland but emigrated to Australia in 1886. See Swinburne University of Technology for a monotone version of the full coat of arms.
The arms are blazoned: Per pale gules and argent two cinquefoils within a bordure all counterchanged
Sources: Hodgson's History of Northumberland; Debrett's Peerage; W. Percy-Hedley's Northumberland Families
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