Swale, Swales. --- Local:
(1) 'of Swallow Hill,' a hamlet near
 Barnsley, co. Yorks.  At least there is
 evidence in favour of this view.
(2) 'At the Swale,' from residence beside
 the river of that name, whence Swaledale.
 Doubtless this will be deemed the more
 satisfactory solution.  Swales is the
 genitive form; cf. Williams, Jones,
 Brooks, Styles, etc.  The first reference
 is in Darton, the parish in which Swallow
 Hill lies.
  Isabella de Swahill, 1379 : P. T. Yorks.
   p. 88.
  Robertus de Swaloughill, 1379 : ibid.
   p. 51.
  Richardus Swale, 1379 : ibid. p. 70.
  Thomas de Swale, 1379 : ibid. p. 252.
  1754, Married - Matthew Swales and
   Dorothy Johnson : St. Geo. Chap. Mayfair,
   p. 273
  MDB. (West Rid. Yorks), 15 7; West Riding
  Court Dir., 6, z?.
Source: Bardsley, Charles Wareing. A
 Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames
 With Special American Instances. Baltimore:
 Genealogical Publishing, 1967. Originally
 published London, 1901

Here is a coat of arms awarded to a member of the Swale(s) family. Though no coat of arms applies to a family, rather to an individual, this coat of arms may have belonged to one of our ancestors.

Arms: Azure, a fess nebuly argent.
 Crest: A greyhound courant ermine collared azure.
 Motto: Jesu, esto mihi Jesus (Jesus, be my Savior/Healer)
 Color Key:
   Silver or White (Argent): Peace and sincerity.
   Blue (Azure): Truth and loyalty.
   Ermine (white with black spots): Represents fur; Dignity.
 Source: Burke's The General Armory of England