Swain (surname)

Swain is an English surname derived from the Old Norse personal name Sveinn (Sven, Sweyn), from an Old Norse word meaning a youth or young man, and hence a young male attendant or servant (compare in meaning Old English 'cniht' = knight; German 'Knecht'). There are a number of variations in the spelling of the surname Swain, including Swaine, Swainne, and Swayne.

From this word meaning boy, young male or servant, are derived:

  • The noun swain, meaning a rustic lover or boyfriend, cf. the numerous examples in Shakespeare's work, including his lyric, "[w]ho is Sylvia, what is she that all our Swains commend her" (from The Two Gentlemen of Verona) and "O God! methinks it were a happy life, To be no better than a homely swain;" (from King Henry VI)
  • There are also specific nautical words involving swain: boatswain (literally "young man in charge of a boat") which can be seen in Shakespeare's The Tempest, and coxswain.

People with the name include:

  • Bennie Swain, an American professional basketball player
  • Brennan Swain, an American television star and winner of The Amazing Race
  • Brett Swain (disambiguation)
  • Carol M. Swain, American academic
  • Danny!, an American rap performer and record producer from Columbia, South Carolina
  • David Lowry Swain, a governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina in 1832-1835
  • Diana Swain, a Canadian television journalist
  • Dominique Swain, an American actress
  • Freddie Swain (born 1998), American football player
  • George Gilbert Swain, an American politician
  • Gladys Swain, a French psychiatrist and writer
  • Jack Swain, English footballer
  • James Swain, an American author of mystery novels and non-fiction magic books
  • Jon Swain, an award-winning British journalist and writer
  • Julie Swain, first female head of cardiothoracic surgery department in a US medical school
  • Kenny Swain, a retired English football player
  • Leonard Swain, an American Congregational minister
  • Louisa Ann Swain, the first woman in America to vote in a general election
  • Mack Swain, an American actor and vaudevillian
  • Margaret Swain (1909–2002), English embroidery and textile historian
  • Paul Swain, a New Zealand politician
  • Richard Swain, a New Zealand rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s
  • Shurlee Swain, an Australian social welfare historian
  • Tony Swain (disambiguation)

See also
  • Swaim
  • King Sweyn (disambiguation)
  • Swain (disambiguation)
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