Swain is an

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national id ...

surname derived from the

Old Norse Old Norse, Old Nordic, or Old Scandinavian, is a stage of development of North Germanic languages, North Germanic dialects before their final divergence into separate Nordic languages. Old Norse was spoken by inhabitants of Scandinavia and t ...

personal name A personal name, or full name, in onomastic terminology also known as prosoponym (from Ancient Greek πρόσωπον / ''prósōpon'' - person, and ὄνομα / ''onoma'' - name), is the set of names by which an individual person is know ...

''Sveinn'' (

Sven Sven (in Danish and Norwegian, also Svend and also in Norwegian most commonly Svein) is a Scandinavian first name which is also used in the Low Countries and German-speaking countries. The name itself is Old Norse for "young man" or "young ...

Sweyn Sweyn is a Scandinavian masculine given name which may refer to: Kings: * Sweyn Forkbeard (960–1014), King of Denmark, England, and Norway as Sweyn I * Sweyn or Svein Knutsson (c. 1016–1035), King of Norway as Sweyn II * Sweyn II of Denmark (1 ...

), from an

word meaning a

youth Youth is the time of life when one is young. The word, youth, can also mean the time between childhood and adulthood ( maturity), but it can also refer to one's peak, in terms of health or the period of life known as being a young adult. Y ...

or young man, and hence a young male attendant or servant (compare in meaning Old English 'cniht' =

knight A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood finds origins in the G ...

;

German German(s) may refer to: * Germany (of or related to) **Germania (historical use) * Germans, citizens of Germany, people of German ancestry, or native speakers of the German language ** For citizens of Germany, see also German nationality law **Ger ...

'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 Swain, Swains or Swain's may refer to: Places * Swain Islands, Antarctica * Swain's Island (Newfoundland and Labrador), Canada * Swains Island, an atoll in the Tokelau chain, American Samoa * Swain County, North Carolina Swain County is a co ...

, meaning a rustic lover or boyfriend, cf. the numerous examples in

Shakespeare William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's natio ...

's work, including his lyric, "'' o is Sylvia, what is she that all our Swains commend her''" (from ''

The Two Gentlemen of Verona ''The Two Gentlemen of Verona'' is a comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1589 and 1593. It is considered by some to be Shakespeare's first play, and is often seen as showing his first tentative steps in laying ...

'') and "''O God! methinks it were a happy life, To be no better than a homely swain;"'' (from ''

King Henry VI Henry VI (6 December 1421 – 21 May 1471) was King of England and Lord of Ireland from 1422 to 1461 and again from 1470 to 1471, and disputed King of France from 1422 to 1453. The only child of Henry V, he succeeded to the English throne a ...

'') * There are also specific nautical words involving swain:

boatswain A boatswain ( , ), bo's'n, bos'n, or bosun, also known as a deck boss, or a qualified member of the deck department, is the most senior rate of the deck department and is responsible for the components of a ship's hull. The boatswain supervises ...

(literally "young man in charge of a boat") which can be seen in Shakespeare's '' The Tempest'', and

coxswain The coxswain ( , or ) is the person in charge of a boat, particularly its navigation and steering. The etymology of the word gives a literal meaning of "boat servant" since it comes from ''cock'', referring to the cockboat, a type of ship's boa ...

. The American Old West outlaw

John Wesley Hardin John Wesley Hardin (May 26, 1853 – August 19, 1895) was an American Old West outlaw, gunfighter, and controversial folk icon. Hardin often got into trouble with the law from an early age. He killed his first man at the age of 15, claiming ...

used various aliases with Swain as the surname. People with the name include: *

Bennie Swain Bennie Samuel Swain (December 16, 1933 – June 19, 2008) was an American professional basketball player. A 6'8" forward/ center, Swain played at Texas Southern University in the 1950s. He led the NAIA in scoring during the 1957-58 season ...

, American professional basketball player *

Brennan Swain Brennan may refer to: People * Brennan (surname) * Brennan (given name) * Bishop Brennan (disambiguation) Places * Brennan, Idlib, a village located in Sinjar Nahiyah in Maarrat al-Nu'man District, Idlib, Syria * Rabeeah Brennan, a village locate ...

, American television star and winner of The Amazing Race *

Brett Swain (disambiguation) Brett Swain may refer to: * Brett Swain (actor), Australian actor * Brett Swain (gridiron football) Brett Andrew Swain (born June 21, 1985) is a former American football wide receiver. He was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the seventh round ...

Carol M. Swain Carol Miller Swain (born March 7, 1954) is a retired professor of political science and law at Vanderbilt University. A frequent television analyst, she is the author and editor of several books. Her interests include race relations, immigration, ...

(born 1954), American retired professor of political science and law and author * Daniel Swain (born 1983) or

Danny! Daniel Keith Swain (born August 18, 1983), known mononymously as Danny!, is an American rapper, record producer, singer, and composer. Swain rose to prominence after his debut performance on ''Late Night with Jimmy Fallon'', where he premiered h ...

, American rap performer and record producer *

David Lowry Swain David Lowry Swain (January 4, 1801August 27, 1868) was the 26th governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina, from 1832 to 1835. He was born in Buncombe County, North Carolina; his father, George Swain, was a farmer and a member of the North Ca ...

(1801–1868), governor of North Carolina *

Diana Swain Diana Swain is the executive producer of CBC's investigative documentary program ''The Fifth Estate''. She has held various roles at the public broadcaster, including most recently as the senior editor of the network Investigative Unit. Before t ...

, Canadian television journalist *

Dominique Swain Dominique Swain (born August 12, 1980) is an American actress and producer. She came to prominence playing the title character in Adrian Lyne's 1997 film adaptation of ''Lolita'', alongside her supporting role as Jamie Archer in John Woo's ''Fa ...

, American actress *

Freddie Swain Freddie Swain (born August 4, 1998) is an American football wide receiver who is a free agent. He played college football at Florida. Early years Swain attended North Marion High School, where he was a consensus four-star recruit and fielded ...

(born 1998), American National Football League player * George Swain (disambiguation) * Gladys Swain, French psychiatrist and writer * Jack Swain, English footballer * James Swain, American author of mystery novels and non-fiction magic books *

John Swain John Wesley Swain (born September 4, 1959) is a former American football cornerback in the National Football League. Swain was drafted out of the University of Miami by the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth round in the 1981 NFL Draft. He played a ...

(born 1959), American National Football League player *

Jon Swain Jon (John) Anketell Brewer Swain (born 1948) is a British journalist and writer. Swain's book ''River of Time: A Memoir of Vietnam '' chronicles his experiences from 1970 to 1975 during the war in Indochina, including the fall of Cambodia. Ea ...

(born 1948), British journalist and writer *

Joseph Swain (disambiguation) Joseph Swain may refer to: * Joseph Swain (academic) (1857–1927), American president of Indiana University * Joseph Swain (engraver) (1820–1909), English wood-engraver associated with ''Punch'' magazine * Joseph Swain (footballer) (fl. 1903), E ...

Joshua Swain Jr. Joshua Swain Jr. (June 2, 1804 – March 23, 1866) was an American politician and judge. Swain was born in 1804 and was the son of Joshua Swain, who served at the 1844 New Jersey constitutional convention. He had a brother, Henry, born in 1806, ...

(1804–1866), American state senator *

Kenny Swain Kenneth Swain (born 28 January 1952) is an English former footballer who played in numerous positions, including striker, midfielder and full back. Playing career Swain began his professional career with Londoners Chelsea, signing from Wycombe ...

(born 1952), English footballer * Leonard Swain, American Congregational minister *

Louisa Ann Swain Louisa Ann Swain (née Gardner; 1801 – January 25, 1880) was the first woman in the United States to vote in a general election. She cast her ballot on September 6, 1870, in Laramie, Wyoming. Biography Born Louisa Ann Gardner, her father was ...

(1801–1880), the first woman in America to vote in a general election *

Mack Swain Mack Swain (born Moroni Swain; February 16, 1876 – August 25, 1935) was an early American film actor, who appeared in many of Mack Sennett’s comedies at Keystone Studios, including the Keystone Cops series. He also appeared in major fe ...

(1876–1935), American actor and vaudevillian *

Margaret Swain Margaret Helen Swain ( Hart; 13 May 1909 – 27 July 2002) was an English embroidery and textile historian. Trained as a nurse in London, she began a career as a historian after noticing no history about Ayrshire whitework embroidery in books f ...

(1909–2002), English embroidery and textile historian *

Paul J. Swain Paul Joseph Swain (September 12, 1943 – November 26, 2022) was an American prelate of the Catholic Church, Roman Catholic Church. He served as the eighth bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls, Diocese of Sioux Falls in South Da ...

(1943-2022), American Roman Catholic bishop *

Paul Swain (politician) Paul Desmond Swain (born 20 December 1951) is a New Zealand former politician. He is a member of the Labour Party. Early life Swain was born in Palmerston North on 20 December 1951. He attended St. Patrick's College in Wellington. He has ob ...

New Zealand politician *

Richard Swain Richard Swain (born 2 July 1975) is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. A New Zealand international , he played club football in Australia for the Hunter Mariners, Melbourne Storm (with ...

, New Zealand rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s * Robert Swain (disambiguation) *

Ryan Swain (presenter) Ryan Swain (born 24 February 1990) is an English radio presenter, DJ, actor, comedian, motivational speaker, philanthropist, and skateboarder. Swain is known for broadcasting on radio, hosting live events and festivals and for his charity work ...

, English television and radio presenter and comedian *

Shurlee Swain Shurlee Lesley Swain, (born 1948) is an Australian social welfare historian, researcher and author. Since August 2017 she has been an Emeritus Professor at the Australian Catholic University (ACU). Early life and education Swain was born in 19 ...

, Australian social welfare historian * Thomas Swain (1911–1979), British politician and Member of Parliament *

Tony Swain (disambiguation) Tony Swain may refer to: * Tony Swain (chemist) Tony Swain (1922–1987) was a chemist known for his definition of a plant polyphenol with Bate-Smith, Haslam and White, which includes specific structural characteristics common to all phenolics ha ...

* William Swain (disambiguation)

External links

Etymology on-line
{{surname, Swain English-language surnames Surnames from given names

See also

External links