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 (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 lover, 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.

The American Old West outlaw John Wesley Hardin used various aliases with Swain as the surname.

People with the name include:

• Ashok Swain, Indian-born professor at the Swedish Uppsala University
• Bennie Swain, American professional basketball player
• Brennan Swain, American television star and winner of The Amazing Race
• Brett Swain (disambiguation)
• Carol M. Swain (born 1954), American retired professor of political science and law and author
• Dailyn Swain (born 2005), American basketball player
• Daniel Swain (born 1983) or Danny!, American rap performer and record producer
• David Lowry Swain (1801–1868), governor of North Carolina
• Diana Swain, Canadian television journalist
• Dominique Swain, American actress
• Freda Swain, (1902 – 1985) British composer, pianist and music educator
• Freddie Swain (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 (born 1959), American National Football League player
• Jon Swain (born 1948), British journalist and writer
• Joseph Swain (disambiguation)
• Joshua Swain Jr. (1804–1866), American state senator
• Kenny Swain (born 1952), English footballer
• Leonard Swain, American Congregational minister
• Louisa Ann Swain (1801–1880), the first woman in America to vote in a general election
• Mack Swain (1876–1935), American actor and vaudevillian
• Margaret Swain (1909–2002), English embroidery and textile historian
• Paul J. Swain (1943–2022), American Roman Catholic bishop
• Paul Swain (politician) New Zealand politician
• Richard Swain, New Zealand rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s
• Robert Swain (disambiguation)
• Ryan Swain (presenter), English television and radio presenter and comedian
• Shurlee Swain, Australian social welfare historian
• Thomas Swain (1911–1979), British politician and Member of Parliament
• Tony Swain (disambiguation)
• William Swain (disambiguation)
• Zachary Swain (born 1977), American drummer

See also

• Senator Swain (disambiguation)
• Swain (disambiguation)
• McSwain (disambiguation)
• Swaim, a surname

External links

• Etymology on-line

Surname list

This page lists people with the surname Swain.
If an internal link intending to refer to a specific person led you to this page, you may wish to change that link by adding the person's given name(s) to the link.