Swain is an English surname derived from the Old Norse personal name Sveinn (Sven, Sweyn), meaning a youth or young man. 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
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
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
Paul Swain, a New Zealand politician
Richard Swain, a New Zealand rugby league football player
Tony Swain (disambiguation)
