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Swain is a traditional English surname derived ultimately from the Old Norse personal name Sveinn (Sven, Sweyn), meaning a youth, 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 manservant, are derived:

• A male admirer or lover.

• A country lad, especially a young shepherd.

• A country gallant.

• A woman's beau.

• The generic 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)

• The specific nautical words boatswain (literally "young man in charge of a boat") and coxswain.

[edit] Notable people named Swain

• Diana Swain, Canadian television journalist

• Dominique Swain, American actress

• Gladys Swain, French psychiatrist and writer

• [People and titles in film and TV - on the IMDB]

• Swain Goire-- A personal captain of the Atreides Guard and the exiled lover of the recent Ixian Duchess named Princess Kailea Vernius in the Prelude to Dune trilogy.

[edit] Sources

• Etymology on-line

[edit] See also

• Candle swain (known as the kertilsveinar at the Norwegian hird, i.e. royal court)
• Swain Coat of Armsde: Swain