Swan Name Origins

It is generally believed that the name SWAN is of Norse origin. Norse heritage has derived from two distinct countries Norway and Denmark. The Norwegians invaded and settled mainly in Scotland and down the west coast of England and the Isle of Man, while the east and south coast of England was under Danish rule.

Early variations of the name were SWEIN/SWEYN/SVEIN. In Old Norse (ON) the name translated as “young servant” and later as “knights attendant”. These names later became in Old English (OE) SWAIN and were adopted as a term for “boy servant”. Swan was also later used in the context of Middle English (ME) as “herdsman”. SWAN/(N)(E) & SWANSON derived from SWEIN may also be connected with “swine” and can be for swineherd. But Swain also came to be used simply to mean “lad”, as in words such as boatswain and coxswain.

Tavern signs and those from Heraldry and from the bird itself probably do not account for a high proportion of names. But, they certainly help to explain instances such as Godfrey atte Swan as found in some old records. The suffix “le” is sometimes found, mainly in the Subsidy Rolls and is thought to be of French influence. Other variations of the name found in old records are :- SWON(E) and SUAN(N)(E).

It seems that the Norman Barons, many of whom did not have a surname themselves, first introduced surnames into England. In Normandy the practice was becoming very popular and some of the nobility had been using them for a couple of generations prior to The Battle of Hastings in 1066.