Swain Surname

791st
Most Common
surname in the World

Approximately 670,180 people bear this surname

Most prevalent in:
India
Highest density in:
Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha

Swain Surname Definition:

This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Swain,' literally a young lad; compare Brownswain, Boatswain. Swainson is a well-known surname in Lancashire and Yorkshire.

Alicia Swayneson, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Read More About This Surname

Swain Surname Distribution Map

PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
India614,5121:1,248125
United States33,0771:10,9581,342
England11,1421:5,001695
Australia3,6861:7,3241,076
Canada2,5001:14,7382,160
New Zealand7691:5,889973
South Africa5111:106,02312,797
United Arab Emirates4811:19,0482,240
Saudi Arabia4371:70,60810,708
Wales4261:7,264809
Bahamas4121:951182
Northern Ireland2331:7,9191,342
Qatar2151:10,9671,206
Scotland1931:27,7402,946
Kuwait1351:28,1533,584
Mexico1351:919,45312,537
Thailand1321:535,13992,379
France1301:510,94471,022
Oman1101:33,5272,360
Hong Kong981:74,8521,406
Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha731:8019
Bahrain591:22,8584,582
Spain561:834,85833,799
Germany551:1,463,73689,144
Brazil511:4,197,536113,076
Singapore471:117,1854,783
Philippines351:2,892,521138,859
Jersey291:3,421664
Malta241:17,9281,021
Marshall Islands241:2,159510
Dominican Republic231:453,60614,824
Guernsey221:2,929767
Guyana181:42,3464,061
Ireland171:276,9969,887
Chile171:1,036,26320,476
China171:80,430,6804,441
Zimbabwe171:908,13259,260
Malaysia161:1,843,38974,511
Russia151:9,608,204322,587
Denmark141:403,19427,097
Indonesia141:9,446,371356,066
Trinidad and Tobago141:97,4276,588
South Korea131:3,941,558724
Argentina111:3,885,765145,016
Nigeria111:16,103,887259,204
Poland101:3,800,875132,137
Sweden101:984,67673,605
Ecuador91:1,767,31620,027
Netherlands81:2,110,89788,902
Bermuda71:9,3261,286
Gibraltar61:5,659991
Panama61:652,04310,051
Italy51:12,231,338126,430
Norway51:1,028,45761,363
Papua New Guinea51:1,630,743129,019
United States Virgin Islands51:22,0752,767
Finland41:1,374,17650,379
Iraq41:8,755,41423,373
Mozambique41:6,815,3924,272
Portugal41:2,604,56016,079
Tanzania41:13,235,40384,310
Afghanistan31:10,717,72835,605
Belgium31:3,832,215117,288
Japan31:42,614,76459,022
Switzerland31:2,737,638105,941
Turkey31:25,940,474162,557
Bhutan21:308,0201,264
Isle of Man21:42,9113,686
Ukraine21:22,761,348425,733
Vietnam21:46,323,0275,235
Angola11:26,989,21411,853
Botswana11:2,186,92930,250
British Virgin Islands11:31,5941,029
Colombia11:47,774,07244,230
Congo11:4,989,09634,171
Cyprus11:884,87613,055
Czechia11:10,633,469206,023
DR Congo11:73,879,570260,543
East Timor11:1,215,928507
Egypt11:91,935,754132,737
Eritrea11:4,751,901911
Georgia11:3,745,54547,852
Ghana11:27,020,69223,742
Greece11:11,079,790145,225
Iceland11:380,09011,096
Israel11:8,557,634182,558
Jamaica11:2,869,94713,896
Kazakhstan11:17,682,496204,010
Liberia11:4,408,53547,110
Lithuania11:3,034,58847,401
Madagascar11:23,649,8379,420
Maldives11:404,1727,269
Mali11:16,969,0354,067
Mauritius11:1,293,41716,552
Monaco11:37,0664,748
Myanmar11:51,937,9852,166
Paraguay11:7,236,74616,511
Peru11:31,784,12364,452
Rwanda11:11,364,9785,947
Saint Kitts and Nevis11:55,1991,294
Saint Lucia11:178,7813,800
Slovakia11:5,336,450140,422
Taiwan11:23,444,74693,622
Uganda11:39,039,279258,887
Zambia11:15,849,92253,989
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
Ireland1721:25,7552,765
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
England5,6351:4,326649
Wales1111:14,130841
Scotland391:95,9804,885
Guernsey51:6,5311,136
PlaceIncidenceFrequencyRank in Area
United States6,3781:7,8741,006

Swain (577) may also be a first name.

Swain Surname Meaning

From Where Does The Surname Originate? meaning and history

This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Swain,' literally a young lad; compare Brownswain, Boatswain. Swainson is a well-known surname in Lancashire and Yorkshire.

Alicia Swayneson, 1379: Poll Tax of Yorkshire.

Robertus Swaynne, 1379: ibid.

Thomas Swaynesson, 1379: ibid.

Sweyn de Canewyk, Lincolnshire, Henry III-Edward I: Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I.

Adam Suani, Lincolnshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

William Svein, Suffolk, ibid.

(2) Occup. 'the swain,' i.e. the peasant, the servant.

John le Swein, Oxfordshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Robert le Swein, Oxfordshire, ibid.

Geoffrey le Sueyn, Norfolk, ibid.

1583. James Swaneson, of Ulverston: Lancashire Wills at Richmond.

A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames (1896) by Charles Wareing Endell Bardsley

From ME. Swein (

The Surnames of Scotland (1946) by George Fraser Black (1866-1948)

(Scandinavian and English) orig. Swine- herd; later Herdsman, Servant, or Man generally [Middle English swayn(e, sweyn(e, swein, etc.; Old Norse sueinn = Old English swán] John le Swein.—Hundred Rolls Sueinn (Swedish Sven, Dano-Norwegian Svend, a youth, servant), like the almost equally lowly Karl (churl), became a royal name— Sueinn konungr tiúgu-skegg . . . [ob. 1014] (King Sweyn Forkbeard . . . ).

Sueinn Dana-konungr ok Oláfr Sufa- konungr . . .

(Sweyn, King of the Danes, and Olaf, King of the Swedes . . . ).—The Death of Olaf Trygguason.

Hym boes [behoves] serve hyra-self that has na swayn, Or elles he is a fool, as clerkes sayn.— Chaucer, Cant. Tales, A 4027-8.

Withthat sprong forth anaked swayne.— Spenser, Shepheards Cal. (March).

Surnames of the United Kingdom (1912) by Henry Harrison

(English) The man who acted as a servant or attendant; one who tended swine; descendant of Swain (young man, or boy servant).

Dictionary of American Family Names (1956) by Elsdon Coles Smith

From the Old Norse, Sveinn; from the Dutch, Swen; from the Danish, Svenne; from the French, Suin; from the Flemish, Svenne; in the Domesday Book, Swen, Swain; a personal name.

British Family Names: Their Origin and Meaning (1903) by Henry Barber

The ancient name of Swain, which is now best represented in Lincolnshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire, and Devonshire, was established in the form of Sweyn, rarely of Swayn, during the 13th century in Lincolnshire, Norfolk, Cambridgeshire, and Oxfordshire, being most numerous in the last two counties (H. R.). In the east of England it is probable that Swain is but the old Danish name of Sweyn. In the time of the English Harold, his elder brother bore the name of his maternal uncle, Sweyn, King of Denmark.

Homes of Family Names in Great Britain (1890) by Henry Brougham Guppy

User-submitted Reference

This is an Indian surname of Kahndayat caste, based on Hindu purant of caste Shatriya. They are known as Upper caste.

- asutoshroutray

Swain Last Name Facts

Where Does The Last Name Swain Come From? nationality or country of origin

Swain (Arabic: سوين, Hindi: स्वाइन, Marathi: वैन, Oriya: ାଇଁ) is held by more people in India than any other country or territory. It can be found in the variant forms:. For other potential spellings of this last name click here.

How Common Is The Last Name Swain? popularity and diffusion

The surname Swain is the 791st most frequently used last name on a global scale, borne by around 1 in 10,874 people. Swain is predominantly found in Asia, where 92 percent of Swain reside; 92 percent reside in South Asia and 92 percent reside in Indo-South Asia. Swain is also the 348,718th most prevalent given name world-wide, held by 577 people.

This last name is most commonly held in India, where it is borne by 614,512 people, or 1 in 1,248. In India Swain is primarily concentrated in: Odisha, where 98 percent are found, West Bengal, where 0 percent are found and Delhi, where 0 percent are found. Apart from India this last name occurs in 104 countries. It also occurs in The United States, where 5 percent are found and England, where 2 percent are found.

Swain Family Population Trend historical fluctuation

The occurrence of Swain has changed over time. In The United States the number of people bearing the Swain last name expanded 519 percent between 1880 and 2014; in England it expanded 198 percent between 1881 and 2014; in Wales it expanded 384 percent between 1881 and 2014; in Scotland it expanded 495 percent between 1881 and 2014 and in Ireland it declined 90 percent between 1901 and 2014.

Swain Last Name Statistics demography

The religious adherence of those bearing the surname is principally Anglican (44%) in Ireland.

In The United States those holding the Swain last name are 12.6% more likely to be registered Republicans than the national average, with 59.37% registered to vote for the political party.

The amount Swain earn in different countries varies significantly. In South Africa they earn 28.33% more than the national average, earning R 304,956 per year; in United States they earn 5.59% less than the national average, earning $40,735 USD per year and in Canada they earn 5.95% less than the national average, earning $46,729 CAD per year.

Phonetically Similar Names

SurnameSimilarityWorldwide IncidencePrevalency
Swaine913,674/
Swayin9144/
Swaink9131/
Swwain9111/
Shwain9110/
Swaian918/
Hswain916/
Swaiin915/
Swainn914/
Swaien913/
Swaain911/
Swaijn911/
Sswain911/
Swan8968,329/
Swin89539/
Swasing8357/
Schwain838/
Swaytin838/
Swayina834/
Swainne831/
Swaisin831/
Swachin831/
Swaicin831/
Shwgain831/
Swayine830/
Swausin830/
Swann8031,078/
Swaim807,743/
Swahn801,149/
Swane80797/
Swinn80531/
Svain80480/
Swaan80408/
Shwan80307/
Szwan80271/
Swayn80266/
Swine8064/
Shwin8049/
Swean8043/
Swaun8035/
Swein8014/
Sbain8012/
Swuin803/
Swhan803/
Swoin803/
Swuan802/
Swwan802/
Jswan802/
Swajn801/
Swanh801/
Swanc800/
Swassing7792/
Swasingh771/
Schwaine770/
Swatting770/
Schwan7311,581/
Swayne733,643/
Suasin73644/
Suatin73176/
Swaynt7394/
Szwanc7390/
Swinne7366/
Shwane7365/
Swayan7349/
Swanne7340/
Szwand7324/
Szwant7324/
Sbhain7321/
Swandt7321/
Swahne7320/
Shvain7319/
Svayin7315/
Suaain7312/
Suaina7311/
Sweyin7310/
Sweyan738/
Swijen736/
Svaing735/
Szwane735/
Swacen734/
Shwinn733/
Swajan733/
Sbaian733/
Suacin733/
Suaien733/
Svatin732/
Shwein732/
Swahan732/
Sweant732/
Chwain732/
Shwhan732/
Svajin732/
Suaian732/
Swanck731/
Hswang731/
Swesin731/
Swoing731/
Swwaim731/
Swwant731/
Swaant731/
Swandh731/
Swayen731/
Svaiin731/
Shwank731/
Szwank731/
Svaine731/
Swuinn731/
Hshwan731/
Shzwan731/
Shhwan731/
Swanhe731/
Swangh730/
Swicen730/
Sweink730/
Swajne730/
Swhank730/
Szwajsing716/
Shwaiheen711/
Schwating710/
Suan67117,418/
Swen6711,175/
Svan672,475/
Schwahn671,494/
Swam67903/
Schwein67746/
Suating67373/
Schwann67363/
Swijsen67320/
Sweihan67237/
Svin67227/
Schwant6796/
Schwang6786/
Sban6758/
Szwandt6747/
Schwaan6741/
Suasing6740/
Schwaen6721/
Swén6718/
Swyn6712/
Switynk6711/
Sweejan6711/
Svasing6710/
Schwamn678/
Swanová675/
Schwaim674/
Suaiong674/
Suaysin674/
Schwean672/
Schwine672/
Suhajin672/
Shweyin672/
Shwanqu672/
Zwahien671/
Xwan671/
Shvatin671/
Swiggen671/
Swytink671/
Swaajan671/
Swahane671/
Sweineh671/
Shwayne671/
Shweijn671/
Szwiten671/
Swhindt671/
Swanova671/
Shvaiun671/
Sweeann671/
Swayene671/
Shwihne671/
Shszwan671/
Suhaien671/
Suaiane671/
Chwasin671/
Hsuaain671/
Schwaiting670/
Swesing670/
Swichin670/
Schwanc670/
Sweaten670/
Shwehan670/
Swettin670/
Schwaun670/
Sweiten670/
Swahgen670/
Swizsen670/
Swuigne670/

Swain Name Transliterations

TransliterationICU LatinPercentage of Incidence
Swain in the Marathi language
वैनvaina73.68
सावीनsavina10.53
सनsana10.53
सवाईनsava'ina3.51
Swain in the Hindi language
स्वाइनsva'ina34.18
स्वाईsva'i26.58
स्वाईनsva'ina13.92
साईsa'i7.59
सवैनsavaina7.59
स्वैनsvaina6.33
श्वाईsva'i1.27
Swain in the Oriya language
ାଇଁa'im14.94
ନାଇଁna'im3.23
ରାଇଁra'im2.65
ଅିନୀaini0.04
ସ୍ୱାଇଁswa'im0.02
େପନ୍epan0.02
ବିପିନ୍bipin0.01
ଅିନିaini0.01
ଅଭିନ୍abhin0
ଅଶାିasai0
ଆସଇasa'i0
୍ତାଇଁta'im0
ଯତୀନ୍yatin0
େଲନିନ୍elanin0
ନବୀନ୍nabin0
ାଇଣa'ina0
ନାଈଂna'im0
ଯତିନ୍yatin0
ଇରାିirai0
ନ୍ାଇଁna'im0
ବଇନba'ina0
ଆାଇଁaa'im0
ଖାିkhai0
ଅୀନaina0
କାଇka'i0
ଅରବିନ୍arabin0
ିାଇଁia'im0
ବାଇba'i0
ୀାଇia'i0
ସାଇଂsa'im0
ବଇba'i0
ୀାଈଂia'im0
୍ରାଈଁra'im0
ଚାଲିନ୍calin0
ସାଈଁsa'im0
ଜତିନ୍jatin0
ଟୁଇନ୍tu'in0
ଳାଇଂla'im0
ରାଇନra'ina0
ମାଈଁma'im0
େତାିetai0
ରବିନ୍rabin0
ନାଇna'i0
ୟାଈଁya'im0
ପବିନ୍pabin0
ମାଇଂma'im0
ଅୀନୀaini0
ଚାିନୀcaini0
ଅୀନିaini0
ଜାଈଁja'im0
ଅନନ୍anan0
ରାଇra'i0
ବାଈଁba'im0
ଜାଇଂja'im0
ୟାଇଂya'im0
ସାଇsa'i0
ଶାଇଁsa'im0
୍ରାଇଁra'im0
୍ାଇଁa'im0
ସଇsa'i0
ର୍ାଇଁra'im0
ୱାଇଁwa'im0
ଅାଇଁaa'im0
ଲାଇଁla'im0
ଈାଇଁia'im0
ଦୁାଇଁdua'im0
ୀାଇଂia'im0
ଜୂାଇଁjua'im0
ଅିନaina0
Swain in the Arabic language
سوينswyn-

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Swain Reference & Research

Swain DNA Website - A web page dedicated to the genetic research of those who bear the surname and its variants.

Swain FamilyTree DNA Project - A description of a group researching the paternal lines of men who bear the surname with the help of DNA analysis.

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Footnotes

  • Surnames are taken as the first part of an person's inherited family name, caste, clan name or in some cases patronymic
  • Descriptions may contain details on the name's etymology, origin, ethnicity and history. They are largely reproduced from 3rd party sources; diligence is advised on accepting their validity - more information
  • Name distribution statistics are generated from a global database of over 4 billion people - more information
  • Heatmap: Dark red means there is a higher occurrence of the name, transitioning to light yellow signifies a progressively lower occurrence. Clicking on selected countries will show mapping at a regional level
  • Rank: Name are ranked by incidence using the ordinal ranking method; the name that occurs the most is assigned a rank of 1; name that occur less frequently receive an incremented rank; if two or more name occur the same number of times they are assigned the same rank and successive rank is incremented by the total preceeding names
  • Ethnic group cannot necessarily be determined by geographic occurrence
  • Similar: Names listed in the "Similar" section are phonetically similar and may not have any relation to Swain
  • To find out more about this surname's family history, lookup records on Family​Search, My​Heritage, FindMyPast and Ancestry. Further information may be obtained by DNA analysis