Swain
A surname of English origin referring to a young male servant or attendant, often a squire.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 29,237 Americans carry the last name Swain. That puts it at #1,412 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 8.53 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 11,723 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Swain surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
29K
1 in 11,723
Census rank
#1,412
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
8.5
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
25K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 25,157 bearers of the surname Swain in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 8.53 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 1412th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Swain, the largest self-reported group is White at 66.2%. The next largest groups are Black (26.8%) and Hispanic (2.6%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Swain
The surname Swain originated in England and can be traced back to the Old English words "swan" and "swein", meaning a servant or herdsman. It was likely used as an occupational surname for those who tended swans or herded livestock.
In medieval times, the name Swain was most prevalent in the southern counties of England, particularly in Wiltshire, Dorset, and Somerset. The earliest recorded instance of the name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Sweyn" in various locations across the country.
The surname Swain has several historical references, including its appearance in the Pipe Rolls of Wiltshire in 1195, where a Robert Sweyn is mentioned. In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a Walter Sweyn is recorded in Oxfordshire, and in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1332, a John Sweyn is listed.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Swain can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Dorset from 1189, which mention a Robert Swain. Another early example is Walter Swain, who was recorded as a landowner in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1279.
Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the surname Swain. One of the earliest was John Swain (c. 1370-1450), an English cleric who served as the Bishop of Bangor from 1389 to 1399. Another early figure was William Swain (c. 1490-1577), an English lawyer and member of Parliament during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.
In the 17th century, John Swain (1613-1683) was a prominent English clergyman and author who served as the Master of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge. During the same period, John Swain (1640-1707) was a Member of Parliament and Lord Mayor of London.
In the 19th century, Joseph Swain (1857-1909) was an English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club, while Charles Swain (1801-1874) was an American Baptist minister and educator who served as the sixth president of Brown University.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Swain
Among Census respondents with the surname Swain, the largest self-reported group is White at 66.2%. The next largest groups are Black (26.8%) and Hispanic (2.6%).
The bar chart below shows how Swain bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Swain surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White66.2%
- Black or African American26.8%
- Hispanic or Latino2.6%
- Two or more races2.4%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.2%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.8%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Swain surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #1,412 | #1,412 | 0.0% |
| Count | 25,157 | 25,157 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 8.53 | 8.53 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Swain bearers went from 25,157 to 25,157 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #1,412 to #1,412.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Swain
FAQ
Swain surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Swain?
The surname Swain holds position #1,412 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 29,237 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 8.53 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Swain surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Swain, the largest self-reported group is White at 66.2%. The next largest groups are Black (26.8%) and Hispanic (2.6%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.