English: variant spelling of Swan. 1.Scottish and English: from
Middle English swan ‘swan’, hence a nickname for a person noted for
purity or excellence (which were taken to be attributes of the
swan), or resembling a swan in some other way. This was also an Old
Norse and Old English personal name, from which the surname may be
derived. In some cases it may be a habitational name for someone who
lived at a house with the sign of a swan. 2. variant of English
Swain. 3. Americanized form of German Schwan. 4. Americanized form
of Norwegian Sveen or Swedish Swahn.
