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ArchivesRe: "Swain" (various meanings?)
in reply to a message by Satu
Right, Swain has two possible etymologies but more than two possible meanings unfortunately.
From a Dictionary of Surnames;
Swain can either be derived from the Old Norse personal name Sveinn which was originally a byname meaning "boy, servant".
Or it can be derived from the Middle English 'swein' (which itself is dervied from the Old Norse 'sveinn', a cognate of the Old English 'swan') meaning "servant, attendant". 'Swain' wasn't used as a word meaning 'lover, wooer' until the 16th century.
As for Kevingeown, unless you have evidence to the contrary I would assume it is a spelling mistake of the name Kevington (they were probably trying to write Kevingetown or Kevingeton - as the extra 'e' is quite common). But I can't find any evidence of this name anywhere. :( Sorry.
From a Dictionary of Surnames;
Swain can either be derived from the Old Norse personal name Sveinn which was originally a byname meaning "boy, servant".
Or it can be derived from the Middle English 'swein' (which itself is dervied from the Old Norse 'sveinn', a cognate of the Old English 'swan') meaning "servant, attendant". 'Swain' wasn't used as a word meaning 'lover, wooer' until the 16th century.
As for Kevingeown, unless you have evidence to the contrary I would assume it is a spelling mistake of the name Kevington (they were probably trying to write Kevingetown or Kevingeton - as the extra 'e' is quite common). But I can't find any evidence of this name anywhere. :( Sorry.
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