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Sounds to me like your friend's name is a variant spelling of Sawney, the scottish pet form (nickname) of Alexander.

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Here is the meaning for Alexander:
ALEXANDER m English, German, Dutch
Pronounced: al-eg-ZAN-dur
From the Greek name Alexandros, which meant "defending men" from Greek alexein "to defend, help" and aner "man" (genitive andros). Alexander the Great, King of Macedon, is the most famous bearer of this name. In the 4th century BC he built a huge empire out of Greece, Egypt, Persia, and parts of India. This was also the name of emperors of Russia, kings of Scotland and Yugoslavia, and eight popes. Also, Sir Alexander MacKenzie was an explorer of the north and west of Canada in the 18th century