indicate the level to which a name has been verified.
Meaning & History
Originally given as a nickname to a person who was noted for purity or excellence, which were taken to be attributes of the swan, or who resembled a swan in some other way. In some cases it may have been given to a person who lived at a house with the sign of a swan. It is also possible that the surname is from the Old Norse and Old English given name Swan.Alternatively, it may be a variant of Swain or an Americanized form of German Schwan, Norwegian Sveen or Swedish Svan.