Swan 2

Swan is an English surname derived from Old English swan, meaning "servant" or "herdsman". Contrary to modern intuition, the name does not directly refer to the bird; instead, it originated as an occupational surname for someone who worked as a servant or herdsman. The surname is found primarily in England, with early records appearing in medieval documents. A common variant is Swann, which shares the same origin and meaning. Distribution data from Forebears indicates the name is most prevalent in English-speaking countries, particularly the United Kingdom and the United States.