An English, Scottish and Irish surname, Swayne comes from the Middle English term of ’swein’ which means a worker, hired help or servant. Variations in spelling of Swayne include Swain, Swein, Swani, Swan, Sweyan, Sweing and Swanner. In England Swayne families are concentrated in the southern region. Most live in Wiltshire, Hampshire, Surrey, Middlesex, Sussex and Essex. Along the central eastern coast of Scotland, in Angus and Fife counties is where the majority of Swayne families live. Within the United States the Swayne name is mostly in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, California and Indiana. Famous: Harry Swayne (professional football player), William Marshall Swayne (sculptor of a President Lincoln bust), Geraldine Swayne (English movie film maker and artist), Wager Swayne (Civil War Union General awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor) and Giles Swayne (English music composer).