Swain (surname)

• The noun, meaning a rustic lover or boyfriend, cf. the numerous examples in Shakespeare's work, including his lyric, "ho is Sylvia, what is she that all our Swains commend her" and "O God! methinks it were a happy life, To be no better than a homely swain;"
• There are also specific nautical words involving swain: boatswain which can be seen in Shakespeare's The Tempest, and coxswain.

• Bennie Swain, an American professional basketball player
• Brennan Swain, an American television star and winner of The Amazing Race
• Brett Swain
• Carol M. Swain, American academic
• Danny!, an American rap performer and record producer from Columbia, South Carolina
• David Lowry Swain, a governor of the U.S. state of North Carolina in 1832-1835
• Diana Swain, a Canadian television journalist
• Dominique Swain, an American actress
• Freddie Swain, American football player
• George Gilbert Swain, an American politician
• Gladys Swain, a French psychiatrist and writer
• Jack Swain, English footballer
• James Swain, an American author of mystery novels and non-fiction magic books
• Jon Swain, an award-winning British journalist and writer
• Julie Swain, first female head of cardiothoracic surgery department in a US medical school
• Kenny Swain, a retired English football player
• Leonard Swain, an American Congregational minister
• Louisa Ann Swain, the first woman in America to vote in a general election
• Mack Swain, an American actor and vaudevillian
• Paul Swain, a New Zealand politician
• Richard Swain, a New Zealand rugby league footballer of the 1990s and 2000s
• Shurlee Swain, an Australian social welfare historian
• Tony Swain
• Henry Swain, won an award for his smile in the yearbook