Meaning and Origin
What does the name Swan mean? Keep reading to find the user submitted meanings, dictionary definitions, and more.
User Submitted Origins
User Submitted Meanings
- According to a user from the United Kingdom, the name Swan is of Swedish origin and means "Elegant bird farmer".
- [Zoöl] Any one of numerous species of large aquatic birds belonging to Cygnus Olor, and allied genera of the subfamily Cygninæ. They have a large and strong beak and a long neck, and are noted for their graceful movements when swimming. Most of the northern species are white. In literature the swan was fabled to sing a melodious song, especially at the time of its death.
- Fig.: An appellation for a sweet singer, or a poet noted for grace and melody; as Shakespeare is called the swan of Avon.
- [Astron] The constellation Cygnus.
Note: ☞ The European white, or mute, swan (Cygnus gibbus), which is most commonly domesticated, bends its neck in an S-shaped curve. The whistling, or trumpeting, swans of the genus Olor do not bend the neck in an S-shaped curve, and are noted for their loud and sonorous cry, due to complex convolutions of the windpipe. To this genus belong the European whooper, or whistling swan (Olor cygnus), the American whistling swan (O. Columbianus), and the trumpeter swan (O. buccinator). The Australian black swan (Chenopis atrata) is dull black with white on the wings, and has the bill carmine, crossed with a white band. It is a very graceful species and is often domesticated. The South American black-necked swan (Sthenelides melancorypha) is a very beautiful and graceful species, entirely white, except the head and neck, which are dark velvety seal-brown. Its bill has a double bright rose-colored knob.
Etymology: AS. swan; akin to D. zwaan, OHG. swan, G. schwan, Icel. svanr, Sw. svan, Dan. svane; and perhaps to E. sound something audible
- Stately heavy-bodied aquatic bird with very long neck and usually white plumage as adult
- To declare or affirm solemnly and formally as true
- Sweep majestically ("Airplanes were swanning over the mountains")
- Move about aimlessly or without any destination, often in search of food or employment
From Old English swan, from Proto-Germanic *swanaz. Cognate with West Frisian swan, Low German Swaan, swan, Dutch zwaan, German Schwan, Norwegian svane, Swedish svan, probably literally “the singing bird”, from a Proto-Indo-European *swon-/*swen- (“to sing, make sound”). Related to Old English geswin (“melody, song”) and swinsian (“to make melody”). Compare Latin sonus (“sound”) and Russian звон (zvon, “ringing”) and звук (zvuk, “sound”).
- Any of various species of large, long-necked waterfowl, of genus Cygnus, most of which have white plumage.
- (figuratively) One whose grace etc. suggests a swan.
- (heraldry) This bird used as a heraldic charge, sometimes with a crown around its neck (e. g. the arms of Buckinghamshire).
Probably from dialectal I s’wan, contraction of “I shall warrant”; later seen as a minced form of I swear.
swan was also found in the following language(s): Old English and West Frisian