Surname MacSwine - Meaning and Origin

MacSwine: What does the surname MacSwine mean?

The last name MacSwine is a Gaelic surname derived from the root words “mac,” meaning “son,” and “Sweeney,” an ancient name of Irish origin. The meaning of MacSwine likely denotes a family with a substantial inheritance or legacy of land or wealth. This is due to the fact that the Sweeney Clan was one of the ruling families during the ninth-century reign of Cormac mac Airt in Ireland.

In the mid-1500s, the MacSwine surname was found primarily in the Irish ancestry of Kilkenny and Limerick. Today, the name has spread across the world and is found in the southern United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.

The name MacSwine is said to indicate a person who is bold, brave, strong-minded, and ambitious. It conveys a dignified sense of power but also carries with it an inherent responsibility to protect and defend those who depend on the person with the name.

Families with the name MacSwine take pride in their legacy and are proud to be associated with the Sweeney Clan and all that it stood for. In Irish and Scottish folklore, the MacSweeneys are known to be generous, kind-hearted, and fierce fighters, and they embody the resilience that has enabled them to maintain their legacy for centuries.

MacSwine: Where does the name MacSwine come from?

The surname MacSwine is a rare surname, found predominantly in Ireland and Scotland. It is derived from the Gaelic words Mac and Swayne, meaning “son of Swayne.” Historically, the surname was found in the Ulster region of Ireland, in counties such as Tyrone, Derry, Monaghan, and Donegal.

Today, the MacSwine surname is still relatively rare, and is found mainly in those same areas of Ireland and Scotland, as well as sporadically throughout Britain, the United States, and Canada. According to some sources, the name originated with a Scottish-Irish family from the Clan Gordon, who trace their roots to Scotland’s northern Highlands.

The vast majority of people with the MacSwine surname today are found in Ireland, Scotland, England, and Northern Ireland, with the largest numbers found in Northern Ireland. It is also found sporadically in Australia and New Zealand.

Though found mainly in the aforementioned countries today, at one point in history the MacSwine surname was carried to India by people who were trading with the East-India Company. This lends credence to the notion that at some point, MacSwine may have been more widespread than is found today.

Variations of the surname MacSwine

The surname MacSwine is of a Scottish origin. It is generally spelled as MacSween or MacSwin. The variants of MacSwine include McSween, McSwin, McSweeny and McSwine. It is also spelled as MacSweeny or MacSwiney in some parts of the world. The surname is a habitational name, derived from a place named Swine in Sutherland, Scotland. It was established in the region of Scotland in ancient times and the name of the place was derived from the old Gaelic word Sùrn meaning 'marshland'.

MacSwine is a sept of the Mackay clan and is associated with the Mackay family of Scotland. It is also associated with Clan Robertson, a Scottish family of Clann Donnachaidh. The surname was traditionally anglicised as Sween, Swin or Sweeney. The variant McSwan is the most common form of the name in Ireland.

MacSwine is a relatively uncommon name. It is found mainly in Ireland, Scotland, Canada, the United States, Australia, and New Zealand. It is also a common surname among Scottish Travellers and Irish Travellers.

In Ireland, the surname MacSwine is derived from the MacGiolla Mocholmóg branch of the McMahon clan. The variant MacShane is also a variant of MacSwine in Ireland. This variant is sometimes used interchangeably with the MacSwine surname.

The surname MacSwine also has many other variants, including MacSwineey, MacSwiney, MacSwinee, MacSwyn, MacSwinney, MacSweene, MacSwinoe, MacSwainey, MacSweeny, MacSwane, MacSweane, MacSweeny and MacSwan. Some of these variants are also used as first names.

Overall, MacSwine is a surname with many different variants and spellings, and a long history. It is an uncommon but distinctive surname associated with Scotland and Ireland that still exists today.

Famous people with the name MacSwine

• Shane MacSwine: American actor best known for his starring role in the sci-fi adventure flick, TIME-X, in which he portrayed a time-traveling scientist.
• Ariana MacSwine: Best-selling author and cultural commentator with multiple books to her name including the historical memoir, Contemplating An Empire.
• Indiana MacSwine: Professional wrestler and mixed martial artist who has competed in the Ultimate Fighting Championship and King of the Ring.
• zzyxf MacSwine: DJ and producer based in London, England. Founder of the Strobe Record label, which focuses on Deep House music.
• Bridgette MacSwine: Accomplished theater director, known for bold and often experimental updates to well-known plays. Her most recent project was a modern-day adaptation of Romeo and Juliet.
• Eileen MacSwine: Controversial corporate hedge fund manager notorious for her business dealings and short term stock trading.
• Martina MacSwine: Renowned philanthropist and multi-year winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Humanitarian Journalism.
• Jed MacSwine: Television personality and music talk show host, most recognizable for his show Speak & Ye Shall Find.
• Georgia MacSwine: Award-winning singer and songwriter who has released six studio albums to date.
• Shiloh MacSwine: Extraordinary chef and restaurateur, serving upscale comfort food in her eponymous eatery.

Other surnames

MacSwiggan