This page is historical. Follow this link for the current version.
Dictionary of Medieval Names
from European Sources
☙

Sven m. Old Icelandic sveinn 'boy, servant', Old English swān 'herdsman, swineherd, peasant'.

The name of an 11th C king of Denmark, England, and Sweden, two 11th C kings of Norway, an 11th C king of Denmark, and a 12th C king of Denmark.

England
Latin
● c1145x1159 Swani (gen) EYC-3 1666, Swano (dat) ibid. 1666; 1189 Suanus (nom) GASurv p. 173, Suein (nom) ibid. p. 159, Sueinus (nom) ibid. p. 161; 1279–80 Swayn (gen) WaHR-SK p. 56
Ireland
Latin
● fin12thC Swein (nom) MunDocIr III, p. 11
Scotland
Latin
● c1100 Swein (abl) ESC XX
Sweden
Latin
● 1350 Suenoni (dat) SDHK no. 6060, Suens (gen) ibid. no. 6059, Swenoni (dat) ibid. no. 6060; 1383 Sweno (nom) SRA-vol2 no. 1901
Old Swedish
● 1383 Sweens (gen) SRA-vol2 no. 1940, Swen ibid. no. 1900
Cite as: S.L. Uckelman. "Sven". In S.L. Uckelman, ed. The Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, Edition 2015, no. 3. http://dmnes.org/2015/3/name/Sven.