Sherwin
An old English surname from an early personal name, most likely meaning “bright friend” or possibly a nickname tied to swift movement.
The #9,821 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 93,673 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The name is recorded very early in forms such as Scherewind and Scherewynd. One explanation, favored by some 19th-century writers, is that it continues an Old English personal name made from scir, meaning “bright” or “shining,” plus wine, meaning “friend,” giving the sense “bright friend.” Another explanation connects it with a nickname built from sceran, “to shear” or “cut,” and wind, suggesting someone quick or fleet of foot, though this is less certain.
History
Sherwin appears in medieval records as a personal name and later became a hereditary surname. Later surname writers often treated it as one of the many English names ending in -win, with related shortened or altered forms such as Sherin and Sherring. The name is uncommon today but has persisted in English-speaking countries, including the United States.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Some older surname books treated Sherwin as a cousin of Godwin and Baldwin, since all belong to a large family of old English names ending in -win.
From the historical record
“A.D. 785. SHERWIN \ (Eng.) 1 for the U.'E,. Sherwynd, SHERVJEH ] Scherewynd, a nickname for a Fleet Runner [f. O.'E.. sceran, to shear, cut + wind, wind] Peter Scherewynd. — Hund. Rolls. 2 for an A.-Sax. *Sclrwine = Splendid Friend [O.E. scir + wine, friend]”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)