Sawney was an English nickname for a Scotsman, now obsolete, and playing much the same linguistic role that "Jock" does now. The name is a Lowland Scots diminutive of the favourite Scottish first name Alexander from the last two syllables. The English commonly abbreviate the first two syllables into "Alec".

What does the name Sawny mean?

Sawney means the defender of mankind.

What does Sawny mean in Scottish?

/ (ˈsɔːnɪ) / noun. a derogatory word for Scotsman. (also not capital) informal a fool.