Scottish phoenetic variant of Sandy [q.v.] a derivative/pet name of Alexander, from Greek "defender" or "helper".

• Editor's note: ONC suggests that the vocabulary meaning of sawney is "a fool" and hence the name has fallen out of favour.  However Chambers Scots Dictionary gives the meaning of Sawney as "a Scotsman".  Elsewhere the suggestion is made that the term "A Sawney" is a derogatory slang expression, by scornful English, for "a Scotsman".  On this basis possibly ONC and Chambers are both right and their meanings are abbreviated to avoid offence.