Gnisvärd is a small fishing village in the Tofta socken on the west coast of Gotland.

[9] Formerly one of Gotland's biggest fishing villages, Gnisvärd is made up of about 40 cottages of limestone or wood, which line both sides of the narrow road running parallel to the beach.

[3] One of the more noted persons from Gnisvärd was Anna Chartlotta Ganström (30 March 1837 – 14 September 1912), also known as Fälting-Lotte.

The daughter of a boatswain, Fälting started out as a maid and later became one of Gotland's first female professional fishermen.

[13] Gnisvärd is sometimes referred to as "Gnidsvärd", a combination of the Swedish gnid ("rub" or "wipe") and svärd ("sword").

The origin of this name is explained in old documents collected by the priest Hans Nielsön Strelow (1587 – 27 February 1656) and recorded in the 1633 chronicle Chronica Guthilandorum.

Gierre from Sjonhem and Bogke, supplied his brother Hangvar with 18 manned ships, and made him commander of the campaign.

When they returned to land after a successful campaign, they wiped their swords clean of the blood of their enemies in the white sand at "Gnidesuerdshaffn"—Gnidsvärd.