Surname McCowen - Meaning and Origin
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McCowen: What does the surname McCowen mean?
The last name McCowen is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic personal name "Comhghan" which means "born together." This indicates that it may traditionally have been given to a twin or possibly someone with a strong bond or connection with another person. Often, the prefix "Mac" or "Mc" (both mean "son of" in Gaelic) is attached to the father's name or occupation. Thus, McCowen could mean "son of Comhghan." Like many surnames, it would have been used initially to distinguish between individuals with the same first name. The versions of McCowen emerged due to variations in the pronunciation and spellings over centuries, influenced by regional dialects and literacy levels. It is important to note the vast variations of the surname which include but are not limited to McEwen, MacEwen, MacEwan, McCowan, and many others.
Order DNA origin analysisMcCowen: Where does the name McCowen come from?
The surname McCowen is of Irish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic name "Mac Comhdhain," where "Mac" denotes "son of" and "Comhdhain" is a personal name meaning "helpful." Over time, the name experienced many alterations due to translation, resulting in variants like Cowan, MacCowan, and McCowan.
The name is particularly associated with the counties of Donegal and Tyrone in the northern region of Ireland. Due to the historical Irish emigrations, especially during the time of the Great Famine in the mid-19th century, the McCowen surname is now widespread in countries like the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom where Irish descendants settled. It may not be extremely common in any of these countries, but traces of its presence can be found wherever there is a significant Irish diaspora. Today in Ireland, despite various spellings and versions of the name, McCowen continues to be recognized as an illustrious Irish surname. However, it's important to note that populations and concentrations of specific surnames can change and shift over time.
Variations of the surname McCowen
The surname McCowen, common in Scotland and Ireland, has different variants and spellings. Some of these include McCowan, MacCowan, MacCowan, McCowin, MacCowen, and MacCown. It can also be found as MacOwen, McOwen, McOwan, and MacOwan among others.
There's also capitalization variations like Mccowen, punctuation variations like Mc'Cowen and spelling variations due to phonetics such as MacCohen or McCohen.
All these surnames are believed to have the same Gaelic origin from the patronymic "Mac Eoghain" which means "son of Eoghan" – with “Eoghan” itself meaning "born of the yew," a type of tree.
In addition, the name could also potentially be Anglicized versions of Irish surnames like Mac Comhdhain or Mac Cobhthaigh. Names like McCune, MacEwen, McKeown, McKewan, McKowen, and Macewen could also possibly share the same origin.
However, regional variations and shifts in language over time can sometimes obscure the tracing of these names. So, while they are likely related, each individual case might need a genealogical or historical verification.
Famous people with the name McCowen
- Andrew McCowen: Actor and producer.
- Stephen McCowen: Racing driver.
- Cory McCowen: Baseball player.
- Jonathan McCowen: Actor.
- Pat McCowen: Professional football player.
- Jessica McCowen: Figure skater.
- Sarah McCowen: Singer/songwriter.
- Emma McCowen: Professional golfer.
- Gautam McCowen: Entrepreneur.
- Michael McCowen: Musician.
- John McCowen: Actor.
- Patrick McCowen: Musician.
- Stephanie McCowen: Actress.
- Bob McCowen: Basketball player.
- Stefan McCowen: Musician/composer.
- David McCowen: Professional cyclist.
- Tom McCowen: Baseball player.
- Brett McCowen: Actor.
- Shannon McCowen: Broadcast producer.
- Colleen McCowen: Singer/songwriter.