Surname McCowne - Meaning and Origin

McCowne: What does the surname McCowne mean?

The last name McCowne is of Irish origin, deriving from the surname McCaughan. It is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name MacEachain, which translates to "son of Eachan". Historically, the MacEachain surname originated in the coastal County Down area in Northern Ireland.

The most widely accepted meaning of the MacEachain surname is “horseman of the church”. The surname may have been assumed to distinguish the members of one family from others of similar names. It may also indicate direct descent from the hereditary position of civil Marshal, commonly known as a "knight of the court" which was an important role in Medieval Ireland.

Other suggested meanings of the name include “hound of the church” and “brawny, fierce man of the church”, with both interpretations originating from the Gaelic word ceann which translates as “head”, “head of a group” or “leader”.

Over the centuries the name has spread across the globe with large numbers of McCownes residing in the United States and other regions of the British Isles. Scottish versions of the name include McCaughan and McClune.

The McCowne surname is undoubtedly an old one, stoically preserved through the years and passed down through generations, making them a proud and prolific Irish family.

McCowne: Where does the name McCowne come from?

The surname McCowne is a great example of the many variations in surnames. It is most likely of Irish origin, and is thought to derive from the Mac an Chumhnaigh, which literally translates to "son of the Hound of Ulster." This suggests the surname was established in the area covering the northern counties of Ireland, particularly Ulster province.

The last name McCowne has not spread far and wide, but is still very common in Ireland. A lot of people bearing this name are also found in rural areas in England, particularly in Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Wales.

In recent year, as with many other Irish names, the McCowne surname has migrated to many regions of the world, including the United States. The surname can now be seen in almost all the states, particularly in areas with large Irish-American populations. Most notably, a number of McCownes have settled in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New York, Maryland, Michigan, and many other states.

Many of the McCownes who have settled in the United States have done so more recently, tracing their roots back to just a few generations ago. However, there has also been some evidence to suggest that the name was established in the United States many generations before. This could be a result of higher instances of immigration from Ireland in the 19th and 20th centuries.

Variations of the surname McCowne

The surname McCowne is a variant of the Irish name McCowan, and is also spelled as McCowen, McCowin, McCowyn, McClowne and McClowin. This Irish family name is believed to have originated as a variation of the Scottish surname Cowan.

The name is a patronymic form of the Gaelic surname Mac Gabhann, derived from the personal name Gabhan. This comes from the Gaelic word “gabhann”, meaning smith or metal worker.

McCownes can trace their ancestry to the Ulster-Scots who emigrated from Scotland to Northern Ireland in the 16th century. The Irish Mac Gabhann people were an occupational group, descended from hereditary metalworkers, carpenters and joiners.

The surname McCowne can also be considered an Anglicized variant of the Scottish surname McCowan. This form is derived from the personal name Cowan, a Germanic personal name which means "one who lives in the forest."

The variations and spellings of the same origin for the surname McCowne also include McCowan, McCoun, MacCoun, MacCoune, MacCouin, MacGowan, MacGowen, MacGowin, MacGowyn, MacGowne and MacGowin.

The spelling variations of McCowne may reflect both Gaelic and Germanic influences on the original surname. Those with McCowne as their surname will find that it is common throughout North America, Europe and Australia.

Famous people with the name McCowne

• Josh McCown: Josh McCown is a former American football quarterback who played for multiple NFL teams. He was drafted in the third round of the 2002 NFL Draft by the Arizona Cardinals, and has gone on to play for several other teams including the Cleveland Browns, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and New York Jets.
• James McCown: James is an American-born pro surfer and actor. He began competing at age 15, and has since gone on to win several competitions, including the Mojave Desert Pro Surf Championship. He is known for his signature surf style that combines airs and rail tricks.
• John McCown: John is a retired American astronaut who was part of NASA's Apollo 16 mission. He was trained as a geologist and had the unique opportunity to explore the Descartes Highlands during his stay on the moon. He is the first civilian to ever walk on the moon.
• Gary McCowne: Gary is an American voice actor who has provided voices for various video games, television shows, and films. His most notable role is the voice of Donkey Kong in the Cartoon Network series Super Smash Bros. He has also voiced characters in films such as Madagascar and Shrek.
• Rory McCowne: Rory McCowne is a musician hailing from Ireland. He has been writing and playing music since 2000, and has released four albums to date, being most recently seen as one of the featured artists on the 2020 album Strength in Numbers. He has had the pleasure of opening for several notable acts including Bon Iver and The Head and the Heart.
• Aidan McCowne: Aidan is an Irish actor best known for appearing in the 2017 drama film Mary Queen of Scots. He has since gone on to appear in several other films and television series, including Village=Minder and the British television series Misfits.
• Stephen McCowne: Stephen McCowne is an American theater director with a particular focus on classics. He is currently the artistic director of the Vivian Beaumont Theatre at Lincoln Center in New York, and he has directed various on- and off-Broadway plays, as well as a few off-Broadway musicals.

Other surnames

McCowanMcCowenMcCowinMcCownMcCowynMcCowyne