Surname McGowen - Meaning and Origin

McGowen: What does the surname McGowen mean?

McGowen is an Irish and Scottish surname that is derived from the Gaelic personal name Eóghan. The prefix "Mc" or “Mac” in Irish and Scottish surnames translates to "son of". Therefore, McGowen effectively means "son of Eóghan". The Gaelic name Eóghan is believed to have several meanings including "born of the yew tree", "youth", and "well-born". So, depending upon the interpretation of Eóghan, McGowen can also imply "son of the youth", "son of the well-born", or "son of the yew". This name was traditionally used to signify lineage and familial relationships. It should be noted that the spelling of the surname can vary greatly (McGowan, MacGowan, MacGowen, etc.) due to regional differences and Anglicization of Gaelic names.

McGowen: Where does the name McGowen come from?

The surname McGowen, also spelled as McGowan, is of Irish origin. It is derived from the Gaelic personal name "Eoghan," which means "born of the yew tree." The name started being used during the Middle Ages in Ireland. The prefix "Mc" or "Mac" means "son of," so "McGowen" essentially translates to "son of Eoghan."

While the name has spread throughout the world due to the Irish diaspora, it is still most common in Ireland. However, due to the historical emigration, particularly during the time of the Great Famine in the mid-19th century, the surname now has a significant presence in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. The name has various alternate spellings including McGowane, MacGowin, Magowan and others. The variations in spelling often emerged when families moved to English-speaking countries and the names were anglicized. The surname McGowen is included in the 2000 US Census, suggesting a significant number of individuals with the name in the United States. Therefore, while it originated in Ireland, it is now common globally.

Variations of the surname McGowen

The surname McGowen has diverse spelling variations due to phonetic translations, regional accents, and spelling preferences. These variations of the surname include McGowan, MacGowan, McGowin, McGown, MacGown, McCowan, MacCowan, McCown, MacCown, O'Gowan, Gow, Gowen, Gowin, Gowan, Gown, Gowans, Gowing, Gowings, McGownd and many more.

The surname McGowen has Irish and Scottish roots and is derived from the Gaelic name MacGabhann, which translates to "son of the blacksmith." Therefore, it may link with the surnames that share this meaning such as McGobbin, McGoogan, or Blacksmith.

There has been instances of different families adopting the same surname over time, with no relation to each other, so some people carrying these variants may not be blood-related. As families migrated and settled in different countries, adaptations of the original surname have occurred. For example, in America, the spelling could have adapted to McGowan or McGowin, while in Scotland the preferred spelling might be MacGowan or MacGown.

Famous people with the name McGowen

• Sean McGowan: Singer/songwriter from Southampton in the United Kingdom
• Ken McGowan: Former MLB pitcher who played for the San Francisco Giants and Oakland Athletics
• Christopher McGowan: Former actor best known for his roles in movies such as National Lampoon's Vacation and Trading Places
• Phil McGowan: British Businessman and former managing director of Pentland Brands
• Charley McGowan: Actress best known for her roles in the shows Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Criminal Minds and General Hospital
• William McGowan: Former CEO of MCI, now known as Verizon
• Guy McGowan: English former professional footballer best known for playing for teams such as Reading FC and Southend United
• John McGowan: American author and teacher best known for works such as American Apocalypse: A Short History of the End of the World
• Margaret McGowan: New Zealand writer and illustrator best known for her children's books such as The Cat Who Found Happiness, Munch, and very Pampered Pigs
• Ella McGowan: British model and fashion designer who has been featured in magazines such as Vogue, Elle and Harper’s Bazaar.

Other surnames

McGowanMcGowinMcGown