Surname McGown - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'M'
McGown: What does the surname McGown mean?
The last name McGown is of Irish Gaelic origin and it is an anglicized form of the Gaelic name Mag Eoghain, which translates to 'son of Eoghan.' The name 'Eoghan' has been interpreted to mean 'yew tree', but it has also been believed to be related to the Greek name 'Eugene', meaning 'noble' or 'well born'. Therefore, McGown could be understood to mean 'son of the noble one' or 'son of the yew tree'. The yew tree in ancient Ireland was revered as a sacred tree, symbolic of longevity and robustness. Thus, this surname might have been implying attributes such as strength, long life, or nobility. The name is prevalent in Northern Ireland, specifically County Tyrone. Variations of the surname include McGowan, McGowen, and Gowen.
Order DNA origin analysisMcGown: Where does the name McGown come from?
The surname McGown is of Scottish origin and it is believed to have been derived from the Gaelic "MacGobhann" which means "son of the smith". It's a patronymic form of the personal name Gowan, modernized into McGowan and then anglicized into McGown. The name first emerged in the Scottish Highlands, among the clans and families of ancient Scotland.
Scots who migrated to Ireland during the 17th century Plantation of Ulster often adapted the name to McGowan and its variants. The surname was hence carried by many Scottish emigrants to Australia, North America, and other parts of the British Empire.
Today, although the surname can be found spread around the world due to migration, it remains more common in countries with significant Scottish and Irish diaspora like the United States, Canada, Australia and the United Kingdom. Among these, the highest frequency of McGown families many years ago was found in Scotland, and in the 1920 U.S census, the greatest numbers were reported in Pennsylvania. It is less commonly seen in non-English speaking countries.
Variations of the surname McGown
The surname McGown has multiple variants and spellings including McGowan, MacGowan, Gowan, Gowen, McGoan, McGoen, McGoun, McGouen, McGon, McGone, MacGoun, MacGouen, MacGon, MacGone and many others. These variants have emerged due to different regional accents and translations, migration, and Anglicization. The surname McGown originates from the Gaelic "Mac Gabhann" which means "son of the smith".
In terms of surnames of the same origin, there are several names that stem from "Mac Gabhann". Examples include McCann, McGann, MacCann, MacGann, McGuane, and MacGuane. These variations are due to different phonetic transliterations of the original Gaelic name.
Additionally, Cunningham, a common surname of Irish and Scottish origin, is often associated with McGowan and its variations as the surname Cunningham was derived from the Gaelic comhghairdeas ("cousin") and was often used interchangeably with MacGowan in old documents. However, Cunningham developed into a distinct surname over time.
It's also worth noting that these variations in surnames can often lead to misidentification or confusion in genealogical research. Therefore, researching all variants is often necessary.
Famous people with the name McGown
- Carolyn McGown: American retired basketball player
- David McGown: co-founder and director of Prodigy Films and Prodigy Pictures
- George McGown: veteran of the American Revolutionary War
- Gretchen McGown: Australian actress
- James McGown: American music composer
- Jane McGown: British dressmaker
- Kenneth McGown: English historical linguist
- Kevin McGown: Canadian politician
- Mark McGown: American Major League Baseball pitcher
- Sally McGown: Australian environmental activist and entrepreneur