Surname Cowden - Meaning and Origin

Cowden: What does the surname Cowden mean?

The surname Cowden is of Scottish origin and is derived from the place named Cowden, which were located in former counties Clackmannanshire, Lothian and Ayrshire. The name itself is believed to come from the Old English words "cu," meaning cow, and "denu," meaning valley; hence, it can be understood as "valley of the cows." Other sources suggest it could have been used as an occupational name for a person who worked with cows. As with many surnames, it was first used to help distinguish one individual from another in smaller communities and used to reference where the individual resided or held land. However, its exact origins and original meaning are uncertain due to the passage of time.

Cowden: Where does the name Cowden come from?

The surname Cowden is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic Coultaine or Cultaine. It's believed to be of territorial origin, linked to the lands of Cowden in the old County of Renfrewshire, Scotland. The name may be traced back to the 12th century, with one of the first recorded mentions being Nigellus de Cowden in 1177.

Over centuries, inhabitants of these lands moved or migrated to other areas, spreading the name elsewhere. Some families bearing the surname Cowden can also be found in Northern Ireland as a result of the plantation schemes of the 16th and 17th centuries.

In the early to mid-18th century, many Scots emigrated to the New World. Thus, today the surname Cowden can be found in countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand too, as well as Scotland and Ireland. However, according to recent data, it is still most common in the United States, particularly in the states of Tennessee and Pennsylvania.

Variations of the surname Cowden

The surname Cowden is of Scottish origin mostly found in the region of East Lothian. There are several variants and similar surnames of the same origin. It may be alternatively spelled as Cowdon, Coudden, Cowdan, Cowdin, Coudon, Coowden, etc.

In some cases, the surname may come from certain places named Cowden, like in Kent, England, which thereby led to its variations like Cowdenaugh, Cowdene, Cowdennaugh, and Cowdennaught.

Another possible interpretation of the surname Cowden is from the Gaelic 'coill duin', which means 'the woods on the hill', hence may have alternate spellings drawing from its original meaning.

It's also important to note the genealogical peculiarity of misspelled surnames, such as this, which may have occurred due to various reasons like language barriers, phonetic spelling or clerical errors. Therefore, it's possible that similar sounding names or misspelled versions can be considered in the same family tree. Examples could be Coden, Cawden, or even Couden.

Lastly, there might be some variations like Cowdene or Cowdenhead, representing true geographical variants used by families migrating from their original place.

The study and presence of these various forms and spellings are common given the long history and geographic dispersion of the name.

Famous people with the name Cowden

• Blaine Cowden, American professional soccer player
• Jay Cowden, former U.S swimmer
• Ed Cowden, former English footballer
• Gary Cowden, former American football coach
• Shirley Cowden, British fashion designer
• Karen Cowden, British professional basketball player
• William Cowden, American physician and surgeon
• J.D. Cowden, American lawyer
• Olive Cowden, English author
• Tabitha Cowden, American actress

Other surnames

Cowdell