Surname Cowgill - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'C'
Cowgill: What does the surname Cowgill mean?
The last name Cowgill is of English origin and it is a habitational name from a place in West Yorkshire named Cowgill. This place-name is derived from the Old English words "cu" which means "cow" and "gyl" which means "ravine" or "narrow valley". Thus, the surname Cowgill essentially signifies a person who hails from a place called 'the narrow valley of cows' or 'cow's ravine'. The surname first surfaced in the records in the West Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is important to note that through the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to 'develop' often leading to astonishing variants of the original. The surname Cowgill spread across parts of Northern England and into Scotland, where it settled in Dumfriesshire. Today, the surname can be found in various spellings and is distributed among people across the world due to emigration.
Order DNA origin analysisCowgill: Where does the name Cowgill come from?
The last name Cowgill is of Anglo-Saxon origin, largely attributed to a region named Cowgill in West Yorkshire, England. The name originated from Old English pre 7th Century "cufa", meaning cow, and "gyl", a gully, hence, the name translates to "narrow valley where cows are kept".
Even with its English origin, the frequency isn't high in England today and one would find more Cowgills in the United States, though it's still not a common surname. The name distribution shows a higher concentration in states including Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Oregon, and Kansas based on per capita. Outside of the US, it is also found in Canada, Australia, and Scotland, albeit in much lesser numbers. The variety of the name spelling, including Cogill and Coghill, may be found more frequently in some regions.
Variations of the surname Cowgill
The surname Cowgill is believed to be of English origin, particularly from the Northern part of England. The original spelling of the surname is reported to be Cowgill, taken directly from a place name in West Yorkshire or Lancashire in England. The name Cowgill is Middle English, derived from 'cu' meaning cow, and 'gyl' meaning a small stream. Hence, Cowgill literally means 'stream where cows drink'.
Apart from Cowgill, there can be several variant spellings for this surname derived due to regional accents, local dialects, and scribal habits. Some possible variations could include Cowgil, Cowghill, Cowgel, Cowgell, Cowgille, Cowgil, Cawgill and Cowgul.
Other surnames that might be connected due to geographic proximity or migration patterns could include names common in Yorkshire or Lancashire regions such as Sutcliffe, Greenwood, Whittaker, etc., although these are not directly derived from Cowgill or its variants.
Surname spellings and their variations often change over centuries due to migration and changing language dynamics. However, a direct and comprehensive list of all possible variants might not exist as it needs extensive genealogical research to determine the possible connections between surnames and their spellings.
Famous people with the name Cowgill
- Eric Cowgill: American voice actor
- Holly Cowgill: American television editor
- Ronald Cowgill: American television and film producer
- Andrew Cowgill: American songwriter and composer
- Brian Cowgill: American entrepreneur and investor
- Steve Cowgill: British saxophonist and composer
- Mark Cowgill: British exercise physiologist
- Nathan Cowgill: British musician and songwriter
- Roy Cowgill: British stockbroker and economist
- Hazel Cowgill: British theatre director.