Surname Cowie - Meaning and Origin
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Cowie: What does the surname Cowie mean?
The surname Cowie is a Scottish name of local origin. It is a surname that comes from a place in Scotland near the town of Aberdeen called Cowie, where the family originated from. The Cowie family was an old and prominent family in the area, holding positions of power and influence throughout their existence.
The word itself is derived from a combination of two Gaelic words, which are "aodach" meaning "dwelling" and "coigh", meaning "wood". These two words literally refer to the fact that the family once owned a wooden dwelling near the town of Cowie.
The Cowie surname is also found in parts of England, Ireland, and even in other countries, although the coat of arms here lies with Scotland. The Cowie Coat of Arms features a Blue Shield with a vertical line of silver which is split in two by a green tree with two red berries. This is a representation of the family's heritage and is commonly used by the family to this day.
The Cowie surname is a proud Scottish name that speaks to the heritage of the family and their place of origin. It is one that is usually associated with strong, powerful and loyal people, and is a reminder of a family's vital role in the development of Scotland.
Order DNA origin analysisCowie: Where does the name Cowie come from?
The last name Cowie is most commonly found in Scotland. It is believed to be of Scottish origin and may have derived from the personal name Cowie, which is considered to be a pet form of the name Cowan. It was also a common surname among the Pict tribe in ancient Scotland.
Today, Cowie is found in both England and Scotland. It is most common in Scottish cities such as Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee, and Aberdeen, as well as northern and eastern regions such as Angus and Fife. Additionally, towns and villages in the Borders and Lowlands regions of southern Scotland contain a number of Cowie families.
In England, Cowie is most prominent in Devon, North West and South East regions. It is also present in Manchester, Birmingham, and London, although it is not as prevalent in the English capital city.
Cowie is also found in various other countries around the world, including New Zealand, Canada, Australia, and the United States. In addition to Scotland and England, Cowie is one of the most common surnames in Northern Ireland.
Variations of the surname Cowie
The surname Cowie is derived from an Old English word “cu” meaning cow. Over time, spelling variants of this name could have developed, as words have been anglicized by different regions and pronunciation preferences.
The different variants of the Cowie surname could include Cooey, Cowy, Cowey, Cowie, Couey, Cow, Cower, Cowery, Cowrie, and Cowerie. These spelling variations are found in both England and Scotland.
The Cowie surname is also found as a variant of several other surnames. These include Cowey, Cowhig, Cowin, Cody, Cowan, Cowell, Coleman, Cowing, Cooney, Cowers, Coward, Cowherd, Cowriff, Cowl, Cowley, Caig,Coury, Cowger, Cowlland, Cal, and Cowdell.
The Gaelic versions of the last name are also found with the prefixes Mac or Mc. These variations include McCoy, McGowie, MacCouey, MacCowy, McCowie, McCow, McKay, McOwey, MacGouey, MacGowrie, McGowan, McCouey, MacCaw, and McOwei.
The initial 'C' or 'O' may also be used interchangeably in some spelling variations. For example, Owie, Cowe, Owey, Caw, and Owy, are all spellings related to Cowie.
In the United States, the surname Cowie has become Cowhig, Cough, and Cowhigy. Generally, the spelling of the name in the United States is phonetic rather than accuracy of spelling. It is assist to trace the surname’s origin this way.
In different regions, the surname was altered to preserve the pronunciation. For example, in Ireland, Cowie became Cowhy.
Famous people with the name Cowie
- Gavin Cowie: Scottish professional football player who plays for Scottish Championship side Partick Thistle.
- Doug Cowie: Scottish former professional football player who represented both Scotland and the Scottish League XI throughout his career.
- Bonnie Cowie: A Scottish production designer, best known for her work on the film "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone".
- Stewart Cowie: Scottish actor and director who appeared in numerous independent Scottish films.
- Aileen Cowie: Scottish mixed martial arts fighter who competed in Strikeforce and Invicta FC.
- Ross Cowie: Scottish Olympic rower who competed for Great Britain at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
- Bill Cowie: Australian professional surfer who was a pioneer of the sport and won multiple world championships.
- Johnny Cowie: Irish footballer who represented his country at international level and played for Dungannon Swifts in the Irish League.
- Euan Cowie: Scottish composer and arranger best known for his work for the National Youth Orchestra of Scotland.
- Craig Cowie: Scottish jazz trumpet player and composer from Glasgow who is currently performing with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra.