Surname Cowland - Meaning and Origin

Cowland: What does the surname Cowland mean?

The last name Cowland is of English origin. It is a topographical name for someone who lived near a wooded area known for its bulls or oxen, derived from the Old English cou (cow) and land (land). This is evidenced by locations such as Earnscleugh and Yarck, both in the Derwent River valley in Victoria, Australia, whose names are derived from couland.

The surname became more common after the 15th century, when the English started to colonise other countries. As people moved out of their home countries, the different spellings of Cowland emerged as families settled in different countries and regions.

There is evidence that people started using the surname more frequently in the 17th century. This was in part due to the increasing popularity of surnames at the time. Many of the Cowland families are still scattered throughout England, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand.

The name is associated with people of high status and noble lineage. It is thought that people with the surname Cowland had a prominent place in society for many centuries.

The meaning of the last name Cowland is relatively straightforward and is associated with the land of cows. This apparent meaning is connected with the fact that in Old English, the words ‘cou’ and ‘land’ combine to form Cowland. The definition of this rich name is quite fitting for the many who carry this last name.

Cowland: Where does the name Cowland come from?

The last name Cowland is most commonly found in the United Kingdom, particularly in England and Scotland. The surname originated from the Old English words "cū" (cow) and "land" (land) and was likely given to a person who lived near a cow pasture or owned a herd of cows. Today, it is most prevalent in the counties of Devon, Somerset, Cornwall and Dorset in south-west England, where it ranks among the top 500 surnames.

The family name can also be found in Sussex and Hampshire in the south, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire in the midlands, Aberdeenshire and Edinburgh in Scotland and Belfast in Northern Ireland. It is less common inother parts of the United Kingdom. As of 2019, Cowland remains one of the top 2,500 surnames in England, according to the UK's Office for National Statistics.

The name can also be found in the United States, where the family moved during the colonization of North America in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries. Today, it is most commonly found in the states of Massachusetts, New Jersey and North Carolina. It is also present in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Variations of the surname Cowland

The Cowland surname is a patronymic surname derived from an ancestor's personal name Cowland. This name is of British Isles origin and has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.

Variants of the Cowland surname include Cowlean, Cowelin, Cowalen, Coulan, Cowlington, Cowling, and Coulson. Spellings would vary depending on the location of origin - some examples being Coland, Coulond, Cowlond, Cowlend, and Cowond.

The variations and cognates of Cowland include Kolund, Culand, Coulond, Cowlam, Costand, Courland, Kauland, Klueled, and Kludend. In Scotland, Cowland has taken the form of Coulson. In Scandinavia, the surnames could be Cowlesen, Kjolelson, or Kolund. In England, spellings switched between Cowland and Coland. In Ireland, Cowland became Couloin.

Throughout the British Isles, variations of the Cowland surname include Cowlam, Coland, Coulson, Coulan, Couloin and Courland. In Germany, the surname Coulon developed. In France, the surname appeared as Coulonne, Coupon, Coupain, Copeau, Copelan.

In America, however, some families have dropped the 'c' and adopted the spelling Owland, Oeland, and Ouwland. Throughout the Americas, the surname has been adopted with different spellings including Caland, Calen, Callen, Caulin, Kallan, Coulan, Coulon, and Coulson.

Although the spelling can be seen in many forms, the Cowland surname and its variants have remained prevalent around the globe for centuries.

Famous people with the name Cowland

• Mina Cowland, British model
• Mabel Cowland, Canadian politician
• Stephanie Cowland, American actress
• Peter Cowland, British actor
• Hugh Cowland, Australian Logistic Engineer
• Alexander Cowland, English composer
• Clare Cowland, Canadian pianist
• Roger Cowland, British artist
• Edwin Cowland, Australian war hero
• Thomas Cowland, South African rugby player
• Laura Cowland, British philanthropist
• Katherine Cowland, Canadian journalist
• Ava Cowland, American thespian
• Michael Cowland, British filmmaker
• Rachel Cowland, New Zealand actress
• Justine Cowland, South African photographer
• Elle Cowland, Nigerian model
• Henry Cowland, English architect
• Wendy Cowland, Kenyan humanitarian
• Jonathan Cowland, American football player

Other surnames

CowlardCowlay