Surname MacBowen - Meaning and Origin

MacBowen: What does the surname MacBowen mean?

The last name MacBowen is a variation of the Scottish clan name MacPheabain or MacPheacain, which means “son of the white wolf”. The name stems back to the 11th century, when the Scottish kingdom of Dalriada was established by Irish settlers. MacBowen belongs to the house of Lochbuie, one of the leading branches of the Clan MacLean. The clan has a long and proud history of service and loyalty, as over the years they have been key supporters of the kings of Scotland and have fought numerous battles in defense of their country.

The clan has a proud heritage of producing accomplished warriors, statesmen, and artists. In their time, the MacBowens have been warriors, motivators, and survivors. They fought bravely in battles such as the Battle of Culloden in 1746, and they continue to support their country and their Clan in modern times. In the 21st century, clan MacBowen embrace their culture, proudly displaying their tartan at events and celebrations across Scotland. The Clan MacBowen continues to promote the values of honour, loyalty, respect and strength.

MacBowen: Where does the name MacBowen come from?

The last name MacBowen is commonly found within Scotland today. The name originates from Scotland in which records date back to the 13th century where the name was first referenced. The Clan MacBowen inhabited the coast of Argyll in the western highlands, where they had their seat at Castle Sween. The clan was also known as the MacGarvie, and its name derived from the Gaelic word bhuadh, meaning 'victory'.

During the 18th century and 19th century, the MacBowen family emigrated to other parts of the United Kingdom, as well as the United States and Canada, but the surname remains most common in Scotland and in particular the Argyll area.

The most recent statistics available for the United Kingdom show that in 2014 there were 317 people with the surname MacBowen living in Scotland, while fewer than sixty others lived in the rest of the United Kingdom. The majority of individuals with this surname still reside in Scotland, particularly in Argyllshire and nearby regions such as Balmaha, where a concentration of MacBowen’s lived in the mid 1800s.

Today, there are also MacBowens living in various locations, such as the United States, Canada, and other Commonwealth countries such as Australia and New Zealand. In these countries, the surname has become diluted and is now popularly found with a variety of spelling changes depending on the regional dialect. Despite this, the surname in its original version is still most commonly found in Scotland.

Variations of the surname MacBowen

The surname MacBowen is of Scottish origin and has several variant spellings and surnames of the same origin. MacBowan is one of the most common spelling variations with Bowen, and MacBain being common variations of the same name. MacBowan and Bowen generally appear to be the most popular forms of the name, with MacBowan being the most common spelling.

The most common variation of MacBowan is Bowen. This name is believed to be derived from the Celtic 'obhuinn' which means 'son of Owen'. Variations of this name include Bown, Bohan, Owenson, Owene, and so on.

MacBain is a common variation of MacBowen, but the origin and meaning of the name vary depending on the language or dialect of the region. This name is believed to originate from either the Gaelic Mac a' Bhàin or the Old Norse MacBjorn. Both variations may have been derived from an eventual mix of Norse and Gaelic with 'Bàin' or 'Bjorn' meaning 'bear' or 'beary'. Variations of this name include MacBean, M'Bean, MacBane, M'Bane, and so on.

Other variations of the MacBowen surname include MacBowran, McBowan, McBane, Bowran, and McBowran. Each of these variations has the same Scottish origin, but with variations in the spelling. The surname is also known to be spelled Bourin, but this was likely a mistake in the history of the surname.

Overall, the surname MacBowen and its many variations are all of Scottish origin. The most common spelling variations of this name are MacBowan, Bowen, and MacBain. Other less common but still popular variations of the same name include MacBowran, McBowan, McBane, Bowran, McBowran, Bourin, and so on.

Famous people with the name MacBowen

• Mia MacBowen: Actress, born in 2003
• Brigadier General Edward S. MacBowen: Officer in the United States Army
• Calista MacBowen: Actress and model
• Keith MacBowen: Singer and songwriter
• Dave MacBowen: Musician and composer
• Mike MacBowen: Writer, director, and actor
• Christopher MacBowen: Poet and novelist
• Robert MacBowen: Visual Artist
• Josh MacBowen: Music producer and engineer
• Bruce MacBowen: Film director
• Sophie MacBowen: Singer and songwriter
• Emma MacBowen: Actress
• Stephen MacBowen: Animation director and character designer
• David MacBowen: Physician and Research Scientist
• Rebecca MacBowen: Filmmaker, photographer, and videographer
• Carrie MacBowen: Professional golfer
• Matt MacBowen: Musician, composer, and producer
• Caron MacBowen: Professor and author
• Alex MacBowen: Television and film actor
• Eliza MacBowen: Yoga and dance instructor

Other surnames

MacBowan