Surname McGowan - Meaning and Origin

McGowan: What does the surname McGowan mean?

McGowan is an Irish surname of Gaelic origin. It has been derived from the Gaelic-Irish surname "Mac Gabhann" which translates directly to "son of the smith". The term "Gabhann" means “a smith” in Gaelic. Consequently, the name is suggestive of a family historically engaged in trade or craft related to smithing or metalwork.

The prefix "Mac" is commonly found in various Irish surnames. It implies a patronymic lineage, denoting the meaning “son of.” Hence, the name "Mac Gabhann" indicates the son or descendant of a smith. However, like many surnames in history, literal interpretations may not always reflect the actual occupation or status of all families bearing the name.

The surname McGowan is also quite prevalent in Scotland. In any case, numerous spelling variations are found over the centuries, such as McGowin, Magown, and McGoffin, to name a few, owing to the translation of records from Gaelic to English.

Today, the surname McGowan can be found in various corners of the world, with a considerable presence in Ireland, Scotland, the United States, Canada, Australia, and England.

McGowan: Where does the name McGowan come from?

The last name McGowan is of Gaelic or Irish origin, derived from the old Gaelic "Mac Gabhann," meaning "son of the smith." This refers to a person who works with metal, such as a blacksmith. The name is first found in County Cavan, in the province of Ulster in Northern Ireland, where the McGowans were a sept (a clan or family division) of the O'Reillys.

Over the centuries, the name has seen several variations, such as McGowin, MacGowan, McGowen, and Gowan, among others. With the many waves of Irish emigration, particularly during the Great Famine in the mid-19th century, the surname spread across several continents.

Today, the surname is common in countries with significant Irish diaspora populations. It is notably common in Australia, the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom. However, it remains most common in Ireland, specifically in Counties Cavan and Monaghan.

Variations of the surname McGowan

The surname McGowan has various spellings, versions and related names derived from the same origin. The original form of this name is from the Irish Gaelic phrase "Mac Gabhann," which translates into English as "son of the blacksmith."

Variations in spelling that have the same or similar meaning include M'Gowan, Gow, Gowan, MacGowan, Macgowan, MacGaugan, MacGawn, McGaughan, McGonan, MacGonigal, Magown, McGown, McGonia, Mccovan, and Gavan.

Despite the difference in spelling, all these versions have a shared Irish heritage. These variations have arisen due to a multitude of reasons such as phonetic spellings, dialectal differences and Anglicization of Gaelic names.

In some instances you may also see this name spelled as O'Gowan, as the prefix 'O' also denotes a relation - in this case, 'descendant of' instead of 'son of'. This is less common, as the majority of the surnames beginning with 'Mac' were more likely to retain the prefix than those beginning with 'O'.

Remember, the spelling of a surname can often depend on who was recording it and the individual's literacy level, so it could vary widely even within the same family.

Famous people with the name McGowan

• Rose McGowan: Rose is an American actress, activist, and singer.
• Sandi McGowan: Sandi is an American retired MLB pitcher.
• Ryan McGowan: Ryan is an Australian professional footballer
• Mark McGowan: Mark is an Australian politician and the current Premier of Western Australia.
• Pat McGowan: Pat is an American former professional golfer who played on the PGA Tour and the Nationwide Tour.
• Dan McGowan: Dan is an American journalist and political reporter at the Providence Journal.
• Eammon McGowan: Eammon is an Irish former petroleum executive.
• Amber McGowan: Amber is an Australian professional surfer from the Gold Coast, Australia.
• Matthew McGowan: Matthew is an American actor and filmmaker.
• Flynn McGowan: Flynn is an American actress, singer, and dancer.
• Neil McGowan: Neil is a Scottish former professional footballer who played as a defender.
• Bandit McGowan: Bandit is an American professional wrestler.
• William McGowan: William is an American former rugby union player who represented the United States internationally.
• Erinn McGowan: Erinn is an American scenic designer for theatre, opera, dance, and film.
• Francis McGowan: Francis is an Irish former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper.

Other surnames

McGowenMcGowinMcGown