Surname McOwan - Meaning and Origin

McOwan: What does the surname McOwan mean?

The meaning of the last name McOwan is unclear, as the origin of the name is unknown. Despite this, the common suggestion is that it is derived from the Gaelic surname 'MacEoghain', which originated in northern Ireland. Generally, the name is thought to mean 'son of Eoghan'.

Eoghan is an old Irish name, usually Anglicised as 'Owen', and the patronymic name 'Mc' is common in the Highlands and Islands. McOwan is a fairly rare name, found mainly in Scotland and Northern Ireland, though records have been found of its use in England and Canada as well.

The McOwan name is associated with the MacEoghain sept, part of the Clann Domhnaill group of clans within the Ulster Province in northern Ireland. The main Clann Domhnaill septs were the dominant forces in the region until the rise of the O'Neill's and other large clans during the 16th century. They were eventually forced to retreat to the remote islands of Islay and Jura in the Scottish Hebrides.

Though little is known about the McOwans, the general consensus is that it is a surname of both Irish and Scottish origin, deriving from the Gaelic surname 'MacEoghain'. This name is associated with County Donegal in Ireland, as well as the Southern Hebrides in Scotland, suggesting an ancient ancestor who hailed from either of these two locations.

McOwan: Where does the name McOwan come from?

The last name McOwan is most commonly seen today in the United Kingdom, particularly in Scotland and Northern Ireland. It is believed to have originated with a MacCoinneach clan from the Isle of Islay in Argyll, Scotland, although its exact origin is still debatable.

The MacCoinneach were known to be of Cenél nGabráin ancestry, with some claiming descent also from Iain MacDubhgaill, a Gaelic Prince. The earliest known written evidence of the McOwan surname dates back to 1534, when a John M'Owen rendered some services to the Earl of Argyll.

Today, McOwan remains a relatively uncommon name compared to other traditional Scottish surnames. However, those who bear this name can be found scattered through the UK, with concentrations in Scotland and Northern Ireland. It can even be found in larger numbers in some English cities, most notably in Liverpool, Sunderland and Salford.

Overseas, the McOwan surname is mainly found in North America, with much smaller numbers in Australia and New Zealand. Away from Britain, it is also taken to be more of an anglicized version of the name MacCuinn or MacCoinneach.

Variations of the surname McOwan

The surname McOwan is an Irish surname of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic prefix “Mac” meaning “son of” combined with the personal name “Ewan” which is derived from the Norse elements “yew” meaning “yew” and “an” meaning “Rejoice.” It is found mainly in County Donegal in Ireland.

Variants of the surname McOwan include McEwain, McEwen, McCowen, and McEwen. The spelling of this surname can also appear as MacOwan or MacEwan.

Surnames with a similar origin include McCowan, MacCowan, MacCowan, MacEwan, MacKinven, McCowen, McCown, McKown, and Immeken. These surnames, though of similar origin, bear slight variations in spelling and pronunciation.

Other possible variants of McOwan may exist which has been recorded in various books and records, such as MacOwan, MacEwan, McHwan, McOwane, MacGowen, MacShean, and MacCoyne.

In some cases, McOwan can be Anglicized to Mowan, MacGowan, McCann, or Cobb.

The surname McOwan has also been found to be used interchangeably with other Gaelic surname spellings. For example, MacEwan and McEween have been used interchangeably in some cases.

It can also have non-Irish origin. This surname, in Variant spelling found in Scotland, is spelled as McQuin.

Famous people with the name McOwan

• Jim McOwan: Former freelance sound engineer and President of the British Academy of Sound.
• Ava McOwan: Scottish television actress best known for playing Young Liz in the BBC television series, Traces.
• Michael McOwan: British actor and comedian who made appearances in such series as Outlander, Vinyl, Killing Eve, and Do Not Disturb.
• Rory McOwan: Professional Scottish footballer who played for teams such as Partick Thistle and Queen's Park.
• Jack McOwan: A technology leader known for his work with the Business Innovation Factory, Oracle, and IBM.
• Victoria McOwan: Scottish actress who is best known for her roles in such films as Whisky Galore, Bright Star, and Love & Other Curses.
• Colette McOwan: Scottish television actress most recognised for her work on the series River City, in which she portrayed the character of Laura Walker.
• Andrew McOwan: British actor and comedy writer who is known for his work in various television series such as Still Game and W1A.
• Daphne McOwan: Scottish actress, singer, and dancer who has appeared in numerous stage and screen productions.
• Chris McOwan: Former professional ice hockey player who played in the AHL and NHL for the Calgary Flames.

Other surnames

McOwain