Surname Nowlan - Meaning and Origin

Nowlan: What does the surname Nowlan mean?

The surname Nowlan is of Irish origin, specifically derived from the Gaelic name "O Nuallain". The "O" means "descendent of", while "Nuallain" is derived from the Gaelic word "nuall" which translates to "noble, famous". Hence, O Nuallain means "descendant of the noble or famous one". Over time, the Irish surname O Nuallain was anglicized to Nowlan. It appears to have originated in the Leinster province, with significant populations in counties Carlow and Kilkenny. As with many surnames, over the centuries many different spellings have been used, including Nolan, Nolen, and Nolin. Despite the different variations, these names all carry the same general meaning of coming from a noble or famous lineage. Today, the surname Nowlan can be found around the world due to the Irish diaspora, especially in countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia.

Nowlan: Where does the name Nowlan come from?

The Nowlan surname is primarily common in Ireland, the United States, and Canada today, due to the many waves of Irish immigrants that left the country over the centuries. In Ireland, the Lár an Nualaigh sept (also known as O Nualláin) is a branch of the Irish-Gaelic Uí Fiachrach sept that first settled in Co. Mayo and surrounding areas in the 11th century. In the United States, this common surname popped up as part of the large Irish emmigration during the 18th and 19th centuries, when many families were escaping poverty and famine.

In the 2000 US Census, the Nowlan name ranked 5,930th in the list of most common surnames. This also means it is primarily found in states that have higher populations of Irish descendants. These states include New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Massachusetts and California. Canada, historically home to many Irish immigrants as well, is also a popular locale for Nowlan families today.

Further afield, there are many Nowlan families that have popped up in England, Scotland, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa, most likely the result of various members of the same families and Irish settlers alike having left the Emerald Isle to explore greener pastures.

Despite it's uncertain beginnings, the Nowlan surname has found it's home in many parts of the world. It may be heavily concentrated in certain nations and regions, but it's a testament to the resilience and legacy of Irish families everywhere.

Variations of the surname Nowlan

Nowlan is the anglicized version of the Irish surname ‘O Nuallain’, which was derived from the Gaelic O Nuallain sept. It originated in County Limerick, where the majority of descendants of the sept can still be found. Variations of the surname include Nowland, Nolane, Nohlen, Nuallain, Nualan, Noolan, Noone, Nolon and O’Nuallain.

Nowlan is an anglicised version of the Irish Gaelic ‘O Nuallain’ and spelled the same way across all of Ireland and its diaspora. It has variant forms such as Nolane, Nohlen and Noolan which are commonly seen in the USA, Australia and New Zealand.

Nowlan is also seen as Nualan, Noone and Nolon in some places. These forms of the surname evolved from the Irish Gaelic surname ‘O Nuallain,’ which originate from the sept of the same name.

Additionally, the variants Nowland and O’Nuallain are seen in some parts of Ireland, today. Nowland is found predominantly in County Cork. Variation 'O’Nuallain' is more common in County Kerry, where there are a large number of descendants from the O Nuallain sept.

Nowlan is a fairly unique surname, as evidenced by its limited number of variants. There are few other NOWLAN spellings, making it a relatively stable name in comparison with other Irish surnames. Despite this lack of variation, the Nowlan surname is also widespread today, as descendants of the O Nuallain sept migrated to different countries.

Famous people with the name Nowlan

• Barry Nowlan: Irish former Professional Golfer.
• Wayne Nowlan: Canadian Football Player.
• Emmy Nowlan: Canadian illustrator and painter.
• Philip Nowlan: American science fiction author, best known as the creator of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.
• Stuart Nowlan: British-born Canadian historian and author.
• John Nowlan: Canadian diplomat, politician, and public servant.
• Ellen Nowlan: American figure skater who competed in singles and pairs.
• Madeline Nowlan: Canadian gold medal Olympic figure skater.
• CJ Nowlan: Australian comedian and radio host.
• Max Nowlan: Canadian singer-songwriter, musician, film composer, and producer.

Other surnames

Nowland