Date
Name Cowan
Type Surname (from given name)
Other Forms FormsMacOwen, MacCown, MacCone, MacKeown, Cowen, Kewon
Edit Status Status
Meaning & History
This surname, widespread in Scotland and Ulster, is an Anglicized form of the old Gaelic Mac Eoghain or MacEoin. The Gaelic prefix "mac" means "son of", plus the personal name Eoghan from the old Celtic "Oue(i)n", well-born, but believed to derive ultimately from the Greek "Eugenious", "born lucky" or "well-born". In Ireland, Eugene replaced Eoin, the old Irish form of John, and the various patronymic forms of the name include MacOwen, MacCown, MacCone, MacKeown. The forms Cowan, Cowen and Kewon resulted from the subsequent loss of the "Mac" prefix.