| ![Show Contents]() Gowing History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The Gowing surname derives from the Irish Gaelic name Mac an Ghabhain, which means "son of the blacksmith." As such, the name was probably originally occupational. It has often appeared in its Anglicized form Smith. Early Origins of the Gowing familyThe surname Gowing was first found in County Cavan, where they were recorded as a family of great antiquity. The Irish name MacGowan (not to be confused with the Scottish, which roots from MacGoun) is most often hidden under the ubiquitous name Smith. In Irish, the name is Mac an Ghabhain, which means 'son of the blacksmith'; thus its translation to Smith. In England, Horsington Manor in Somerset was owned by the Gowens family from sometime in the 1500s through 1653 when it was sold. Early History of the Gowing familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gowing research. Another 85 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1659 is included under the topic Early Gowing History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Gowing Spelling VariationsSpelling variations of this family name include: Smith, MacGowan, McGowan, MacGowin, McGowin, MacGowen, McGowen, Gow, Gowan, Gowen, Gowin, MacGavin and many more. Early Notables of the Gowing familyMore information is included under the topic Early Gowing Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
 Gowing migration to the United States | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Gowing Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Jon Gowing, who landed in Virginia in 1633 1
- Robert Gowing, who arrived in Dedham, Massachusetts in 1644 1
| Gowing migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Gowing Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- Maria Gowing, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Harpley" in 1849 2
- Mary Gowing, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Harpley" in 1849 2
- Naomi Gowing, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Harpley" in 1849 2
| Gowing migration to New Zealand | + |
Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include: Gowing Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- H. Gowing, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Wild Duck" in 1869
| Contemporary Notables of the name Gowing (post 1700) | + |
- George E. Gowing, American politician, Prohibition Candidate for New York State Assembly from Erie County 5th District, 1911 3
- Eric Austin Gowing (1913-1981), New Zealand clergyman, 7th Anglican Bishop of Auckland (1960-1978)
- John Ellis Symonds Gowing (1835-1908), English-born, Australian retailer and founder of the department store Gowings in 1868
- Nik Keith Gowing (b. 1951), British television journalist
- Margaret Mary Gowing FBA, FRS, CBE, (1921-1998), English historian, Fellow of the Royal Society
- Sir Lawrence Burnet Gowing (1918-1991), English artist, writer, curator and teacher
- James Gowing Godwin (1923-1995), New Zealand military aviator, prisoner of war, war crimes investigator and colonial administrator
The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.
Motto: Tenebras expellit et hostes
Motto Translation: He drives forth the darkness and the foe.
- Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
- State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) HARPLEY 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Harpley.htm
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 21) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
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Gowing migration to the United States 
Gowing migration to Australia 
Gowing migration to New Zealand 
Ireland
England
