| ![Show Contents]() Cowens History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The roots of the name Cowens are found among the Strathclyde-Briton people of the ancient Scottish/English Borderlands. Cowens was originally found in the Scottish-English border region. The Cowens family lived in Ayrshire, Dumfriesshire, and other Lowland counties. The name may be from the Scottish word cowan, a dry-stone-diker or more likely a corruption of Colquhoun, the common pronunciation of which is Cohoon. "Mr. Alexander Cowan, father of Sir John Cowan of Beeslack is said to have left on record that many of his grandfather's books bore the name of Colquhoun." 1 Early Origins of the Cowens familyThe surname Cowens was first found in Ayrshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir), formerly a county in the southwestern Strathclyde region of Scotland where a name like Iain MacComhain becomes Iain Comhan in Gaelic while the English equivalent is Cowan. The name of James Cowhen, chaplain in North Berwick, 1560. 1 Early History of the Cowens familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cowens research. Another 105 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1852, 1865, 1868, 1870, 1871, 1872, 1876 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Cowens History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Cowens Spelling VariationsIn the era before dictionaries, there were no rules governing the spelling or translation of names or any other words. Consequently, there are an enormous number of spelling variations in Medieval Scottish names. Cowens has appeared as Cowan, Cowans, Cowen, Cowens, MacCowan, MacCowden and many more. Early Notables of the Cowens familyNotable amongst the family at this time was Frederic Hymen Cowen, born Jan. 29, 1852, at Kingston, Jamaica, exhibited early an extraordinary love of music, was brought to England by his parents when four years old, and placed under the tuition of Sir J. Benedict and Sir J. Goss, whose pupil he remained until the winter of 1865. He then studied at the conservatoires of Leipzig and Berlin, returning to London...
Another 70 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cowens Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.  Migration of the Cowens family to Ireland
Some of the Cowens family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 75 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Cowens migration to the United States | + |
The freedom, opportunity, and land of the North American colonies beckoned. There, Scots found a place where they were generally free from persecution and where they could go on to become important players in the birth of new nations. Some fought in the American War of Independence, while others went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of all of these Scottish settlers have been able to recover their lost national heritage in the last century through highland games and Clan societies in North America. Among them:
Cowens Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- J. T. Cowens, aged 24, arrived in New York in 1893 aboard the ship "Paris" from Southampton, England 2
Cowens Settlers in United States in the 20th Century- Alice Cowens, aged 25, originally from St. Helens, arrived in New York in 1901 aboard the ship "Servia" from Liverpool, England 2
- Chas. U. Cowens, aged 24, arrived in New York in 1910 aboard the ship "Panama" from Cristobal, C.Z 2
- John Henry Cowens, aged 52, destined for Brooklyn, N.Y., arrived in New York in 1917 aboard the ship "Philadelphia" from Liverpool, England 2
- Thomas Cowens, aged 36, arrived in New York in 1919 aboard the ship "Wearwood" from Gibraltar, Spain 2
- Margaret Anne Cowens, aged 26, originally from Newcastle/Tyne, England, arrived in New York in 1920 aboard the ship "Mauretania" from Southampton, England 2
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Cowens 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: Cowens Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century- Mr. John Cowens, (b. 1844), aged 24, British ploughman travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 8th January1869 3
- Miss Catherine Cowens, (b. 1848), aged 20, British general servant travelling from London aboard the ship 'Mermaid' arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 8th January1869 3
- Mr. William Cowens, (b. 1847), aged 23, English farm labourer, from Northumberland travelling from London aboard the ship "Ramsey" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 17th June 1870 4
| Contemporary Notables of the name Cowens (post 1700) | + |
- David William "Dave" Cowens (b. 1948), American NBA basketball player and NBA head coach, inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1991
- Alfred Edward "Al" Cowens (1951-2002), American Major League Baseball right fielder who played from 1974 to 1986
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: Sic itur in altum
Motto Translation: This is the way to heaven.
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Cowens migration to the United States 
Cowens migration to New Zealand 
Scotland
Ireland
England
