Show ContentsEwens History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Ewens family history stretches back to the clans of the Dalriadan kingdom on the sea-swept Hebrides islands and mountainous western coast of Scotland. The name Ewens is derived from the Gaelic personal name Eógann, which comes from the Latin name, Eugenius, which means well born. Ewens is a patronymic surname, which belongs to the category of hereditary surnames. Many patronyms were formed when a son used his father's personal name as a surname, while others came from the personal names of famous religious and secular figures. The Ewens family was established in Scotland, well before the Norman Conquest of England, in 1066.

Euing appears in the Domesday Book of 1086 and may have been derived from Eawa's son. A Eawa was brother of Penda, king of Mercia. [1] However, another source claims the name was a "descendant of Ewen (warrior)." [2]

And yet another source claims the name "goes back to the Greek eugenes (wellborn.)" [3]

Early Origins of the Ewens family

The surname Ewens was first found in Argyllshire (Gaelic erra Ghaidheal), the region of western Scotland corresponding roughly with the ancient Kingdom of Dál Riata, in the Strathclyde region of Scotland, now part of the Council Area of Argyll and Bute, where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D. The earliest recorded bearer of the name was Dovenaldus Ewain, documented in 1164.

Early History of the Ewens family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ewens research. Another 136 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1164, 1178, 1546, 1555, 1598, 1611, 1621, 1633, 1636, 1664, 1678, 1681, 1687, 1717 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Ewens History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ewens Spelling Variations

Spelling in the medieval era was a highly imprecise process. Translation, particularly from Gaelic to English, was little better. For these reasons, early Scottish names are rife with spelling variations. In various documents Ewens has been spelled Ewing, Ewin, Ewen, Ewans, Ewens, Eugene, Ewan and many more.

Early Notables of the Ewens family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

  • Maurice Ewens (1611-1687), also known as Newport, a Jesuit priest

Ireland Migration of the Ewens family to Ireland

Some of the Ewens family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Ewens migration to the United States +

Settlers from Scotland put down roots in communities all along the east coast of North America. Some moved north from the American colonies to Canada as United Empire Loyalists during the American War of Independence. As Clan societies and highland games started in North America in the 20th century many Scots rediscovered parts of their heritage. Early North American records indicate many people bearing the name Ewens were among those contributors:

Ewens Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Anne, Clement, and John Ewens, who settled in Virginia in 1642
  • Richard Ewens, who arrived in Maryland in 1650 [4]
  • Barbara Ewens, who arrived in Maryland in 1658 [4]
  • Walter Ewens, who landed in Maryland in 1665 [4]
  • Philip Ewens, who landed in Maryland in 1667 [4]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Ewens Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • William Ewens, who arrived in Georgia in 1734 [4]
Ewens Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • George Ewens, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1830 [4]
  • Robert B Ewens, who landed in Washington County, Pennsylvania in 1834 [4]

Australia Ewens migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Ewens Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • John Reynolds Ewens a policeman, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Prince Regent" in 1839 [5]
  • Sarah Ewens, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Prince Regent" in 1839 [5]
  • Walford Ewens a policeman, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Prince Regent" in 1839 [5]
  • William Robert Ewens, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Prince Regent" in 1839 [5]

West Indies Ewens migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. [6]
Ewens Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Richard Ewens, who settled in Barbados with his wife and servants in 1679

Contemporary Notables of the name Ewens (post 1700) +

  • Todd Gordon Ewens (b. 1966), retired Canadian professional ice hockey player
  • Paterson Ewens (1925-2002), important Canadian painter
  • Jade Almarie Louise Ewens (b. 1988), English singer, songwriter
  • Warren Ewens FRS, FAA, Australian-born professor of biology at the University of Pennsylvania

HMAS Sydney II


The Ewens Motto +

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: Audaciter
Motto Translation: Boldly


  1. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. 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)
  5. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) PRINCE REGENT 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839PrinceRegent.htm
  6. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  7. HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp


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