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![Show Contents]() Gouin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The ancient Scottish name Gouin is carried by the descendents of the Pictish people. It was a name for a metalworker. The Gaelic form of the name is Mac Ghobhainn, which means son of the smith. 1 Early Origins of the Gouin familyThe surname Gouin was first found in Inverness-shire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Nis) divided between the present day Scottish Council Areas of Highland and Western Isles, and consisting of a large northern mainland area and various island areas off the west coast, the shire was anciently both a Pictish and Norwegian stronghold, where the name is from the Gaelic 'Govha' meaning 'a blacksmith' and as such could have been a name that applied to people throughout Scotland. However, as in the case of clans like the Fletchers or Clarks, eventually the name became attributed to a specific area or region. As such, The Clan was also located in Nithsfield in the 12th century, and recorded as a Border Clan. To the west in Elgin and Galloway they were known as the MacGavins. Due to the Anglicization of the Gaelic name, spellings were often widely different. "MacGowan (McGowan) is the name of an old Stirling family. Gilcallum McGoun had a precept of remission for rapine and other crimes on the lands of the abbot of Cupar, 1503 (RSS., I, 953). Gilbert Makgowin, a follower of the earl of Cassilis, was respited for murder in 1526 (ibid., 3386). William McGown in Pitcalny, a follower of Ross of Pitcalny, 1592 (RPC., V, p. 31). Murchie McGowy or Muithie McGowne in Fanmoir, Mull, was put to horn in 1629 (RPC., 2 ser. II, p. 341; III, p. 45). Alister McGhowin, an engager on royalist side, in parish of Urray, 1649 (IDR., p. 368). Alexander M'Gowne was retoured heir in the lands of Langlandes of Lochanes in the territory of Dumfries, 1672." 2 "In the reign of David II there was a Clan M'Gowan, probably located somewhere on the river Nith, whose chiefship was adjudged to Donald Edzear (RMS., I, App II, 982). This Edzear was a descendant of Dunegal of Stranith (Nithsdale), whose seat was at Morton, Dumfriesshire, about the beginning of the twelfth century. The name here may indicate descent from Owen the Bald (the Eugenius Calvin of Simeon of Durham), king of the Strathclyde Britons, who was killed in 1018." 2 Early History of the Gouin familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gouin research. Another 158 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1396, 1613, 1631, 1658, 1661, 1683, 1698, 1725 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Gouin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Gouin Spelling VariationsWhen the first dictionaries were invented in the last few hundred years, spelling gradually became standardized. Before that time, scribes spelled according to sound. Names were often recorded under different spelling variations every time they were written. Gouin has been written MacGowan, McGowan, MacGowin, McGowin, MacGowen, McGowen, Gow, Gowan, Gowen, Gowin, MacGavin, McGavin and many more. Early Notables of the Gouin familyNotable amongst the Clan at this time was John Gow (c. 1698-1725), Scottish notorious pirate probably born in Wick, Caithness whose short career was immortalized by Charles Johnson in "A General History of the Pyrates."
Thomas Gowan (1631-1683), was a writer on logic, "born at Caldermuir, Scotland...
Another 46 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Gouin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Gouin World RankingIn the United States, the name Gouin is the 18,205th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 3 However, in Quebec, Canada, the name Gouin is ranked the 763rd most popular surname. 4 And in France, the name Gouin is the 1,144th popular surname with an estimated 4,803 people with that name. 5  Migration of the Gouin family to Ireland
Some of the Gouin family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 99 words (7 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
| Gouin migration to the United States | + |
The crossing to North America did not seem so great in comparison with the hardships many Scots endured at home. It was long, expensive, and cramped, but also rewarding. North America offered land and the chance for settlers to prove themselves in a new place. And many did prove themselves as they fought to forge a new nation in the American War of Independence. The ancestors of those Scots can now experience much of their once-lost heritage through the Clan societies and highland games that have sprung up across North America in the last century. A search of immigration and passenger lists revealed many important, early immigrants to North America bearing the name of Gouin:
Gouin Settlers in United States in the 18th Century- Claude Gouin, aged 41, who landed in Louisiana in 1718-1724 6
| Gouin migration to Canada | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Gouin Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century- Mr. François Gouin, French settler travelling to Canada for work arriving on 16th April 1642 7
- Mr. Laurent Gouin, French settler travelling to Canada to work for François Peron, arriving on 10th April 1657 7
- Mr. Mathurin Gouin, French settler travelling to Canada to work for François Peron, arriving on 10th April 1657 7
- Laurent Gouin, aged 20, who landed in Canada in 1657
- Mathurin Gouin, aged 22, who arrived in Canada in 1657
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Gouin Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century- Joseph Gouin, son of Mathurin and Marie-Madeleine, who married Marguerite Roy, daughter of Michel and Françoise, in Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade, Quebec on 6th July 1701 8
- Sébastien Gouin, son of Pierre and Marie, who married Louise De Rainville, daughter of Jean and Élisabeth, in Montreal, Quebec on 1st December 1703 8
- Pierre Gouin, son of Mathurin and Marie-Madeleine, who married Marie-Anne Quatresous, daughter of Damien and Nicolas, in Batiscan, Quebec on 5th February 1705 8
- Louis Gouin, son of Mathurin and Marie-Madeleine, who married Jeanne Marchand, daughter of Alexis and Marie-Catherine, in Batiscan, Quebec on 12th February 1720 8
- Daniel Gouin, son of Sébastien and Louise, who married Marie-Madeleine Le Valois, daughter of Jacques and Marguerite, in Sorel, Quebec on 26th April 1735 8
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
| Contemporary Notables of the name Gouin (post 1700) | + |
- William Gouin, American politician, Delegate to New Hampshire State Constitutional Convention from Dover 2nd Ward, 1948 9
- Félix Gouin (1884-1977), French Socialist politician
- Paul Gouin (1898-1976), Quebec politician
- Lomer Gouin (1861-1929), Quebec politician, former Premier
- Léon Mercier Gouin (1891-1983), Quebec lawyer and politician
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: Juncta arma decori
Motto Translation: Arms united to merit.
- Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
- Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- "The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
- http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
- 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)
- Debien, Gabriel. Liste Des Engagés Pour Le Canada Au XVIIe Siècle. Vol. 6, Laval University, 1952. (Retreived 24th May 2018). Retrieved from https://lebloguedeguyperron.wordpress.com/2016/06/30/130-liste-des-contrats-dengagement-pour-la-nouvelle-france-releves-a-la-rochelle-entre-1634-et-1679/
- Internoscia, Arthur E., and Claire Chevrier. Dictionnaire National des Canadiens Français 1608-1760. Vol. 1, Institut Drouin, 1958.
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 23) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
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Gouin migration to the United States 
Gouin migration to Canada 
France
Scotland
Ireland
