Show ContentsGowland History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Gowland family

The surname Gowland was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Saxon surnames survived and the family name was first referenced in the year 1583 when John Gowland held estates.

Early History of the Gowland family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Gowland research. Another 79 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1455 and 1487 are included under the topic Early Gowland History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Gowland Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Gowland, Gowlands and others.

Early Notables of the Gowland family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • Gowlands of Moor Monkton in the West Riding of Yorkshire


Australia Gowland migration to Australia +

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

Gowland Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Gowland, English convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for life, transported aboard the "Enchantress"on 6th April 1833, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 1
  • Joseph Gowland, aged 27, who arrived in South Australia in 1860 aboard the ship "Grand Trianon"

New Zealand Gowland 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:

Gowland Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Peter C. Gowland, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Gertrude" in 1863 2
  • Mr. Peter C. Gowland, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Gertrude" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 9th February 1863 3

Contemporary Notables of the name Gowland (post 1700) +

  • Peter Gowland (b. 1916), American glamour photographer
  • Anthony "Tony" Gowland (b. 1945), English competitive track cyclist, and a former six-day rider
  • Professor William Gowland (1842-1922), English mining engineer most famous for his archaeological work at Stonehenge
  • Gibson Gowland (1877-1951), English film actor
  • Sir Frederick Gowland Hopkins OM, FRS (1861-1947), English biochemist, recipient of the "Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine" in 1929; he was knighted in 1925 and received the Order of Merit in 1935


  1. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/enchantress
  2. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 12th December 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  3. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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