Show ContentsMcGowin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The McGowin 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 McGowin family

The surname McGowin 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 McGowin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McGowin research. Another 85 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1659 is included under the topic Early McGowin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McGowin Spelling Variations

Spelling 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 McGowin family

More information is included under the topic Early McGowin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States McGowin migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McGowin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Daniel McGowin, aged 30, who landed in New York in 1812 1

Contemporary Notables of the name McGowin (post 1700) +

  • N. Floyd McGowin, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Alabama, 1964 2
  • SGT Esther McGowin Blake (1897-1979), The first lady of the Air force 3


The McGowin 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: Tenebras expellit et hostes
Motto Translation: He drives forth the darkness and the foe.


  1. 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)
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  3. Esther Blake. (Retrieved 2015, October 21) Esther Blake. Retrieved from http://www.af.mil/News/ArticleDisplay/tabid/223/Article/580077/blake-paved-way-for-thousands-of-air-force-women.aspx


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