Contents [hide]

McEwen History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Suggested Reading Citations

McEwen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland

The root of the ancient Dalriadan-Scottish name McEwen is the personal name Ewen. The Gaelic form of the name was Mac Eoghainn.

Early Origins of the McEwen family

The surname McEwen 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 were first found in the barony of Otter, on the shores of Loch Fyne. The eponymous ancestor of the Clan is reputed to be Eoghain na h-Oitrich, also known as 'Ewen of Otter', who lived at the beginning of the 12th century. Clear records of the Clan were found in 1219, when Gilpatrik Mac Ewen measured the borders of his lands in Kynblathmund.

Early History of the McEwen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McEwen research. Another 123 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1174 and 1219 are included under the topic Early McEwen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McEwen Spelling Variations

The translation of Gaelic names in the Middle Ages was not a task undertaken with great care. Records from that era show an enormous number of spelling variations, even in names referring to the same person. Over the years McEwen has appeared as MacEwen, MacEwan, MacEwing, MacEuen, MacKewin, MacKewan, MacEòghainn (Gaelic) and many more.

Early Notables of the McEwen family

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

McEwen Ranking

In the United States, the name McEwen is the 3,912^nd most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 1

McEwen migration to the United States +

Many settled along the east coast of what would become the United States and Canada. As the American War of Independence broke out, those who remained loyal to the crown went north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. The ancestors of all of these hardy Dalriadan-Scottish settlers began to recover their collective history in the 20th century with the advent of the vibrant culture fostered by highland games and Clan societies in North America. Highland games, clan societies, and other organizations generated much renewed interest in Scottish heritage in the 20th century. The McEwen were among the earliest of the Scottish settlers as immigration passenger lists have shown:

McEwen Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Donald McEwen, who arrived in New Jersey in 1685 2
Duncan McEwen, who landed in New Jersey in 1685 2
Robert McEwen, who arrived in New Jersey in 1685 2
Walter McEwen, who landed in New Jersey in 1685 2

McEwen Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Eliza McEwen, aged 47, who arrived in New York, NY in 1775 2
Elizabeth McEwen, who landed in New York in 1775 2
James McEwen, aged 19, who landed in New York in 1775 2

McEwen Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Matthew McEwen, aged 28, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1820 2
Thomas McEwen, who arrived in New York in 1831 2
William McEwen, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1878 2

McEwen migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McEwen Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. David McEwen U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 3

McEwen Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Hugh McEwen, who arrived in Canada in 1817
John McEwen, who arrived in Canada in 1817
Mr. Barney McEwen who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Sobraon" departing 8th May 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 29th June 1847 but he died on board 4

McEwen migration to Australia +

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

McEwen Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Margaret McEwen, aged 21, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Indian" 5
Margaret McEwen, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Indian" in 1849 5
John McEwen, aged 22, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Dirigo" 6
Michael McEwen, aged 28, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Nugget" 7
Thomas McEwen, aged 26, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship "Nugget" 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McEwen 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:

McEwen Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Isaac McEWEN, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
James McEWEN, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Bengal Merchant 8
David McEwen, aged 45, a flax dresser, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bengal Merchant" in 1840 9
David McEwen, aged 21, a flax dresser, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bengal Merchant" in 1840 9
Mary McEwen, aged 20, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bengal Merchant" in 1840 9
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name McEwen (post 1700) +

Williard M. McEwen, American politician, Delegate to Illinois State Constitutional Convention 25th District, 1920-22
William Wright McEwen (1853-1941), American politician, Member of Colorado State Legislature, 1904-06
William R. McEwen, American politician, Member of New York State Assembly from Allegany County, 1885-86
William E. McEwen, American Democratic Party politician, Postmaster at Duluth, Minnesota, 1914-18
William McEwen, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Indiana, 1864
Tony McEwen, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from North Carolina, 2008
Stephen J. McEwen, American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Pennsylvania 7th District, 1974
Robert D. McEwen (b. 1950), American Republican politician, Member of Ohio State House of Representatives, 1974-80; U.S. Representative from Ohio 6th District, 1981-93
Robert Cameron McEwen (1920-1997), American Republican politician, Member of New York State Senate, 1954-64 (39th District 1954, 40th District 1955-64); U.S. Representative from New York, 1965-81 (31st District 1965-73, 30th District 1973-81)
Martin W. McEwen, American politician, U.S. Consular Agent in Brantford, 1905
... (Another 34 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

The McEwen 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: Reviresco
Motto Translation: I grow green

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 87)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The INDIAN 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Indian.htm
South Australian Register Thursday 23rd November 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Dirigo 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/dirigo1854.shtml
South Australian Register Tuesday 4th July 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Nugget 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/nugget1854.shtml
Shadow Time Settlers (Retrieved 5th November 2010), retrieved from http://shadowsoftime.co.nz/settlers.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html