Ow History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Wales
• Ireland

Early Origins of the Ow family

Early History of the Ow family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Ow research. Another 110 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1428, 1467, 1528, 1556, 1559, 1560, 1570, 1591, 1605, 1608, 1610, 1612, 1614, 1623, 1624, 1629, 1642, 1652, 1660, 1661, 1679, 1681 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Ow History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ow Spelling Variations

Although there are comparatively few Welsh surnames, they have a great many spelling variations. Variations of Welsh names began almost immediately after their acceptance within Welsh society. In the Middle Ages, it was up to priests and the few other people that recorded names in official documents to decide how to spell the names that they heard. Variations that occurred because of improper recording increased dramatically as the names were later transliterated into English. The Brythonic Celtic language of Wales, known by natives as Cymraeg, featured many highly inflected sounds that could not be properly captured by the English language. Spelling variations were, however, also carried out according to an individual's design: a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations were all indicated by the particular variation of one's name. The spelling variations of the name Ow have included Gough, Goff, Gof, Goffe and others.

Early Notables of the Ow family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was

• John Gough, Gowghe, Gowgh, Gouge (fl. 1528-1556), was an early English printer, stationer, and translator, first lived in Cheapside [London], "next to Paul's Gate, possibly in the house of John Rastel...
• William Goffe or Gough (d. 1679?), English regicide, was the son of Stephen Goffe, rector of Stanmer in Sussex. "He was apprenticed to a London salter named Vaughan, and in 1642 was imprisoned by the...

Migration of the Ow family to Ireland

Some of the Ow family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 107 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Ow family

Many Welsh joined the great migrations to North America in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Like their Scottish and Irish neighbors, many Welsh families left their homeland hoping to find hope and prosperity in a land that the English did not exercise a tight rule over. Those Welsh immigrants that successfully traveled to North America went on to make significant contributions to the rapid development of both Canada and the United States in terms of the settling of land and the establishment of industry. They also added to the rich cultural heritage of both countries. An examination into the immigration and passenger lists has discovered a number of people bearing the name Ow: Edward Goffe who settled in Cambridge Massachusetts in 1630; John Goffe settled in Salem Massachusetts in 1630; Robert Goffe and his wife settled in Virginia in 1622.