Contents [hide]

McEwan History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

McEwan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland

The McEwan family history stretches back to the clans of the Dalriadan kingdom on the sea-swept Hebrides islands and mountainous western coast of Scotland. The name McEwan is derived from the personal name Ewen. The Gaelic form of the name was Mac Eoghainn.

Early Origins of the McEwan family

The surname McEwan 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 McEwan family

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

McEwan Spelling Variations

Medieval translation of Gaelic names could not be referred to as an accurate process. Spelling was not yet standardized, and names in documents from that era are riddled with spelling variations. McEwan has been written as MacEwen, MacEwan, MacEwing, MacEuen, MacKewin, MacKewan, MacEòghainn (Gaelic) and many more.

Early Notables of the McEwan family

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

McEwan Ranking

In the United States, the name McEwan is the 13,985^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1 However, in New Zealand, the name McEwan is ranked the 754^th most popular surname with an estimated 965 people with that name. 2

McEwan migration to the United States +

The descendants of the Dalriadan families who made the great crossing of the Atlantic still dot communities along the east coast of the United States and Canada. In the American War of Independence, many of the settlers traveled north to Canada as United Empire Loyalists. Clan societies and highland games have allowed Canadian and American families of Scottish descent to recover much of their lost heritage. Investigation of the origins of family names on the North American continent has revealed that early immigrants bearing the name McEwan or a variant listed above include:

McEwan Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Duncan McEwan, who arrived in New Jersey in 1685 3

McEwan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Elizabeth McEwan, aged 19, who landed in New York, NY in 1803 3
Janet McEwan, aged 21, who arrived in New York, NY in 1803 3
Christian McEwan, aged 60, who landed in New York, NY in 1803 3
Charles McEwan, who landed in New York in 1807 3
John McEwan, who landed in New York in 1807 3
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McEwan migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

McEwan Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

John McEwan, aged 19, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Favourite" in 1815
William McEwan, who landed in Canada in 1821
J McEwan, who landed in Victoria, British Columbia in 1862

McEwan migration to Australia +

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

McEwan Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. William McEwan, British Convict who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Asia" on 5th November 1835, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land)1836 4
Robert McEwan, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Glenswilly" in 1839 5
Mr. James McEwan who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 7 years, transported aboard the "Duchess of Northumberland" on 1st October 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 6
Mary McEwan, Scottish convict from Glasgow, who was transported aboard the "Anna Maria" on October 4, 1851, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 7
George McEwan, aged 30, who arrived in South Australia in 1853 aboard the ship "Macedon" 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

McEwan 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:

McEwan Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

J. McEwan, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Belle Creole" in 1853
Donald McEwan, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Black Eagle" in 1861 9
J. McEwan, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Robert Henderson" arriving in Bluff, Southland, South Island, New Zealand on 18th November 1863 9
Joseph McEwan, aged 30, a quarrier, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Helenslee" in 1864 10
Mary A. McEwan, aged 27, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Chile" in 1874
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name McEwan (post 1700) +

Thomas McEwan Jr. (1854-1926), American Republican politician, Member of New Jersey State House of Assembly from Hudson County, 1894; U.S. Representative from New Jersey 7th District, 1895-99
John S. McEwan, American Republican politician, Candidate for New York State Senate 30th District, 1930; Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from New York, 1932
John F. McEwan, American politician, Mayor of River Rouge, Michigan, 1967-72, 1975-77; Defeated, 1989, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2003
James Briggs McEwan (1855-1915), American Republican politician, Member of New York State Senate 29th District, 1901-06; Postmaster at Albany, New York, 1908-09; Mayor of Albany, New York, 1910-13
Alexander McEwan (b. 1856), American politician, Mayor of Bay City, Michigan, 1897-1901
Angela McEwan (1934-2015), American actress, best known for her roles in Nebraska, and Getting On
James McEwan (b. 1952), American slalom canoer
John James "Cap" McEwan (1893-1970), American football player and coach
William Johnston McGowan "Billy" McEwan (1951-2022), Scottish professional footballer and manager from Cleland, Scotland
David McEwan (b. 1982), Scottish footballer
... (Another 12 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the McEwan family +

Empress of Ireland

Mr. James McEwan, British Junior 4th Engineer from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland (1914) and survived the sinking 11
Mr. John McEwan, British Seaman from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland (1914) and survived the sinking 11

HMS Hood

Mr. Mark McEwan (b. 1916), Scottish Assistant Steward serving for the Royal Navy from Glasgow, Scotland, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 12

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Edward F Mcewan, British Able Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 13

The McEwan 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/
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th January 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/asia/1835
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) GLENSWILLY 1839 (also called DAWSONS). Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Glenswilly.htm
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 20th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/duchess-of-northumberland
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Anna Maria voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1851 with 200 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/anna-maria/1851
South Australian Register Tuesday 11 January 1853. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) MACEDON 1853. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/macedon1853.shtml
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 12th December 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html