| ![Show Contents]() McGowen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Etymology of McGowenWhat does the name McGowen mean? The McGowen 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 McGowen familyThe surname McGowen 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 McGowen familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our McGowen research. Another 85 words (6 lines of text) covering the year 1659 is included under the topic Early McGowen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. McGowen Spelling VariationsSpelling 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 McGowen familyMore information is included under the topic Early McGowen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. McGowen Rankingthe United States, the name McGowen is the 9,663rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 1
| McGowen migration to the United States | + |
McGowen Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Christopher McGowen, aged 35, who landed in New York in 1812 2
- Daniel McGowen, aged 25, who arrived in New York in 1812 2
- Barbara McGowen, who landed in New York, NY in 1817 2
- Patrick McGowen, aged 23, who arrived in America in 1821 2
- John McGowen, aged 30, who arrived in Missouri in 1844 2
| McGowen migration to Canada | + |
McGowen Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century- James McGowen, aged 16, who landed in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833
- Ann McGowen, aged 20, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833
- Janie McGowen, aged 19, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1834 aboard the brig "Betsy Heron" from Belfast, Ireland
- Catherine McGowen, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1835
- Ella McGowen, who arrived in Esquimalt, British Columbia in 1862
| Contemporary Notables of the name McGowen (post 1700) | + |
- Mrs. F. W. McGowen, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from North Carolina, 1944 3
- Eileen McGowen, American Democratic Party politician, Member of New York Democratic State Committee, 1930 4
- James Sinclair Taylor McGowen (1855-1922), Australian politician, 18th Premier of New South Wales (1910-1913)
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.
- "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)
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
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