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Irish surname

McGowan: Irish Surname History & Coat of Arms

Mac an Ghobhann (also Mac Gabhann) · 'son of the smith' (Irish 'gobha', genitive 'gobhann')

McGowan is an anglicised form of Mac an Ghobhann, 'son of the smith', which Woulfe (1923) calls 'a very common Irish surname': in the South it was generally translated Smith, while MacGowan and Magowan were common in the North. Woulfe also lists other Irish names that ended up as MacGowan or Magowan. In 1890 there were 152 McGowan and Magowan births in Ireland, chiefly in Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo.

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Coat of arms associated with the McGowan surname
Irish formMac an Ghobhann (also Mac Gabhann)
Meaning'son of the smith' (Irish 'gobha', genitive 'gobhann')
CountiesDonegal, Leitrim, Sligo, Clare
Other spellings7

Origin of the McGowan name

Woulfe: Mac an Ghobhann, 'son of the smith'; Clann an Ghobhann of Clare and Tipperary were hereditary historians to the O'Loghlins of Burren and the O'Kennedys of Ormond. Separately, Mag Dhubháin ('son of Dubhán'), chiefs of Tir-Enda in Raphoe, Tirconnell, was always anglicised Magowan or MacGowan in Mayo.[1][3]

  1. 1890152 McGowan/Magowan births, chiefly Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo; 91 in Ulster.[6]

Where in Ireland

Co. DonegalFirst of the counties where McGowan was principally found in 1890; 33 births in Donegal.[6][7]
Co. LeitrimAmong the counties where McGowan was principally found in 1890 (16 births).[6][8]
Co. SligoAmong the counties where McGowan was principally found in 1890 (18 births).[6][8]
Co. ClareClann an Ghobhann, hereditary historians to the O'Loghlins of Burren.[1]
Co. TipperaryClann an Ghobhann, hereditary historians to the O'Kennedys of Ormond.[1]
Co. MayoWoulfe: here Mag Dhubháin 'is always anglicised Magowan or MacGowan, which greatly obscures its origin'.[3]

Other spellings

MacGowan · Magowan · MacGowen · Gowen · Gowing · Goan · M'Agowne[1]

The McGowan coat of arms

The design shown is a coat of arms associated with the McGowan surname. In Irish and British heraldry a coat of arms is granted to one person and passes to their heirs; it does not belong to everyone who shares the surname. Many families still use the arms of their name as a symbol of their heritage.

McGowan crest gifts

Clan Mcgowan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic CapIV42 Classic Cap - Mcgowan Coat Of Arms St Patrick's Day Classic Cap Irish Cap Mcgowan Coat Of Arms - Irish Family Crest St Patrick's Day Classic Cap£33.00

McGowan surname: questions

What does the surname McGowan mean?

'Son of the smith', from Irish Mac an Ghobhann (gobha, smith), according to Woulfe.[1]

Are McGowan and Smith the same name?

Only in part. Woulfe says Mac an Ghobhann was 'now generally translated Smith' in the South of Ireland, while MacGowan and Magowan were common in the North. He also gives Smith as the usual disguise of a different name, Ó Gobhann, an old Cavan family, which he says is 'to be distinguished from Mac an Ghobhann'.[1][4]

Where in Ireland is the McGowan name from?

In 1890 it was found principally in Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo, with 91 of 152 births in Ulster and 54 in Connacht. Woulfe also links the name to Clare and Tipperary (hereditary historians) and to Mayo (Mag Dhubháin).[6][1][3]

Is McGowan always from Mac an Ghobhann?

No. Woulfe gives MacGowan and Magowan as forms taken by Mag Dhubháin, an old Tirconnell family, and by the rare Mac Gamhna ('son of Gamhain', calf), which was 'generally assimilated' to Mac Gabhann.[3][5]

Sources

  1. Mac an Ghobhann – Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/maca/mac-an-ghobhann.php
  2. Mac Gabhann – Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/macg/mac-gabhann.php
  3. Mag Dhubháin – Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/mag/mag-dhubhain.php
  4. Ó Gobhann – Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/og/o-gobhann.php
  5. Mac Gamhna – Irish Names and Surnames (Rev. Patrick Woulfe, 1923), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/names/macg/mac-gamhna.php
  6. McGowan – Birth Indexes of 1890 – Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/births/mcgowan.php
  7. Registration Province of Ulster (leading surnames by county, Births Index 1890) – Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/ulster-names.php
  8. Registration Province of Connaught (leading surnames by county, Births Index 1890) – Special Report on Surnames in Ireland (Robert E. Matheson, 1909), transcribed, LibraryIreland.com. libraryireland.com/matheson/report/connaught-names.php

Note: Matheson's 1890 figures for a surname include its spelling varieties (Matheson, Table Explanation).