McGowan
An Irish surname meaning “son of the smith,” referring to a family ancestor who was a metalworker.
The #1,046 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 9,261 Americans shares it.
Etymology
McGowan comes from Irish Gaelic Mac an Ghobhainn or a closely related form, meaning “son of the smith.” The key element is gobha, “smith,” a very old Gaelic occupational term. In older sources it is also treated as a form of MacGowan, Magowan, Gowan, and related spellings.
History
The name is especially associated with Ireland, where it appears in several anglicized spellings. Historical surname lists and dictionaries often gloss it simply as “Smith,” reflecting its occupational origin rather than a place-name or clan title. The surname is also found in Scotland and in diaspora communities, where the anglicized Mc- spelling became common.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Early genealogical writers sometimes translated the name outright as “Smith,” which is why it can appear alongside the plain occupational surname Smith in old lists.
From the historical record
“same in the Welsh or Cor. Br. McGOWAN. (Gaelic.) Eron Gow, a smith; the son of a smith, Smithson. McGEATH and McGRAW. (Celtic or Gaelic.) From Gradh, love, fondness, virtue, prosperity. Mac and rath, the son of prosperity. McGREGOR. The descendants of G-regor, who was the son of Alpin, King of Scotland. A family of…”
— An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names