NameCensus.

UK surname

Mccowen

Anglicized Scottish Gaelic surname derived from MacCuain, meaning "son of the hound".

In the 1881 census there were 56 people recorded with the Mccowen surname, ranking it #25,733 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 139, ranked #25,001, up from #25,733 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Winchester, King's Lynn and West Norfolk and Barrow-in-Furness.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mccowen is 148 in 2015. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 148.2%.

1881 census count

56

Ranked #25,733

Modern count

139

2016, ranked #25,001

Peak year

2015

148 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mccowen had 56 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,733 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 139 in 2016, ranked #25,001.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 56 in 1881.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Mccowen surname distribution map

The map shows where the Mccowen surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Mccowen surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mccowen over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 50 #24,274
1861 historical 34 #29,685
1881 historical 56 #25,733
1891 historical 45 #30,747
1901 historical 44 #29,276
1911 historical 51 #27,708
1997 modern 138 #22,227
1998 modern 133 #23,308
1999 modern 137 #23,083
2000 modern 137 #23,048
2001 modern 128 #23,665
2002 modern 137 #23,198
2003 modern 135 #23,155
2004 modern 124 #24,559
2005 modern 130 #23,848
2006 modern 120 #25,269
2007 modern 121 #25,469
2008 modern 120 #25,922
2009 modern 115 #27,207
2010 modern 118 #27,404
2011 modern 126 #26,060
2012 modern 132 #25,289
2013 modern 141 #24,670
2014 modern 145 #24,395
2015 modern 148 #23,934
2016 modern 139 #25,001

Geography

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Where Mccowens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Winchester, King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Barrow-in-Furness, Enfield and Stranraer West. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Winchester 004 Winchester
2 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 006 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
3 Barrow-in-Furness 010 Barrow-in-Furness
4 Enfield 008 Enfield
5 Stranraer West Dumfries and Galloway

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mccowen

These lists show first names that appear often with the Mccowen surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mccowen

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mccowen, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Mccowen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Mccowen household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles

Group

Established Homeowners with Children

Within London, Mccowen is most associated with areas classed as Established Homeowners with Children, part of Professional Employment and Family Lifecycles. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly British-born residents are typically married/in civil partnerships and own the properties in which they are raising their children. Parents are typically over 45, and many other residents are beyond normal retirement age. Detached and semi-detached houses predominate and multiple car ownership is common.

Wider London pattern

These neighbourhoods house people of all ages, predominantly of White British or European extraction. Resident turnover is low. Religious affiliation is less common than average and tends to be Christian if expressed. Homeownership, typically of terraced houses, is common but use of the social rented sector is not. Employment is typically in professional, managerial and associate professional or technical occupations. There are few full-time students. Level 4 qualifications are common. More households lack dependent children than have them which, considered alongside low levels of crowding and over-all age structure, indicates that many households may be post child-rearing and in late middle age. Incidence of disability is low, as is residence in communal establishments.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mccowen is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mccowen falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mccowen is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

This describes the area pattern most associated with Mccowen, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mccowen

The surname McCowen is of Scottish origin, with the earliest records dating back to the late 16th century. It is believed to have originated from the Scottish Gaelic word "comhan," which means "handsome" or "beautiful." The prefix "Mc" is a common Scottish and Irish patronymic, indicating "son of."

The name McCowen is thought to have first emerged in the Highlands of Scotland, particularly in the regions of Argyll and Inverness-shire. Some of the earliest recorded spellings include McCowan, McCoan, and McCowin, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling conventions of the time.

One of the earliest documented references to the name can be found in the Scottish Parish Records of Kilmalie, Inverness-shire, where a John McCowan is mentioned in 1645. Another notable early record is that of Angus McCowan, who was listed in the Argyll Sasines (property records) in 1689.

In the 18th century, several McCowen families migrated from Scotland to Ireland, particularly to the counties of Antrim and Down. This led to the establishment of distinct Irish branches of the McCowen lineage.

Among notable individuals bearing this surname, we have:

1. Sir James McCowen (1848-1922), a Scottish industrialist and philanthropist who founded the McCowen Engineering Company in Glasgow. 2. Elizabeth McCowen (1884-1965), an American author and journalist known for her work on Native American culture and history. 3. Alexander McCowen (1764-1834), a Scottish-born soldier who served in the British Army during the American Revolutionary War. 4. John McCowen (1797-1876), an Irish-born politician who served as a member of the Canadian Parliament for Renfrew North. 5. William McCowen (1810-1891), a Scottish-born surveyor and civil engineer who contributed to the development of railways in Canada.

While the surname McCowen is not as common as some other Scottish names, it has a rich history that spans several centuries and can be traced back to the rugged landscapes of the Scottish Highlands.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Mccowen surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mccowen surname in 1881?

In 1881, 56 people were recorded with the Mccowen surname. That placed it at #25,733 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mccowen surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 139 in 2016. That gives Mccowen a modern rank of #25,001.

What does the Mccowen surname mean?

Anglicized Scottish Gaelic surname derived from MacCuain, meaning "son of the hound".

What does the Mccowen map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mccowen bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.