NameCensus.

UK surname

Mcgowan

Derived from the Irish "Mag Gabhann," meaning "son of the smith."

In the 1881 census there were 3,882 people recorded with the Mcgowan surname, ranking it #1,172 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 11,227, ranked #573, up from #1,172 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Govan Combination, London parishes and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Raploch, Gallowgate North and Bellgrove and Castlemilk.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcgowan is 11,234 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 189.2%.

1881 census count

3,882

Ranked #1,172

Modern count

11,227

2016, ranked #573

Peak year

2010

11,234 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mcgowan had 3,882 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,172 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 11,227 in 2016, ranked #573.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 5,433 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Mcgowan surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Mcgowan surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mcgowan 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 1,606 #1,792
1861 historical 1,926 #1,512
1881 historical 3,882 #1,172
1891 historical 4,288 #1,110
1901 historical 5,433 #1,023
1911 historical 2,526 #2,022
1997 modern 9,968 #623
1998 modern 10,308 #627
1999 modern 10,468 #617
2000 modern 10,397 #619
2001 modern 10,243 #613
2002 modern 10,432 #615
2003 modern 10,221 #614
2004 modern 10,275 #613
2005 modern 10,322 #604
2006 modern 10,493 #590
2007 modern 10,593 #590
2008 modern 10,701 #590
2009 modern 11,075 #585
2010 modern 11,234 #591
2011 modern 11,067 #589
2012 modern 10,887 #587
2013 modern 11,047 #592
2014 modern 11,203 #581
2015 modern 11,159 #576
2016 modern 11,227 #573

Geography

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Where Mcgowans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Govan Combination, London parishes, Edinburgh, Manchester and Greenock. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Raploch, Gallowgate North and Bellgrove, Castlemilk, Greenock Town Centre and East Central and Kirkwood and Bargeddie. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Govan Combination Lanark
2 London parishes London 3
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Greenock Renfrew

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Raploch Stirling
2 Gallowgate North and Bellgrove Glasgow City
3 Castlemilk Glasgow City
4 Greenock Town Centre and East Central Inverclyde
5 Kirkwood and Bargeddie North Lanarkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mcgowan

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mcgowan

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mcgowan, 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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Mcgowan surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Mcgowan household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mcgowan is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mcgowan 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

Mcgowan falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcgowan is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of Over 70 mbit/s.

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - Irish

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

Meaning and origin of Mcgowan

The surname McGowan has its origins in Ireland, with the name first appearing in historical records during the 12th century. It is derived from the Gaelic words "Mag Gobhann," which translates to "son of the smith." This suggests that the name may have been originally held by a family of blacksmiths or metalworkers.

The name McGowan is believed to have originated in County Cavan, located in the northern part of Ireland. County Cavan was once part of the ancient Irish kingdom of Bréifne, which was ruled by the O'Rourke clan. It is possible that the McGowans were members of this clan or associated with them in some way.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name McGowan can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. In an entry from the year 1181, a man named "Conchobhar Mac Gobhann" is mentioned as being involved in a conflict between rival Irish clans.

During the 16th and 17th centuries, many Irish families, including those with the surname McGowan, were forced to leave their homeland due to the English colonization of Ireland and the subsequent suppression of Irish culture and language. This led to the spread of the name across other parts of the British Isles and eventually to other parts of the world.

Notable individuals with the surname McGowan throughout history include:

1. William McGowan (1796-1853), an Irish-born American lawyer and politician who served as the 16th Governor of Delaware. 2. John McGowan (1826-1902), an Irish-born Australian politician and businessman who played a key role in the development of the city of Ballarat. 3. Edward Ambrose McGowan (1863-1917), an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church who served as the Bishop of Richmond, Virginia. 4. James McGowan (1873-1952), an Irish-born American labor leader and political activist who played a significant role in the establishment of the American Federation of Labor. 5. John McGowan (1918-2003), an American actor and writer who appeared in numerous films and television shows, including the popular sitcom "The Beverly Hillbillies."

While these are just a few examples, the surname McGowan has been borne by many notable individuals throughout history, reflecting its deep roots and enduring legacy.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mcgowan families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcgowan surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lancashire leads with 92 Mcgowans recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.66x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 92 2.66x
Middlesex 39 1.34x
Yorkshire 39 1.35x
Cumberland 26 10.35x
Durham 20 2.30x
Northumberland 17 3.92x
Ayrshire 13 5.96x
Surrey 8 0.56x
Staffordshire 7 0.71x
Denbighshire 5 4.54x
Essex 5 0.87x
Norfolk 5 1.11x
Leicestershire 4 1.24x
Cheshire 3 0.47x
Derbyshire 3 0.66x
Devon 3 0.49x
Hampshire 3 0.50x
Kent 3 0.30x
Warwickshire 2 0.27x
Hertfordshire 1 0.50x
Sussex 1 0.20x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Whitehaven in Cumberland leads with 19 Mcgowans recorded in 1881 and an index of 142.00x.

Place Total Index
Whitehaven 19 142.00x
Kirkdale 14 24.05x
Everton 11 9.97x
Blackburn 10 10.86x
Islington London 10 3.54x
Upperthong 9 365.85x
Kirkoswald 8 449.44x
Liverpool 8 3.81x
Lambeth 7 2.75x
Ormskirk 7 105.74x
Preston 7 7.56x
Wolverhampton 7 9.25x
Newcastle On Tyne St 6 26.68x
Poplar London 6 10.90x
Gorton 5 15.37x
Heigham 5 20.77x
Leeds 5 3.06x
Manchester 5 3.21x
Merrington 5 299.40x
Prittlewell 5 62.66x
Toxteth Park 5 4.27x
Westminster St John 5 14.08x
Ashton Under Lyne 4 5.29x
Elswick 4 11.55x
Headingley Cum Burley 4 21.49x
Keighley 4 12.98x
Mountsorrel North End 4 645.16x
Newcastle On Tyne All Sts 4 15.43x
Ruthin 4 353.98x
Salford 4 3.93x
St Luke London 4 8.55x
West Derby 4 3.95x
Bishop Auckland 3 25.77x
Glossop Dale 3 14.03x
Hedworth Monkton Jarrow 3 7.98x
Heworth 3 17.54x
Middlesbrough 3 7.97x
Plymouth St Andrew 3 6.41x
Shoreditch London 3 2.37x
St Anne Soho London 3 18.01x
Westgate 3 11.16x
Whippingham 3 66.23x
Ayr 2 19.42x
Birmingham 2 0.82x
Cornforth 2 78.43x
Dunlop 2 147.06x
Featherstone 2 61.54x
Holy Trinity 2 2.88x
Manningham 2 5.62x
Old Artillery Ground 2 79.68x
Oldham 2 1.79x
St Cuthbert W O 2 16.34x
St Marylebone London 2 1.28x
Sunderland 2 3333.33x
Armley 1 7.84x
Barkway 1 126.58x
Barmston 1 153.85x
Birtley 1 28.25x
Broughton In Salford 1 3.16x
Dewsbury 1 3.37x
East Keswick 1 222.22x
Ebchester 1 74.63x
Gillingham 1 4.87x
Girvan 1 18.25x
Harrington 1 33.00x
Hethersgill 1 169.49x
Ince In Makerfield 1 6.21x
Newhall In Nantwich 1 140.85x
Newhaven 1 25.06x
Paddington London 1 0.93x
Parton 1 67.57x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 1 13.50x
Ruabon 1 6.60x
Scarborough 1 3.81x
Sheffield 1 1.09x
St George Hanover 1 2.63x
St Pancras London 1 0.43x
Swanscombe 1 22.37x
Walton On Hill 1 5.33x
York Holy Trinity 1 40.00x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mcgowan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 18
Elizabeth 11
Catherine 8
Ellen 7
Margaret 7
Sarah 6
Annie 5
Bridget 4
Jane 4
Agnes 3
Ann 3
Emma 3
Martha 3
Alice 2
Anne 2
Charlotte 2
Edith 2
Eleanor 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Grace 2
Isabella 2
Kate 2
Louisa 2
Winifred 2
Betty 1
Bridgett 1
Caroline 1
Cathne. 1
Eliz. 1
Eliza 1
Elizb. 1
Elizb.J. 1
Emily 1
Esther 1
Hannah 1
Harriet 1
Helen 1
Isabell 1
Janet 1
Jessie 1
Jessy 1
Joan 1
Johanna 1
Leah 1
Lilly 1
Lucy 1
Madeline 1
Maggie 1
Margret 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Mcgowan surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 25
Thomas 14
James 13
Patrick 10
Robert 9
William 9
Michael 5
Martin 4
Francis 3
Peter 3
Andrew 2
Anthony 2
Henry 2
Joseph 2
Micheal 2
Philip 2
Willm. 2
Albert 1
Alexander 1
Alfd. 1
Alfred 1
Alpha 1
Bernard 1
Charles 1
Cornelius 1
David 1
Douglas 1
Edward 1
Edwd. 1
Ferdinando 1
George 1
Hugh 1
Hughbert 1
Isaac 1
Jas. 1
Jas.Wm. 1
Julius 1
Lawrence 1
Mathew 1
Nathan 1
Patk. 1
Patric 1
Tom 1
Wellwood 1
Willie 1
Wm. 1
Wm.J. 1

FAQ

Mcgowan surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mcgowan surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,882 people were recorded with the Mcgowan surname. That placed it at #1,172 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mcgowan surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 11,227 in 2016. That gives Mcgowan a modern rank of #573.

What does the Mcgowan surname mean?

Derived from the Irish "Mag Gabhann," meaning "son of the smith."

What does the Mcgowan map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mcgowan 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.