Mcgowen

The surname McGowen originated in Scotland, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the late 16th century. It is believed to be a variant of the Scottish surname McGown, which is derived from the Gaelic name "Maol Chomhghaill," meaning "servant of St. Comgall." St. Comgall was an Irish saint and founder of the famous monastery of Bangor in County Down, Ireland, in the 6th century.

McGowen is a patronymic surname, meaning it was originally formed by adding a prefix such as "Mac" (Gaelic for "son of") to a personal name or an occupation. The name likely originated in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, where Gaelic was widely spoken.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the McGowen name can be found in the Privy Council Register of Scotland in 1592, which mentions a certain "Johnne M'Gowin." Another early record is from the Register of the Privy Seal of Scotland in 1597, which refers to "Johnne M'Gowne."

In the 17th century, the name McGowen appeared in various Scottish records, such as the Dunfermline Register of Baptisms in 1648, which lists the baptism of "Margaret McGowen." The name was also found in the Parish Register of Maybole, Ayrshire, in 1685, which records the marriage of "John McGowen and Euphan Hamiltoun."

One notable individual with the surname McGowen was William McGowen (1927-2012), an American businessman and philanthropist who served as the CEO of MCI Communications Corporation from 1968 to 1992. He was instrumental in transforming MCI from a small company into a telecommunications giant.

Another noteworthy figure was John McGowen (1818-1898), an Irish-American politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio from 1865 to 1867.

In the literary world, John P. McGowen (1902-1982) was an American author and historian known for his works on the American West, including "Sidesaddle and Goldenrod: A Glimpse of the Panama and the Pacific Coast in the Early Sixties" and "Life Woven with Song."

The McGowen name has also been associated with various place names in Scotland, such as McGowansland, a small village in South Ayrshire, and McGowans Farm, a former estate in Renfrewshire.

While the surname McGowen is not as common as some other Scottish surnames, it has a rich history and can be traced back to the Gaelic-speaking regions of Scotland in the 16th and 17th centuries.