UK surname
A Scottish variant of the surname MacEwen denoting "son of Ewen."
In the 1881 census there were 101 people recorded with the Mcowen surname, ranking it #19,636 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 78, ranked #33,171, down from #19,636 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Padstow and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mcowen is 128 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 22.8%.
1881 census count
101
Ranked #19,636
Modern count
78
2016, ranked #33,171
Peak year
1861
128 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mcowen surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mcowen surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 106 | #16,512 |
| 1861 | historical | 128 | #17,375 |
| 1881 | historical | 101 | #19,636 |
| 1891 | historical | 98 | #24,313 |
| 1901 | historical | 102 | #22,596 |
| 1911 | historical | 97 | #23,076 |
| 1997 | modern | 71 | #30,521 |
| 1998 | modern | 71 | #30,869 |
| 1999 | modern | 80 | #30,152 |
| 2000 | modern | 81 | #30,036 |
| 2001 | modern | 78 | #30,168 |
| 2002 | modern | 82 | #30,181 |
| 2003 | modern | 76 | #30,883 |
| 2004 | modern | 69 | #31,784 |
| 2005 | modern | 68 | #32,097 |
| 2006 | modern | 70 | #32,240 |
| 2007 | modern | 69 | #32,662 |
| 2008 | modern | 73 | #32,555 |
| 2009 | modern | 65 | #33,611 |
| 2010 | modern | 66 | #33,791 |
| 2011 | modern | 68 | #33,613 |
| 2012 | modern | 78 | #33,044 |
| 2013 | modern | 76 | #33,329 |
| 2014 | modern | 78 | #33,270 |
| 2015 | modern | 75 | #33,425 |
| 2016 | modern | 78 | #33,171 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Padstow, Manchester, Glasgow and Blackburn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rochdale | Lancashire |
| 2 | Padstow | Cornwall |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| 5 | Blackburn | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mcowen surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mcowen, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Mcowen surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mcowen household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Mcowen is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mcowen is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mcowen, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname MCOWEN is of Scottish origin, originating from the early Middle Ages. It is believed to be a variant of the name McEwen, which itself is derived from the Gaelic personal name Eoghan, meaning "born of the yew tree" or "well-born."
The earliest recorded instances of the name MCOWEN date back to the 13th century in the Scottish Lowlands. It is thought that the name may have been initially associated with the region of Argyll and the Hebrides islands, where the McEwen clan was based.
While the MCOWEN surname does not appear to be mentioned in historical records such as the Domesday Book, there are several notable individuals bearing this name throughout history. One of the earliest recorded was Sir John McOwen, a Scottish knight who fought alongside Robert the Bruce in the Scottish Wars of Independence in the early 14th century.
In the 16th century, a John MCOWEN was a prominent merchant and landowner in the town of Dundee, where he served as a magistrate. His descendants continued to play a role in the local community for several generations.
During the 18th century, a James MCOWEN was a respected minister in the Church of Scotland, serving parishes in the Scottish Borders region. He is known for his published sermons and theological writings.
In the 19th century, a William MCOWEN was a renowned poet and author from Glasgow, whose works often celebrated Scottish culture and heritage. He was born in 1822 and passed away in 1891.
Another notable figure was Mary MCOWEN, a pioneering educator and women's rights activist from Edinburgh in the late 19th century. She was a vocal advocate for improving educational opportunities for girls and women in Scotland.
Throughout its history, the MCOWEN surname has been associated with various locations in Scotland, particularly in the regions of Argyll, the Hebrides, Dundee, and the Scottish Borders. While the spelling has remained relatively consistent, there have been minor variations, such as McOwen and McOwan, which likely arose from regional dialects and local pronunciation differences.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mcowen surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Cornwall leads with 3 Mcowens recorded in 1881 and an index of 68.18x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cornwall | 3 | 68.18x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 7.62x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Lewannick in Cornwall leads with 2 Mcowens recorded in 1881 and an index of 20000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lewannick | 2 | 20000.00x |
| Padstow | 1 | 3333.33x |
| Willenhall | 1 | 400.00x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mcowen surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Mcowen surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Mcowen households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Agricultural Laborer | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 101 people were recorded with the Mcowen surname. That placed it at #19,636 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 78 in 2016. That gives Mcowen a modern rank of #33,171.
A Scottish variant of the surname MacEwen denoting "son of Ewen."
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mcowen bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.