Meaning and origin
The last name Mcgowan has its origins in Gaelic-Irish heritage. Over time, the name has evolved and gained variations, reflecting migrations and linguistic shifts. The Mcgowan surname represents a connection to Ireland's ancient past and its vibrant culture centered around craftsmanship and trade.
Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.
Similar spellings
#1,046
McGowan was the 1,046th most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 33,340 people, about 11 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Surnames like McGowan
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where McGowan is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.