McCown

McCown
Language(s) anglicised from Gaelic
Origin
Region of origin Ireland Manx Scotland
Meaning Son of Eoghan
Other names
Variant(s)
Cowan MacCowan
McCowen MacCowen
McCowin MacCowin
McCowne
McCoun
McCuan
McCuen
McCune
McEown
McEwan MacEwan
McEwen MacEwen
McKeown
McKeon
McKewn
McKown
McKuen
McOwen
McQuown

McCown is a Gaelic-language surname with several possible etymological origins.

Etymology

There are several possible etymologies for the McCown surname. McCown and its multitude of spelling variants could originate from anglicised versions of the Gaelic names Mac Eòghain, Mac Eòin or Mac Còmhghan. McCown is a patronymic surname, the Gaelic Mac (or Mc) meaning "son of" in English.

Mac Eòghain

Mac Eoghain is the most likely etymological origin for the surname McCown. The Gaelic name Eòghan translates into modern day English as Ewen or Owen. The prefix of Eo in Eoghan, is often pronounced yew. This has caused many to translate Eoghan to mean Born of the Yew.[1] As such, this may also indicate the name derives from the profession of a yewer( archer/bower ).[2] Eo, also sometimes translates to mean Salmon.[3] It has also come to mean Well Born based on the Latinized form of Eugenius.[4] The name Eoghan often has very strong associations to the Irish King Eógan mac Néill for which Clan MacEwen is thought to have ancestral ties. Other notable Eógans include Owain mab Urien, Owain Gwynedd, Owain Ddantgwyn, Éogan Mór, Saint Eoghan, Eógan I of Strathclyde, Eógan II of Strathclyde, Eóganan mac Óengusa, Eóghan of Argyll and Éogan mac Durthacht,.

Mac Eòin

The name Eòin is a Gaelic form of John.[5] Mac Eoin often anglicized as (McKeon/McKeown) is thought to have derived, in some cases, from Mac Eoin Bissett.

Mac Còmhghan

The name Còmhghan and its variants ( Còmhan, Comhainn, Còmhain ) is derived from comh ("together") and gan-, gen- ("born").[6] a.k.a. Twins and is frequently associated with the surname Cowan. The name Mac Giolla Còmhghan, translates into English as son of the servant of Comhghain. This generally translates to mean follower of St. Comgan. St. Comgan was the son of Cellach Cualann, brother of St. Caintigerna and uncle of St. Fillan. One of the King of Scots, Lulach Mac Gille Coemgáin had this name. Mac Giolla Còmhghan is frequently associated with the anglicized surname McElhone.[7] Phonetically, McElhone seems similar to Mac Colquhoun.

Other possibilities

Other possible derivations of the name may come from the Manx language word Cowan and its variants (Cowanagh, Coan, Couan) which are defined as either a shelter between two hills, or inhabitant of the plains.[8] Also worth mentioning is the Old Irish word cúan which means bay, gulf, harbour or sea.[9] The prefix Cú in the name Cúan can also mean hound. Cúan is pronounced as Koo awn.[10] This name stems from Cú Chulainn who is famous for killing a hound. The name Cuan can also mean a little warrior and tends to be synonymous with the names Quain, Quane, and Quan.[11]

Clan Associations

If the surname McCown is a spelling variation of MacEwen, then McCowns may belong to Clan MacEwen. Clan Colquhoun, Clan MacDougall and Clan Campbell[12] of Scotland recognize the surname variants of Cowan, McCowan and McOwan as septs of their clans. Clan Donald and Clan MacPherson recognize MacGowan, MacGown and MacGoun as septs of their clans.

Persons with the surname

  • Bob McCown, (born 1952) American-born Canadian, sports talk show personality
  • Francis Timothy McCown, also known as Rory Calhoun, (1922–1999) American, television actor
  • Jennie McCowen (1845–1924), American physician, writer, lecturer, medical journal editor, suffragist
  • John P. McCown, (1815–1879) American, Confederate States Army general
  • Josh McCown, (born 1979) American, professional American football player
  • Luke McCown, (born 1981) American, professional American football player
  • Randy McCown, (born 1977) American, College football player

Other

References

  1. ↑ Yew, www.encyclopedia.com
  2. ↑ A History of Surnames of the British Isles (PDF), www.ewingfamilyassociation.org
  3. ↑ eo, www.wiktionary.com
  4. ↑ Eoghan, www.libraryireland.com
  5. ↑ EÓIN, www.libraryireland.com
  6. ↑ COMHGHAN, www.libraryireland.com .
  7. ↑ Mac Giolla Chomhdhain, www.libraryireland.com
  8. ↑ The Manx Dictionary, www.archive.org
  9. ↑ cúan
  10. ↑ Irish Names From Ancient to Modern
  11. ↑ O'Cuiain: A Little Warrior, Lagin Pedigrees from the O'Clery Book of Genealogies: MacMurrough - Kings of Leinster, archived from the original on 2011-08-13
  12. ↑ MacCowan sept of Clan Campbell, Clan Campbell Society of North America
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