Recorded in many forms including: Gow, Gowan, Gowans, Gowanson, Guan, and Going, as well as dialectals such as Quogan, Quoane, Quonne, logic would suggest that this surname should be the most popular in Scotland and Ireland since it means "smith". However it is much rarer than its meaning might suggest that it should be. It derives from the Gaelic "gobha", meaning an iron worker. Also recorded as MacGowan which strictly translates as the son of the ironworker. What is surprising is that Smith is such a popular surname in England having almost twice the popularity of any other name, and yet the highest proportion of all Smiths is to be found in the county of Aberdeen, Scotland! The (Mac)Gowan's are regarded as being part of the Clan Chattan, although quite why this should be so, is unclear.
Examples of early surname recordings taken from the charters and registers include Alexander Gowansoun, who it is recorded was 'hanged in Dundee' in 1578, although for what crime is not known, Michael Gow, who was arrested in Perth in 1595 for 'raiding', and Colin Gowin of Tiree, who was denounced as a rebel in 1695. John Gowans, recorded in Carluke, Lanark, in 1701, seems to have been quite peaceful, he merely owned 'a tenement'. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of George Gow, which was dated 1580, recorded as a burgess of Dysart, Scotland, during the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots, 1543 - 1587. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.
We can try to trace the genealogy of the surname gowan, and in addition to the original locations of gowan, we can find out where people with the surname gowan can currently be found.
The mobility of people carrying the surname gowan has led to its presence in different countries, as you can verify.
The history, heraldry, coats of arms, and possible nobility of the surname gowan are scattered in documents across various regions and historical periods, so it is necessary to reconstruct a complex puzzle to approach the facts from a realistic perspective.
Please note that if you are in a position to provide more data about the surname gowan or any other surname and its origin, we would appreciate your collaboration with us by sending us information about the origin of gowan.
A surname like gowan can connect a person to an illustrious lineage and a distinguished coat of arms. However, it must be kept in mind that it is individual people who, through their lives and actions, bring fame and recognition to their surnames. It is our desire to highlight in this section those individuals with the surname gowan who, for various reasons, have left their mark on the course of history.
We consider it highly advisable to refer to the following sources if you wish to conduct research on the surname gowan, as well as many other surnames.
These sources are essential for initiating the understanding of gowan, and at the same time, of surnames in general.