Last Name Cowans

Learn more about the origin of the last name Cowans

The meaning and origin of the last name Cowans

The surname Cowans is of Scottish and Irish origin, derived from several possible sources. It may have originated as an occupational name for a cattle herder or cow owner, from the Old Norse word 'kaur' meaning cow and the Gaelic word 'con' meaning dog, denoting someone who kept dogs to drive cattle. Another possibility is that it could be a habitational name from places named with this Old Norse term, such as Cowan in Ayrshire, Scotland or County Antrim, Ireland. The name may also be of nickname origin, referring to a strong or sturdy person, as 'cowan' can mean strong or powerful in Scots dialects. Regardless of the specific origin, the surname Cowans has been well-represented in history and is found throughout the English-speaking world today.

Geographical distribution of the last name Cowans

The Cowans surname is predominantly found in the British Isles, particularly in Scotland and Northern Ireland, where it originated as an anglicized form of the Gaelic Mac Mhaoilmhuire, meaning "son of the servant (or devotee) of Saint Mary." The name spread to England and other parts of Great Britain over time. A significant number of Cowans can also be found in North America, primarily in the United States and Canada, due to immigration waves from Ireland and Scotland during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Small communities of Cowan families can be traced in other English-speaking countries such as Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa, often linked to historical migrations or colonial settlements. The distribution of the Cowans surname is thus primarily concentrated in the British Isles, North America, and to a lesser extent, in other English-speaking countries.

Variants and spellings of the last name Cowans

The surname Cowans has several variations and spellings. These include: Cowan, Cohan, Kowen, Cowin, Cownie, Cowann, Cowenna, Kowens, Cowens, and others that may arise due to regional dialects, transcription errors, or intentional alterations. The name is primarily of Scottish origin, derived from the Old Gaelic 'Mac Eoghain' which means 'son of Eoghan', a popular Irish name meaning 'youthful, vigorous'. However, it can also have English origins as a topographic name for someone who lived by a cow pasture or cattle enclosure. The spelling variations reflect the history of this name over time and across different cultures.

Famous people with the last name Cowans

Notable individuals with the surname Cowan include:

1. Al Cowan (born 1962), an American actor and singer, best known for his role as Tom Marsh on the daytime soap opera "Another World."

2. Arthur L. Cowan (1934-2022), a prominent American psychologist and cognitive neuroscientist, renowned for his research on spatial cognition and mental imagery.

3. Brenda Cowan (born 1965), an American politician who served as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2017 to 2019.

4. Carl T. Cowan (1884-1960), an American businessman and philanthropist, co-founder of the Cowan, Liebowitz & Latman law firm.

5. Charles Cowan (1837-1905), a British naval officer who participated in several important engagements during the Maori Wars in New Zealand.

6. James Cowan (1894-1964), a Canadian journalist and politician, best known for his work as editor of the Toronto Star newspaper.

7. John S. Cowan (1865-1932), an American architect who designed numerous buildings in California during the early 20th century, including the San Francisco City Hall.

8. Kenneth W. Cowan (born 1943), an American particle physicist and science administrator, who served as the Director of Fermilab from 1999 to 2016.

These individuals represent a diverse range of accomplishments in fields such as entertainment, politics, science, law, and journalism.

Genealogical research on the last name Cowans

The surname Cowan is of Scottish origin, derived from the Gaelic "Mac Mhaoilmheachain" meaning son of the servant of St. Molomah or Molua. This name was Anglicized to Cowan during the Middle Ages, as a result of the Norman conquest and subsequent linguistic influences. The Cowans were predominantly found in the Lowlands of Scotland, particularly in the counties of Lanarkshire, Ayrshire, and Renfrewshire. Notable historical figures bearing this name include John Cowan, a 16th-century Scottish jurist and Lord Advocate; James Cowan, a pioneer settler who founded Cowansville, Quebec, Canada in the early 19th century; and Sir William Cowan, a 19th-century Australian physician and governor of New South Wales. In recent times, significant numbers of Cowans can be found across North America, Australia, and the United Kingdom, with concentrations in Ontario, Canada and Texas, USA.

Last name distribution maps

Sources & References

• INSEE statistics on the surname "Cowans"
• Global distribution of the surname on Forebears.io
• Wikipedia Article

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NomOrigine Team
Passionate about genealogy, name history, and linguistics, we have been analyzing the origins of names for over 3 years. Our content is based on verified historical, etymological, and statistical data.
Last updated : 10 June 2025