The surname of GOWAN/GOWEN/GOWIN was originally derived from the Gaelic Mac a Ghobhainn a name meaning 'the son of the smith'. The original bearers of the name would have been skilled workers in metals.
First found in Invernessshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Nis) divided between the present day Scottish Council areas of Highlands and Western Isles and consisting of a large northern mainland area and various island areas off the west coast. The shire was anciently both a Pictish and Norweigian stronghold, where they were seated from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.
They are also said to be an old Stirlingshire family and the name is also found in Elgin and Galloway. Early records of the name in Scotland mention Gilbert Makgowin, a follower of the earl of Cassilis, 1526. John Riauch McGawin in Auchanichyke was fined for reset of Clan Gregor in 1613 (Reset meant receiving or concealing stolen goods). Willielmus M'Gawyne is recorded in Hauch in 1643 and Alexander M'Gowne was documented in Dumfries in 1672. Abraham M'Goune and Alexander McGowne, were residents of the parish of Borgue in 1684. It is possible that families of this name are descended from a king of the Strathclyde Britons, who was killed in the year 1018.
A good researcher and genealogist would know that the spelling of the name pre-20th Century was mainly phonetic. Therefore, someone with the current surname of GOWIN may also have been once recorded as GOW, GOWEN, GOWAN, GOING, GOIN, GOAN, GOANE, and many other variants. The same is true of adding a 'Mc', 'Mac', 'Mak', 'M', etc. in front of it. The first people in Scotland to acquire fixed surnames were the nobles and great landowners, who called themselves, or were called by others, after the lands they possessed.
There is an early recorded family noted on the Isle of Islay. An early eighteenth-century history of the Campbells of Craignish says that this family of hereditary smiths were at that time commonly called Clan Gowan and incidentally, says there was another branch of them long established in Morvern, in mainland Argyll. According to Scots Kith and Kin, Clan Gowan (or Gowans) was in Perthshire. It is a sept of Clan MacDonald of the Isles, also a sept (cousin) of Clan MacPherson. See also, Clan MacGowan.
Mac an Ghobhain was anglicized to MacGowan and Gowan. Mac Gobha, later McGow, was also made MacGowan. As the maker of arms and armor, the smith was an important hereditary position in each clan and were found throughout the Highlands. The Gowan usually ranked as third officer in the chief's household.
There was also a Clan M'Gowan noted in fourteenth century Nithsdale in Dumfriesshire, and in Sterlingshire there was an old family of MacGowans of uncertain origin.
In the reigns of David II, there was a Clan M'Gowan, probably located somewhere on the River Nith, whose chiefship was adjudged to Donald Edzear (RMS., I App. II, 982). This Edzear was a descendant of Dunegal of Stranith (Nithsdale), whose seat was at Morton, Dumfriesshire, about the beginning of the 12th Century. The Name here may indicate descent from Owen the Bald (the Eugenius Calvin of Simeon of Durham), King of the Strathclyde Britons, who was killed in 1018.
William and Annester Gowin of Lunenburg County and Bedford County, Virginia
Saturday, January 31, 2009
A family letter from 1923
In 1923 a hand-written letter between two granddaughters of Joseph Gowin stated that they were told from family that the Gowin (Gowan) side of the family was from Glasgow Scotland and the Garret family was from Ireland (no county/location given).
Many Scots left Scotland through the port of Glasgow (The Broomielaw) during the 16th and 17th Centuries. Highlanders were known to arrive in Glasgow after being cleared from the Glen and receive sponsorship by those that had taken shelter earlier. Most would board a ship for the new colonies or remain in the lowlands. Since many were farmers and did not own land in Scotland, they were easily pushed out of their homes after a lowlander would purchase the land to use it for sheep.
The bridge over Argyll Street in Glasgow is still known as 'The Highland Man's Umbrella' as they would shelter there from the rain with all their goods waiting for a berth on a boat to the Americas. That was a time when Glasgow was the second biggest port in the world.
The early 18th Century in Scotland was also a time of the Jacobite Rising (1715 & 1745). Most Scots who supported this rising took shelter in the new colonies or were sent there after capture. The wars in America contributed to the destruction of many records when buildings and their contents were set to fire so it has been difficult, at best, to date for us to find any link to Scotland for our family. Perhaps additional Y-DNA testing and written records will unveil this knowledge soon.
Many Scots left Scotland through the port of Glasgow (The Broomielaw) during the 16th and 17th Centuries. Highlanders were known to arrive in Glasgow after being cleared from the Glen and receive sponsorship by those that had taken shelter earlier. Most would board a ship for the new colonies or remain in the lowlands. Since many were farmers and did not own land in Scotland, they were easily pushed out of their homes after a lowlander would purchase the land to use it for sheep.
The bridge over Argyll Street in Glasgow is still known as 'The Highland Man's Umbrella' as they would shelter there from the rain with all their goods waiting for a berth on a boat to the Americas. That was a time when Glasgow was the second biggest port in the world.
The early 18th Century in Scotland was also a time of the Jacobite Rising (1715 & 1745). Most Scots who supported this rising took shelter in the new colonies or were sent there after capture. The wars in America contributed to the destruction of many records when buildings and their contents were set to fire so it has been difficult, at best, to date for us to find any link to Scotland for our family. Perhaps additional Y-DNA testing and written records will unveil this knowledge soon.
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