McGowan is a surname. It is an Anglicization of the Irish and Scottish surname Mac Gobhann. Belonging to the Uí Echach Cobo, located in modern-day County Down, Northern Ireland, they produced several over-kings of Ulaid. By the late 12th century, the English had expelled the McGowan's to Tír Chonaill in modern-day County Donegal, Republic of Ireland.
As noted further in source by John O'Hart, though not an occupational surname, MacGowan evolves as an Anglicization of the original Gaelic language personal description or nickname gobha, meaning "blacksmith". For this reason, the surnames of some septs of the MacGowan are alternately anglicised to Smythe (surname) or Smith. Mac, which may appear in anglicised contraction as Mc, sometimes written Mc or, further, abbreviated M', means in English "son", but, when an element used to form a Gaelic language patronymic in its usage of "They have no share in the promise made to the sons of Adam“, that is "descended" of a thereafter personal named or nicknamed (sometimes by description as in Gaelic language Duinneshliebhe, anglicised Donlevy, "brown haired chief of the mountain fort", Gaelic language gobha "the smithy", anglicised Gowan, or the Gaelic language Ultaigh, anglicised Nulty, "the Ulidian") founding ancestor or sire of a Gaelic clan. The surname Mac Gowan, therefore, translates from Gaelic language to English language as "descended of the smith".
Alistair McGowan (born 1964), British impressionist
Archibald C. McGowan (1822–1893), New York politician
Baron McGowan, the title of four English barons
Bill McGowan (1896–1954), American baseball umpire
Brandon McGowan (born 1983), American football player
Brian McGowan (Australian politician) (born 1935), Australian politician
Charles M. McGowan (1923–2013), American businessman and politician
Dermot McGowan (Born 1979) Irish Electronic Musician
Donald W. McGowan (1899–1967), U.S. Army Major General
Dustin McGowan (born 1982), North American baseball player
Gavin McGowan (born 1976), English footballer
Gerald S. McGowan (born 1946), United States Ambassador to Portugal, 1998–2001
J. P. McGowan (1880–1952), Australian-American actor, screenwriter, and director
James McGowen (1855–1922), Premier of New South Wales (1910 – 1913).
Jewel McGowan (1921–1962), American dancer
Joe McGowan (born 1944), Irish historian
John McGowan, several people
Jonas H. McGowan (1837–1909), US Representative from Michigan
Kathleen McGowan (born 1963), American novelist
Keith McGowan (born 1943), Australian radio presenter
Margaret M. McGowan (born 1931), scholar
Mark McGowan, several people
Martin McGowan (died 1958), Irish politician
Martin J. McGowan, Jr. (1920-2009), American politician
Ned McGowan (1812–1892), North American Gold rush pioneer
Pat McGowan (born 1954), American golfer
Patrick H. McGowan (1917-1985), Liverpool General Practitioner
Patrick K. McGowan, American politician
Richard McGowan (1933–2007), American explorer, mountaineer, and entrepreneur
Robert A. McGowan (1901–1955), American screenwriter and director
Robert F. McGowan (1882–1955), American film director and producer
Robert McGowan Barrington-Ward (1891–1948), journalist
Robert McGowan Coventry (1855–1914), Scottish painter
Robert McGowan Dickie (c.1784–1854), Nova Scotia legislator
Robert McGowan Littlejohn (1890–1982), American major general
Rose McGowan (born 1973), American actress
Ross McGowan (born 1982), English golfer
Samuel McGowan (1819–1897), Confederate General during the American Civil War
Samuel McGowan (1870–1934), Admiral in the United States Navy
Steve McGowan, several people
Tom McGowan (born 1959), American actor
Thomas F. McGowan (1925–1997), New York politician and judge
William G. McGowan (1927–1992), American entrepreneur and chairman of MCI Communications
MacGowan:
Alice MacGowan (1858–1947), American writer
Shane MacGowan (born 1957), Irish musician
Foster MacGowan Voorhees (1856–1927), American politician, governor of New Jersey
Gowan:
Franklin B. Gowen, attorney, president of Reading Railroad
Hunter Gowan, Irish Protestant politician and militiaman
Lawrence Gowan, a Canadian musician who used the stage name Gowan
Ogle Robert Gowan, Canadian-Irish politician, son of Hunter Gowan
Peter Gowan, academic
USS McGowan (DD-678), a US Navy destroyer
Rear Admiral Samuel McGowan USN
Maj. General Donald W. McGowan
Maj. Gen. Robert McGowan Littlejohn
Samuel McGowan (general)
John McGowan (Medal of Honor), American Civil War
Lt. Edward Charles McGowan, navy pilot, Navy Cross, World War II
Ensign John R. McGowan, Coast Guard Medal
The source for all awards is Gannett Military Times Hall of Valor.
1LT. Arthur J. McGowan, Distinguished Service Cross (United States), Vietnamese War
Sgt. Francis McGowan, Distinguished Service Cross (United States), World War I
PFC Frank J. McGowan Soldier's Medal
Lt. Col. Glenn Joseph McGowan (1909-2004), Distinguished Service Cross (United States), also, Legion of Merit, World War II
Capt. James A. McGowan, CH-23 helicopter pilot, Distinguished Flying Cross (United States)
Lt. Col. Robert Silber McGowan, Distinguished Service Cross (United States) and 3 awards of the Silver Star, World War II
Staff Sgt. Sam McGowan Jr., Distinguished Service Cross (United States), World War I
SPC. Gary U. McGowan, Soldier’s Medal
SSG Edward McGowan, Bronze Star
SPC Danny L. McGowan, Purple Heart 2010
The source for all awards is Gannett Military Times Hall of Valor.
PFC. Royce Lee McGowan (US. Army) WWII. 3 Bronze Stars.
