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 impressionistArchibald C. McGowan (1822–1893), New York politicianBaron McGowan, the title of four English baronsBill McGowan (1896–1954), American baseball umpireBrandon McGowan (born 1983), American football playerBrian McGowan (Australian politician) (born 1935), Australian politicianCharles M. McGowan (1923–2013), American businessman and politicianDermot McGowan (Born 1979) Irish Electronic MusicianDonald W. McGowan (1899–1967), U.S. Army Major GeneralDustin McGowan (born 1982), North American baseball playerGavin McGowan (born 1976), English footballerGerald S. McGowan (born 1946), United States Ambassador to Portugal, 1998–2001J. P. McGowan (1880–1952), Australian-American actor, screenwriter, and directorJames McGowen (1855–1922), Premier of New South Wales (1910 – 1913).Jewel McGowan (1921–1962), American dancerJoe McGowan (born 1944), Irish historianJohn McGowan, several peopleJonas H. McGowan (1837–1909), US Representative from MichiganKathleen McGowan (born 1963), American novelistKeith McGowan (born 1943), Australian radio presenterMargaret M. McGowan (born 1931), scholarMark McGowan, several peopleMartin McGowan (died 1958), Irish politicianMartin J. McGowan, Jr. (1920-2009), American politicianNed McGowan (1812–1892), North American Gold rush pioneerPat McGowan (born 1954), American golferPatrick H. McGowan (1917-1985), Liverpool General PractitionerPatrick K. McGowan, American politicianRichard McGowan (1933–2007), American explorer, mountaineer, and entrepreneurRobert A. McGowan (1901–1955), American screenwriter and directorRobert F. McGowan (1882–1955), American film director and producerRobert McGowan Barrington-Ward (1891–1948), journalistRobert McGowan Coventry (1855–1914), Scottish painterRobert McGowan Dickie (c.1784–1854), Nova Scotia legislatorRobert McGowan Littlejohn (1890–1982), American major generalRose McGowan (born 1973), American actressRoss McGowan (born 1982), English golferSamuel McGowan (1819–1897), Confederate General during the American Civil WarSamuel McGowan (1870–1934), Admiral in the United States NavySteve McGowan, several peopleTom McGowan (born 1959), American actorThomas F. McGowan (1925–1997), New York politician and judgeWilliam G. McGowan (1927–1992), American entrepreneur and chairman of MCI CommunicationsMacGowan:
Alice MacGowan (1858–1947), American writerShane MacGowan (born 1957), Irish musicianFoster MacGowan Voorhees (1856–1927), American politician, governor of New JerseyGowan:
Franklin B. Gowen, attorney, president of Reading RailroadHunter Gowan, Irish Protestant politician and militiamanLawrence Gowan, a Canadian musician who used the stage name GowanOgle Robert Gowan, Canadian-Irish politician, son of Hunter GowanPeter Gowan, academicUSS McGowan (DD-678), a US Navy destroyerRear Admiral Samuel McGowan USN
Maj. General Donald W. McGowanMaj. Gen. Robert McGowan LittlejohnSamuel McGowan (general)John McGowan (Medal of Honor), American Civil WarLt. Edward Charles McGowan, navy pilot, Navy Cross, World War IIEnsign John R. McGowan, Coast Guard MedalThe source for all awards is Gannett Military Times Hall of Valor.1LT. Arthur J. McGowan, Distinguished Service Cross (United States), Vietnamese WarSgt. Francis McGowan, Distinguished Service Cross (United States), World War IPFC Frank J. McGowan Soldier's MedalLt. Col. Glenn Joseph McGowan (1909-2004), Distinguished Service Cross (United States), also, Legion of Merit, World War IICapt. 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 IIStaff Sgt. Sam McGowan Jr., Distinguished Service Cross (United States), World War ISPC. Gary U. McGowan, Soldier’s MedalSSG Edward McGowan, Bronze StarSPC Danny L. McGowan, Purple Heart 2010The source for all awards is Gannett Military Times Hall of Valor.PFC. Royce Lee McGowan (US. Army) WWII. 3 Bronze Stars.
