McGowan family

House of Neville

The McGowan family has direct links to the Pepys family (the Earls of Cottenham), and the Nevill family, holders of the titles of Marquess of Abergavenny, Viscount Neville and Earl of Abergavenny. Through this connection to the House of Neville the McGowan family is descended from Kings Edward IV and Richard III, the last members of the House of York to rule England. This royal ancestry is derived from Cecily Neville, Duchess of York, mother to the two kings. The linked houses of Neville and York were to become renowned for their involvement in the War of the Roses.

King Edward III of England was the paternal Great-Grandfather of Cecily Neville.

Also among the family's ancestors is William Young, the highly regarded architect and Sir James Herbert Cory, Conservative MP and philanthropist._{(See family tree at bottom of page for details)}

Baron McGowan

The family's main title is that of Baron McGowan, of Ardeer, with this peerage being held only by the direct descendants of Sir Harry McGowan, 1st Bt, (later Lord McGowan). The current head of the family is Lord Harry John Charles McGowan, 4th Baron McGowan.

Ireland

The McGowan family also maintain a line in Ireland. These relatives being of Anglo-Irish descent. The former seat of this line was in Dromore West Co. Sligo. This branch does not hold any titles in its own right but has entitlements to certain titles in the Baronetage of Ireland through marriage. However, no attempts to prove or claim lineage to these titles have been made by the family and the line is considered dormant.

Residences

The seat of the McGowan family in the United Kingdom is Highway house Lower Froyle Hampshire. The family also owned the Regency Bragborough Hall, Northamptonshire. However,after generations in the McGowan family, the 641 acre estate was sold off for over £7 million in 2012.

Family tree

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