McGowan - Irish Surname Origin & Meaning
Irish form: Mac Gabhann
Meaning: “son of the smith”
Traditional stronghold: Sligo, Cavan
Often anglicised to Smith - most Cavan Smiths were originally Mac Gabhann.
Pronunciation: muh-GOW-un; Irish Mac Gabhann or Mag Shamhradhain: mahk GOW-un
History of the McGowan name
McGowan chiefly derives from Mac Gabhann, meaning 'son of the smith', an occupational surname adopted independently by many unrelated families across Ireland, particularly in Ulster and Connacht, given the importance and prestige of ironworking in Gaelic society. A separate and distinct sept, Mag Shamhradhain (anglicised Magauran), ruled part of Cavan and is sometimes conflated with McGowan. Because it arose from a common trade name in multiple locations, McGowan became widespread rather than tied to one dynasty or territory. It is especially common in Leitrim, Cavan, Fermanagh and Donegal, and the equivalent form Smith represents the same occupational origin translated into English.
Variants: MacGowan · Gowan · Smith (translated)
Famous bearers of the name
- Shane MacGowan - singer and songwriter, frontman of The Pogues
- Padraic McGowan - Irish artist and sculptor
- Alistair McGowan - British impressionist and actor of Irish descent
- Bill McGowan - American businessman, founder of MCI Communications
Related names from the same part of Ireland: Brady · O'Reilly · Smith · Clarke · Boland · Higgins · Feeney · McCabe