Find out how popular the last name McGowen's is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named McGowen's.

McGowen's, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the McGowen's surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of McGowen's in America

McGowen's is the 127494th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The McGowen's surname appeared 134 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname McGowen's.

We can also compare 2010 data for McGowen's to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name McGowen's

The surname McGowens originated in Scotland during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Gaelic "mac Gobhann," which means "son of the smith." The name was initially prevalent in the Scottish Highlands, particularly in the regions of Argyll and the Hebrides.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which list individuals who swore allegiance to King Edward I of England. The name appears as "M'Gowyn" in this historical document.

In the 15th century, records from the Isle of Islay mention a "Gillecrist McGowne," indicating the presence of the name in the Hebrides during that period. The name also appears in various Scottish clan histories, such as the annals of the Clan Donald and the Clan MacLean.

During the 16th century, the name McGowens was associated with several notable figures. One example is Angus McGowens, a Scottish warrior who fought alongside the Clan MacDonald in the Battle of Lochaber in 1545. Another is Donald McGowens, a prominent clergyman who served as the Bishop of Argyll from 1568 to 1593.

In the 17th century, the name McGowens was found in various parts of Scotland, including the Lowlands. John McGowens (1640-1718) was a Scottish merchant and landowner who owned estates in Ayrshire. His descendant, Robert McGowens (1688-1752), was a renowned scholar and mathematician.

The 18th century saw the rise of several McGowens individuals in various fields. William McGowens (1720-1789) was a Scottish architect who designed several notable buildings in Edinburgh. James McGowens (1735-1805) was a celebrated poet and writer, known for his works on Scottish history and culture.

As the centuries progressed, the name McGowens continued to be present in various parts of Scotland and beyond. From warriors and clergymen to merchants and scholars, the surname has a rich and diverse history, reflecting the resilience and contributions of those who carried it.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name McGowen's

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname McGowen's.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for McGowen's was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of McGowen's has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name McGowen's was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of McGowen's, please contact us.

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