Cowan is a surname of both Scottish-

Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

and

Jewish Jews ( he, יְהוּדִים, , ) or Jewish people are an ethnoreligious group and nation originating from the Israelites Israelite origins and kingdom: "The first act in the long drama of Jewish history is the age of the Israelites""The ...

origins.

As a Scottish or Irish surname

The name Cowan is first seen in the historical record in the UK and Ireland among Briton people in the Scottish and

English English usually refers to: * English language * English people English may also refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * ''English'', an adjective for something of, from, or related to England ** English national ide ...

borderlands. It derives from the old Gaelic MacEoghain or MacEoin (the "mac" prefix meaning "son of") or the Gaelic given name Eoghan. Alternate Anglicized spellings in Scotland include Cowen and Kewon. Similar names with the same derivation in

Ireland Ireland ( ; ga, Éire ; Ulster Scots dialect, Ulster-Scots: ) is an island in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic Ocean, in Northwestern Europe, north-western Europe. It is separated from Great Britain to its east by the North Channel (Grea ...

and

Northern Ireland Northern Ireland ( ga, Tuaisceart Éireann ; sco, label= Ulster-Scots, Norlin Airlann) is a part of the United Kingdom, situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, that is variously described as a country, province or region. Nort ...

are Coen, Coan, and Coyne, as well as McKeown and McKeon (the Irish prefix "mc" having the same meaning as the Scottish Gaelic "mac").

Notable people with the surname

* Adeline May Cowan, Scottish botanist *

Aileen H. Cowan Helen Aileen Hooper Cowan (born June 11, 1926) is a Canadian painter and sculptor. Cowan was born in Windsor, Ontario, and received a bachelor's degree from the University of Toronto. She undertook graduate work both there and at Queen's Univers ...

(born 1926), Canadian painter and sculptor * Andrew Cowan (disambiguation), several people * Austin M. Cowan (1885–1949), Justice of the Kansas Supreme Court *

Barry Cowan (broadcaster) Barry Cowan (1 February 1948 – 16 June 2004) was a high-profile journalist and broadcaster with BBC Northern Ireland. In 1974, he became the anchor of BBC Northern Ireland's flagship evening television news programme ''Scene Around Six'', which ...

, journalist and broadcaster *

Barry Cowan (tennis) Barry Cowan (born 25 August 1974) is a British former tennis player, best known for taking Pete Sampras to five sets at Wimbledon in 2001. Early years Born in Southport, Merseyside, Cowan attended the LTA Rover School at Bisham Abbey. He was a ...

, former tennis player *

Bernard Cowan Bernard Cowan (June 11, 1922 – July 17, 1990) was a Canadian actor, producer and writer. He was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. He was occasionally credited under his nickname, Bunny Cowan, such as on the production ''Willy McBean and His ...

(1922–1990), Canadian actor, producer, and writer * Cathy A. Cowan, American economist and social scientist *

Charles Cowan Charles Cowan (7 June 1801 – 1889) was a Scottish politician and paper-maker. Life He was born in Charlotte Street, Edinburgh, Charlotte Street in Edinburgh on 7 June 1801, the son of Alexander Cowan, papermaker and philanthropist, and Eliza ...

(1801–1889), Scottish politician and papermaker * Charles Cowan (cricketer) (1883–1958), Welsh-born English cricketer and naval officer *

Charley Cowan Charles Edward Cowan (June 19, 1938 – April 29, 1998) was an American football offensive tackle who played fifteen seasons in the National Football League with the Los Angeles Rams from 1961 to 1975. Cowan was a huge intimidating presence alo ...

(1938–1998), American football player * Cindy Cowan, Movie producer *

Clyde Cowan Clyde Lorrain Cowan Jr (December 6, 1919 – May 24, 1974) was an American physicist, the co-discoverer of the neutrino along with Frederick Reines. The discovery was made in 1956 in the neutrino experiment. Frederick Reines received the Nobel Pr ...

, co-discoverer of the neutrino *

Darcy Rivers Warren Cowan Sir Darcy Rivers Warren Cowan (8 August 1885 – 9 June 1958) was an Australian medical practitioner and advocate of effective treatment of tuberculosis. Family The sixth of seven sons of James Cowan and Sarah Ann (née Warren) and brother of ...

, Australian medical practitioner *

David Tennant Cowan Major General David Tennant Cowan, (9 October 1896 – 15 April 1983), also known as "Punch" Cowan, was an officer in the British Army and British Indian Army during the First and Second World Wars. He led the 17th Indian Infantry Division duri ...

, British World War II general known as "Punch" Cowan *

Denys Cowan Denys B. Cowan (born January 30, 1961) is an American comics artist, television producer, media executive and one of the co-founders of Milestone Media. Early life Denys Cowan was first inspired by superheroes as a child from reruns of the 1950s ...

, American comic book artist and television producer *

Ed Cowan Edward James McKenzie Cowan (born 16 June 1982) is an Australian former cricketer, who played domestically mainly for New South Wales and Tasmania as a left handed opening batsman. In March 2018, he announced his retirement from first-class cri ...

(born 1982), Australian cricketer *

Edith Cowan Edith Dircksey Cowan (' Brown; 2 August 18619 June 1932) was an Australian social reformer who worked for the rights and welfare of women and children. She is best known as the first Australian woman to serve as a member of parliament. Cowan h ...

, first female member of an Australian parliament *

Elliot Cowan Elliot Aidan Cowan (born 9 July 1976) is an English actor, known for portraying Corporal Jem Poynton in ''Ultimate Force'', Mr Darcy in ''Lost in Austen'', and Ptolemy in the 2004 film ''Alexander''. He also starred as Lorenzo de' Medici in ''Da ...

, actor *

Ernest Cowan Peter Ernest Cowan (3 January 1882 – 7 May 1955) was a Member of the Western Australian Legislative Assembly from 1928 to 1930. Born in Wallaroo, South Australia on 3 January 1882, he was the son of farmer Robert Cowan and Christina née McMar ...

, Western Australian politician *

Glenn Cowan Glenn L. Cowan (August 25, 1952 – April 6, 2004) was an American table tennis player. Biography Cowan was from New Rochelle, New York, and was Jewish. His parents were Phil (a television executive, who died at age 48) and Fran Cowan. The family ...

, American table tennis player, involved in Ping Pong Diplomacy *

Harry Cowan Henry Cowan (5 December 1893 – 1974) was a Scottish footballer who played for Clyde and Dunfermline Athletic in his native country and for several clubs – primarily the New Bedford Whalers – in the United States, mainly as a full back. Re ...

(1893–1974), Scottish footballer *

Hector Cowan Hector William "Hec" Cowan (July 12, 1863 – October 19, 1941) was an American football player and coach, and an ordained Presbyterian minister. He played college football at Princeton University from 1885 to 1889. He was team captain for Pri ...

(1863-1941), American, member of College Football Hall of Fame *

Hendy Cowan Hendy John Cowan (born 25 April 1943) is a former deputy premier of Western Australia. He had served in the Western Australian Legislative Assembly as the Member for Merredin-Yilgarn from 30 March 1974 and the Member for Merredin from 19 Feb ...

(born 1943), Western Australian politician *

Henry Cowan Sir William Henry Cowan (22 May 1862 – 11 January 1932) was a politician in the United Kingdom. The son of William Cowan and Elizabeth Giles, he was educated at Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh Collegiate School and the University of Edin ...

, British politician *

Henry Kenneth Cowan Sir Henry Kenneth Cowan FRSE LLD (1900–1971) was an Irish-born physician and dietary expert. He wrote several books on the subject of nutrition and his expertise was used by the British government during the Second World War. He served as Chie ...

, a British medical practitioner *

Hugh Cowan Rev. Hugh Cowan (May 20, 1867 – April 19, 1943) was a Presbyterian Church in Canada and later United Church of Canada Minister (Christianity), minister, author, editor and historian. Background Hugh Cowan was born on May 20, 1867, in Bentinck, ...

, a former Canadian church minister, historian, author and editor * James Alexander Cowan, son of Hugh Cowan, was a Canadian writer and a well known public relations consultant *

James Cowan (author) James Cowan (9 April 1942 – 6 October 2018) was an Australian author. He was the author of a number of internationally acclaimed books, including ''A Troubadour's Testament'' and ''Letters from A Wild State''. In 1998 he was awarded the p ...

, Australian author *

James Cowan (British Army officer) Major-General James Michael Cowan (born 1 April 1964) is a former British Army officer. He is now CEO of The HALO Trust, a humanitarian organisation which works in post-conflict zones, and a trustee of Waterloo Uncovered, a charity conducting arc ...

Major General, British Army *

James Cowan (South Australian politician) James Cowan (21 April 1848 – 21 July 1890), flour miller and investor, had been a member of the South Australian House of Assembly for the Yatala for only 2 months when he was killed in an accident at a railway crossing. Cowan was an early i ...

* Jean Hunter Cowan, Scottish artist *

Jeff Cowan Jeff Cowan (born September 27, 1976) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. Cowan was a left winger and played 434 games in the National Hockey League (NHL). In 2019, he was named the interim head coach of the Saint John Sea Dogs, a ...

, ice hockey player *

Jerome Cowan Jerome Palmer Cowan (October 6, 1897 – January 24, 1972) was an American stage, film, and television actor. Early years Cowan was born in New York City, the son of William Cowan, a confectioner of Scottish descent, and Julia Cowan, née Palm ...

, actor * Joe Cowan, American football player *

John Cowan John Cowan (born August 24, 1953) is an American soul music and progressive bluegrass vocalist and bass guitar player. He was the lead vocalist and bass player for the New Grass Revival. Cowan became the band's bassist in 1972 after the departure ...

, American soul music and progressive bluegrass vocalist and bass guitar player * John Cowan (RAN officer), Australian navy officer *

John Cowan (sheriff) Sir John Cowan, 1st Baronet (1774 – 22 October 1842) was a prosperous London chandler and Lord Mayor of London. An alderman of Broad St Ward from 1831, he was also appointed Sheriff of the City of London for 1831 and elected Lord Mayor for 1 ...

, Lord Mayor of London *

John Cowan (South Australian politician) Sir John Cowan (6 December 1866 – 8 March 1953) was a South Australian politician who served as a member of the South Australian Legislative Council from 1910 to 1944. Early life Cowan who was born at Port Gawler, South Australia, was the ...

John Lancelot Cowan John Lancelot Cowan (14 August 1893 – 19 May 1971) served as one of the 4 members for the District of Southern Districts in the South Australian Legislative Council from 26 May 1949 to 28 February 1959. Early life Cowan who was born in Mur ...

, South Australian politician *

John Macqueen Cowan John Macqueen Cowan FRSE CBE (1891–1960) was a prominent Scottish botanist in the mid 20th century. He is especially remembered for the recording and classification of trees on the Indian sub-continent. He was also an expert on Spermatophytes. ...

(1892–1960), Scottish botanist *

John W. Cowan John Woldemar Cowan is an American programmer known for work with XML and Unicode. Cowan is an alumnus member of the Unicode Consortium and was an editor of the XML 1.1 specification. He is also the founder of the ConScript Unicode Registry, which ...

, American programmer involved with Unicode and Lojban *

Lee Cowan Leland P. Cowan is a CBS News National Correspondent for the CBS Evening News and a substitute anchor for CBS Sunday Morning. Biography Cowan was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, a son of Leland B. Cowan, a surgical and radiation oncologist, and C ...

, American news correspondent. *

Lawrence Cowan Lawrence Oscar Cowan (September 18, 1858July 20, 1933) was an American judge, state legislator, city official, businessman, and miner in the Arizona Territory and Arizona, state in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Background Cowan was born ...

(1858–1933), American politician, lawyer, and businessman * Michael Cowan (1933–2022), English cricketer * Michael L. Cowan (born 1944), Surgeon General of the United States Navy *

Nelson Cowan Nelson Cowan is the Curators' Distinguished Professor of Psychological Sciences at the University of Missouri. He specializes in working memory, the small amount of information held in mind and used for language processing and various kinds of ...

, American researcher in psychology, specialized in working memory * Patrick Cowan, American football player * Philip R. Cowan *

Ralph Wolfe Cowan Ralph Wolfe Cowan (December 16, 1931 – September 4, 2018) was an American portrait artist. Personal life Cowan was born in 1931 in Phoebus, Virginia. He was the son of Joseph Carl and Daphne (Pearce) Cowan. Known as ''"RW"'' to his friends, ...

(1931–2018), American artist *

Ralph Cowan (politician) Ralph Bronson Cowan (May 6, 1902 – April 21, 1990) was a Canadian politician, who represented York—Humber in the House of Commons of Canada from 1962 to 1968. Federal political career Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Ralph Cowan was first e ...

(1902–1990), Canadian politician * Ralph Cowan (cricketer) (born 1960), English cricketer * Ralph Cowan (footballer), Scottish footballer *

Reed Cowan Reed or Reeds may refer to: Science, technology, biology, and medicine * Reed bird (disambiguation) * Reed pen, writing implement in use since ancient times * Reed (plant), one of several tall, grass-like wetland plants of the order Poales * R ...

, American journalist *

Richard Cowan (bass-baritone) Richard Cowan (December 24, 1957 – November 16, 2015) was an American operatic bass-baritone. A national finalist in the 1985 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and winner of the Grand Prize in the 1987 Concours International de Chant ...

(1957–2015), American operatic bass-baritone *

Richard Cowan (cannabis activist) The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML ) is a social welfare organization based in Washington, D.C., that advocates for the reform of marijuana laws in the United States regarding both Medical cannabis in the United St ...

, a leader of NORML and proponent of the decriminalization of marijuana *

Richard Cowan (soldier) Richard Eller Cowan (December 5, 1922 – December 17, 1944) was a soldier in the United States Army who posthumously received the United States military's highest decoration, the Medal of Honor, for his actions during World War II. He was born i ...

, posthumous recipient of the Medal of Honor *

Riki Cowan Areariki Arthur Cowan "Riki" Cowan (born 28 December 1963) is a New Zealand rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand and the Cook Islands. Playing career Cowan represented Auckland and the New Zealand Māori side before being select ...

(born 1963), New Zealand rugby union player *

Robert Cowan (governor) Robert Cowan (died 21 February 1737) was an Irish colonial administrator and the East India Company's Governor of Bombay from 1729 to 1734. He was a collateral ancestor of the Marquesses of Londonderry through the marriage of his sister, Mary Co ...

, Governor of Bombay from 1729 to 1734 *

Samuel Cowan General Sir Samuel Cowan (born 9 October 1941) is a former Quartermaster-General to the Forces. Career Educated at Lisburn Technology College and the Open University, Cowan was commissioned into the Royal Corps of Signals in 1963. In 1980 he b ...

(born 1941), British general * Samuel Cowan (historian) (1835–1914), Scottish historian *

Thomas Cowan (South Australian politician) Thomas Cowan (5 December 1839 – 14 September 1890) served one term as a member of the South Australian House of Assembly for the Electoral district of Yatala. Early life Cowan who was born in County Tyrone, Ireland (now Northern Irelan ...

Thomas F. Cowan Thomas F. Cowan (April 17, 1927 – January 17, 2010) was an American Democratic party politician from Jersey City, New Jersey. Cowan served three terms each in the New Jersey General Assembly and the New Jersey Senate, representing the 32nd L ...

, New Jersey State Senator and Assemblyman *

Tim Cowan Tim Cowan (born August 17, 1960) is a former American football quarterback who played four seasons in the Canadian Football League (CFL) with the BC Lions and Toronto Argonauts. Cowan played college football at the University of Washington. He was ...

, American football player * Tom Cowan (born 1969), Scottish footballer *

Tom Cowan (filmmaker) Tom Cowan (born 31 October 1942) is an Australian filmmaker. Career He started as a trainee at the Australian Broadcasting Commission and the joined the Commonwealth Film Unit. He left it in 1968 to work as a freelance cameraman and moved into ...

(born 1942), Australian filmmaker *

Tommy Cowan Tommy Cowan CD (born Thomas Lincoln Cowan, 6 April 1946, Saint Elizabeth, Jamaica) is a producer and singer, initially working in reggae but later concentrating on gospel, who has been involved in the music business since the 1960s.Brooks, Sade ...

(born 1946), Reggae producer and singer *

Walter Cowan Admiral Sir Walter Henry Cowan, 1st Baronet, (11 June 1871 – 14 February 1956), known as Tich Cowan, was a Royal Navy officer who saw service in both the First and Second World Wars; in the latter he was one of the oldest British servicemen o ...

(1871–1956), Royal Navy admiral who saw service in both WWI and WWII * William "Mo" Cowan (born 1969), U.S. Senator from Massachusetts

References

{{surname, Cowan Scottish surnames Jewish surnames English-language surnames

As a Scottish or Irish surname

Notable people with the surname

See also

References