Owain () is a name of Welsh origin, variously written in

Old Welsh Old Welsh ( cy, Hen Gymraeg) is the stage of the Welsh language from about 800 AD until the early 12th century when it developed into Middle Welsh.Koch, p. 1757. The preceding period, from the time Welsh became distinct from Common Brittonic ...

as Ougein, Eugein, Euguen, Iguein, Ou(u)ein, Eug(u)ein, Yuein, and in Middle Welsh as Ewein, Owein, and Ywein. Other variants of the name Owain include Ewein, Iguein, Owein, Ouein, Ywen, Ywein, Ywain, Yuein, and Yvain. Owain has also been Latinized as ''Oenus''.

Etymology

Osborn Bergin proposed that the name is cognate with Old Irish ''Ugaine'', ''Augaine'', and suggested that the Irish name could be a British loan. Linguist Kenneth H. Jackson proposed that the name is a derivation of the Latin ''Eugenius'', (which was more recently accepted by T.J. Morgan). Julius Pokorny favored a purely Celtic origin, from Common Brittonic, Brittonic ''*Ouo-genios''/''*Owi-genjos'', "Born of Sheep", "Sheep kin". Linguists Holger Pedersen and Henry Lewis (who earlier linked the name to Gaulish *Esugenos) determined that both Jackson's and Pokorny's etymologies were phonologically impossible.

Popularity

Owain is one of the few Welsh names to be consistently popular over the last 100 years in England and Wales, particularly with the spelling Owen (and pronunciation //). Patronymics include ''Bowen'' (from ''[a]b Owain'')In the Welsh language, ''ap'' (derived from Old Welsh ''map'') means "Patronymic#Ireland, Scotland and Wales, son of". and ''Owens''.

People

Pre-modern era

:''Ordered chronologically.'' * Owain Danwyn (, Prince of North Wales, proposed as possible candidate for the "real" King Arthur * Owain mab Urien (died c. 595), son of Urien, King of Rheged. He is remembered as Sir Ywain in Arthurian legend. * Owain ap Hywel (Glywysing) (died c. 930), King of Glywysing and Gwent * Owain ap Dyfnwal (fl. 934), King of the Cumbrians * Owain ap Hywel Dda (died c. 988), King of Deheubarth in south Wales and probably also controlled Powys * Owain ap Dyfnwal (died 1015), King of the Cumbrians * Owain Foel (), King of the Cumbrians * Owain Gwynedd (c. 1100–1170), aka Owain ap Gruffydd, King of Gwynedd * Owain Fychan (c. 1125–1187), ruler of part of Powys * Owain Cyfeiliog (c. 1130–1197), prince of part of Powys and poet * Owain Goch ap Gruffydd (in English, "Owain the Red") (died c. 1280), ruler of part of the Kingdom of Gwynedd * Owen de la Pole, also known as Owain ap Gruffydd ap Gwenwynwyn (c. 1257–c. 1293), lord of Powys * Owain ap Dafydd (c. 1275–c. 1325), potential claimant to the title Prince of Gwynedd * Owain Lawgoch (in English "Owain of the Red Hand", also known as Owain ap Thomas ap Rhodri) (c. 1330–1378), a claimant to the throne of Wales * Owain Glyndŵr, sometimes anglicised as Owen Glendower (1359–c. 1416), last Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales * Owen Tudor (in Welsh, Owain ap Maredudd ap Tudur) (c. 1400–1461), Welsh courtier, the second husband of Catherine of Valois (1401–1437), widow of King Henry V of England, and grandfather of King Henry VII of England

Modern era

:''Ordered alphabetically.'' * Owain Arthur (born 1983), Welsh actor * Owain Wyn Evans (born 1984), Welsh journalist, broadcaster and television presenter * Owain Hopkins (born 1980), Welsh cricketer * Owain Jones (disambiguation) * Owain Owain (1929–1993), Welsh novelist, short-story writer and poet, one of the founders of the Welsh Language Society * Owain Williams (disambiguation) * Owain Yeoman (born 1978), Welsh actor * Owain Gwyn Griffiths (born 1964), Welsh Actor

Fictional characters

* Owain, in the role-playing video game ''Fire Emblem Awakening''

References

{{given name Welsh masculine given names