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 Old Irish, also called Old Gaelic ( sga, Goídelc, Ogham script: ᚌᚑᚔᚇᚓᚂᚉ; ga, Sean-Ghaeilge; gd, Seann-Ghàidhlig; gv, Shenn Yernish or ), is the oldest form of the Goidelic/Gaelic language for which there are extensive writt ...

''Ugaine'', ''Augaine'', and suggested that the Irish name could be a British loan. Linguist

Kenneth H. Jackson Prof Kenneth Hurlstone Jackson CBE FRSE FSA DLitt (1 November 1909 – 20 February 1991) was an English linguist and a translator who specialised in the Celtic languages. He demonstrated how the text of the Ulster Cycle of tales, written ''circa ...

proposed that the name is a derivation of the Latin ''Eugenius'', (which was more recently accepted by T.J. Morgan).

Julius Pokorny Julius Pokorny (12 June 1887 – 8 April 1970) was an Austrian-Czech linguist and scholar of the Celtic languages, particularly Irish, and a supporter of Irish nationalism. He held academic posts in Austrian and German universities. Early life a ...

favored a purely Celtic origin, from 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 England and Wales () is one of the three legal jurisdictions of the United Kingdom. It covers the constituent countries England and Wales and was formed by the Laws in Wales Acts 1535 and 1542. The substantive law of the jurisdiction is Eng ...

, particularly with the spelling Owen (and pronunciation //). Patronymics include ''Bowen'' (from '' Owain'')In the Welsh language, ''ap'' (derived from Old Welsh ''map'') means "

son of A son is a male offspring; a boy or a man in relation to his parents. The female counterpart is a daughter. From a biological perspective, a son constitutes a first degree relative. Social issues In pre-industrial societies and some current co ...

". and ''Owens''.

People

Pre-modern era

:''Ordered chronologically.'' *

Owain Danwyn Owain Danwyn ( fl. 440) was a king of Rhos in Gwynedd, Wales, in the mid-5th century. He was the son of Einion Yrth and the father of Cynlas Goch, probably the Cuneglasus excoriated by Gildas. Very little is known of his life. Graham Phillips a ...

(, 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 Sir Ywain , also known as Yvain and Owain among other spellings (''Ewaine'', ''Ivain'', ''Ivan'', ''Iwain'', ''Iwein'', ''Uwain'', ''Uwaine'', etc.), is a Knight of the Round Table in Arthurian legend, wherein he is often the son of King Uri ...

in Arthurian legend. *

Owain ap Hywel (Glywysing) Owain ap Hywel (died Ford, David. ''Early British Kingdoms'':. Accessed 20 Feb 2013.) was a king of Glywysing and Gwent in southeastern Wales. Owain's father Hywel was king of Glywysing until his death around AD 886. Although the unified kingdom ...

(died c. 930), King of Glywysing and Gwent *

Owain ap Dyfnwal (fl. 934) Owain ap Dyfnwal ( fl. 934) was an early tenth-century King of Strathclyde. He was probably a son of Dyfnwal, King of Strathclyde, who may have been related to previous rulers of the Kingdom of Strathclyde. Originally centred in the valley of t ...

, 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) Owain ap Dyfnwal (died 1015) may have been an eleventh-century ruler of the Kingdom of Strathclyde. He seems to have been a son of Dyfnwal ab Owain, King of Strathclyde, and may well have succeeded Dyfnwal's son, Máel Coluim, King of Strathclyd ...

, 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 Owain ap Gruffydd (c. 1130–1197) was a prince of the southern part of Powys and a poet. He is usually known as Owain Cyfeiliog to distinguish him from other rulers named Owain, particularly his contemporary, Owain ap Gruffydd of Gwynedd, who is k ...

(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 Owain ap Dafydd ( – ), potential claimant to the title Prince of Gwynedd, was the younger son of Dafydd ap Gruffydd, the last free ruler of Gwynedd and the self-proclaimed Prince of Wales. Nothing is known of his early life, though it is th ...

(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 Owain ap Gruffydd (), commonly known as Owain Glyndŵr or Glyn Dŵr (, anglicised as Owen Glendower), was a Welsh leader, soldier and military commander who led a 15 year long Welsh War of Independence with the aim of ending English rule in Wa ...

, sometimes anglicised as Owen Glendower (1359–c. 1416), last Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales *

Owen Tudor Sir Owen Tudor (, 2 February 1461) was a Welsh courtier and the second husband of Queen Catherine of Valois (1401–1437), widow of King Henry V of England. He was the grandfather of Henry VII, founder of the Tudor dynasty. Background Owe ...

(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 Owain Charles Hopkins (born 18 December 1980) is a Welsh cricketer. Hopkins is a right-handed batsman who bowls right-arm off break. He was born at Bridgend, Glamorgan. Hopkins made his Minor Counties Championship debut for Wales Minor Co ...

(born 1980), Welsh cricketer *

Owain Jones (disambiguation) Owain Jones may refer to: * Owain Jones (geographer) (born 1957), professor of environmental humanities * Owain Jones (footballer, born 1996), Welsh footballer * Owain Tudur Jones Owain Tudur Jones (born 15 October 1984) is a Welsh former fo ...

* Owain Owain (1929–1993), Welsh novelist, short-story writer and poet, one of the founders of the Welsh Language Society *

Owain Williams (disambiguation) Owain Williams is the name of: * Owain Williams (politician), Welsh politician *Owain Williams (rugby union) (1964–2021), Welsh rugby union player *Owain Fôn Williams (born 1987), Welsh footballer *Owain Williams, Welsh guitarist with the rock g ...

* Owain Yeoman (born 1978), Welsh actor *

Owain Gwyn Griffiths Owain () is a name of Welsh origin, variously written in Old Welsh 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, Y ...

(born 1964), Welsh Actor

Fictional characters

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

References

{{given name Welsh masculine given names