Cowan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
Scotland
Ireland
England

Etymology of Cowan

What does the name Cowan mean?

The ancient Scottish name Cowan was first used by the Strathclyde-Briton people of the Scottish/English Borderlands. The original bearer of the name lived in the Scottish-English border region. The Cowan family lived in Ayrshire, Dumfriesshire, and other Lowland counties. The name may be from the Scottish word cowan, a dry-stone-diker or more likely a corruption of Colquhoun, the common pronunciation of which is Cohoon. "Mr. Alexander Cowan, father of Sir John Cowan of Beeslack is said to have left on record that many of his grandfather's books bore the name of Colquhoun." 1

Early Origins of the Cowan family

The surname Cowan was first found in Ayrshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir), formerly a county in the southwestern Strathclyde region of Scotland where a name like Iain MacComhain becomes Iain Comhan in Gaelic while the English equivalent is Cowan. The name of James Cowhen, chaplain in North Berwick, 1560. 1

Early History of the Cowan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Cowan research. Another 105 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1852, 1865, 1868, 1870, 1871, 1872, 1876 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Cowan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cowan Spelling Variations

Spelling and translation were hardly exact sciences in Medieval Scotland. Sound, rather than any set of rules, was the basis for spellings, so one name was often spelled different ways even within a single document. Spelling variations are thus an extremely common occurrence in Medieval Scottish names. Cowan has been spelled Cowan, Cowans, Cowen, Cowens, MacCowan, MacCowden and many more.

Early Notables of the Cowan family

Notable amongst the family at this time was Frederic Hymen Cowen, born Jan. 29, 1852, at Kingston, Jamaica, exhibited early an extraordinary love of music, was brought to England by his parents when four years old, and placed under the tuition of Sir J. Benedict and Sir J. Goss, whose pupil he remained until the winter of 1865. He then studied at the conservatoires of Leipzig and Berlin, returning to London...
Another 70 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Cowan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cowan World Ranking

In the United States, the name Cowan is the 1,008^th most popular surname with an estimated 29,844 people with that name. 2 However, in Canada, the name Cowan is ranked the 624^th most popular surname with an estimated 8,269 people with that name. 3 And in Australia, the name Cowan is the 621^st popular surname with an estimated 6,268 people with that name. 4 New Zealand ranks Cowan as 421^st with 1,578 people. 5 The United Kingdom ranks Cowan as 560^th with 11,571 people. 6

Migration of the Cowan family to Ireland

Some of the Cowan family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 75 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Cowan migration to the United States +

Such hard times forced many to leave their homeland in search of opportunity across the Atlantic. Many of these families settled along the east coast of North America in communities that would become the backbones of the young nations of the United States and Canada. The ancestors of many of these families have rediscovered their roots in the 20th century through the establishment of Clan societies and other patriotic Scottish organizations. Among them:

Cowan Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Barbara Cowan, who landed in New Jersey in 1685 7
Marjorie Cowan, who arrived in Perth Amboy, NJ in 1685 7
Marjory Cowan, who landed in New Jersey in 1685 7

Cowan Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Ephraim Cowan, who arrived in New England in 1738 7
Andrew Cowan, who settled in South Carolina in 1772
Alexander Cowan, who settled in New York City in 1774
Alexander Cowan, aged 20, who arrived in New York in 1774 7
Andrew Cowan, who landed in New York in 1798 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Cowan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

William Cowan, who arrived in America in 1804 7
James Cowan, who arrived in America in 1811 7
George Cowan, aged 30, who arrived in Connecticut in 1812 7
Christopher Cowan, who landed in America in 1812 7
Edward Cowan, who arrived in America in 1812 7
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Cowan migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Cowan Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Isabella Cowan, aged 20, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Billow" in 1833
Owen Cowan, aged 25, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Cupid" in 1834
Kitty Cowan, aged 19, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Cupid" in 1834
Mary Cowan, aged 22, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Cupid" in 1834
Nancy Cowan, aged 2, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Cupid" in 1834
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Cowan Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century

Walter Cowan, who landed in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907

Cowan migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Cowan Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. James Cowan, British Convict who was convicted in Devon, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8
David Cowan, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Lady Lilford" in 1839 9
Elizabeth Cowan, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Lady Lilford" in 1839 9
Mr. Edward Cowan, English convict who was convicted in Newington, London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl Grey" on 4th October 1842, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 10
Samuel Cowan, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Bolton" in 1849 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Cowan migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Cowan Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Timothy Cowan, Cornish settler travelling from Launceston aboard the ship "Spray" arriving in New Zealand in 1851 12
Mr. Hugh Kennedy Cowan, (b. 1825), aged 34, British farm labourer travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Regina" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 4th December 1859 12
Mrs. Georgina Cowan, (b. 1834), aged 25, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Regina" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 4th December 1859 12
Mr. John Cowan, (b. 1852), aged 7, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Regina" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 4th December 1859 12
Mr. Alexander Murray Cowan, (b. 1855), aged 4, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Regina" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 4th December 1859 12
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Cowan (post 1700) +

Michael L. Cowan (1944-2023), American navy admiral, Surgeon General of the United States Navy
Richard Cowan (1957-2015), American operatic bass-baritone
Mary Louise Cowan (1916-2015), née Shillingburg, American teacher and wife of the physicist, teacher, and university president Donald Cowan
Johnnie Cowan (1913-1993), American Negro league baseball infielder who played from 1934 and 1948, Negro League World Series Champion (1945)
Patrick Edmund Cowan (b. 1986), Canadian-born, free agent American football quarterback
Richard Olsen Cowan (b. 1934), American historian of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Denys B. Cowan (b. 1960), American Eisner Award nominated comic book artist and television producer
William Maurice "Mo" Cowan (b. 1969), American politician and lawyer, United States Senator from Massachusetts in 2013
John Cowan (b. 1952), American soul and progressive bluegrass vocalist and bass guitar player, lead vocalist and bass player for the New Grass Revival
Jerome Palmer Cowan (1897-1972), American stage, film, and television actor who appeared in 219 features, best known for his role as the prosecuting district attorney in Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
... (Another 36 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Cowan family +

HMS Repulse

Mr. Charles Cowan, British Leading Stoker, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 13
Mr. David Cowan, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 13

RMS Lusitania

Mr. Alex Cowan, English Lift Attendant from England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 14

USS Arizona

Mr. William Cowan, American Coxswain from Missouri, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 15

The Cowan Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Sic itur in altum
Motto Translation: This is the way to heaven.

Citations +

Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) LADY LILFORD 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839LadyLilford.htm
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-gray
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The BOLTON 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849Bolton.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html