Surname Bowen - Meaning and Origin

Journeying Through Time: Bowen Lineage Unveiled Through iGENEA DNA Test

Curious about the origin and genetic links of the Bowen surname, I underwent a DNA test with iGENEA and was astounded by the results. I journeyed back in time, uncovering the Celtic roots of R1b haplogroup, exploring potential Viking connections, and discovering related surnames, all of which paint a vibrant picture of the Bowen ancestry.

O. Bowen

Bowen: What does the surname Bowen mean?

The surname Bowen is of Welsh origin and is derived from the Welsh personal name “Owen”. The name is patronymic, meaning it is created based on the name of a male ancestor, in this case, someone’s father or grandfather with the name Owen. The prefix “ab” or “ap” in Welsh means “son of,” and over time, "ap Owen" was combined and eventually slurred into Bowen.

The name Owen in Welsh either signifies "well born" or "youth", so Bowen could be interpreted to mean "son of the well-born (noble)" or "son of youth". The name has been widely spread across Wales and parts of England and has many variations in its spelling including Bowan and Bowin. It dates back to Welsh legend with one of the earliest recorded Owens being a prince during the 9th century but the transformation to Bowen likely didn’t happen until the 15th or 16th centuries. Despite being hundreds of years old, it’s still a popular surname today.

Bowen: Where does the name Bowen come from?

The surname Bowen is of Welsh origin, deriving from the Welsh personal name Owain, often anglicized as Owen. The name translates to “son of Owen” with the prefix "ab" or "ap" signifying "son of," later truncated to 'Bo'. Owen is a traditional Welsh name meaning 'young warrior' or 'well born'. The Bowen surname was first found in Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire counties, in Southwest Wales.

Today, the name Bowen is commonly found throughout the English-speaking world, especially in Wales, England, the United States, Australia, and Canada. The name spread around the world with migrations in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. Many Welsh immigrants carried the name to the United States during the colonial period, and it later spread westward with the American frontier. In the modern era, Bowen remains most common in its country of origin Wales, though it can be found in diverse nations across the globe.

Variations of the surname Bowen

The surname Bowen is of Welsh origin often taken as an anglicized form of ab Owain meaning ‘son of Owain.’ The name Owain, which is also anglicized as Owen, is a variant of Eugene originating from Greek meaning 'well-born' or ‘noble.’

The variants and alternate spellings for Bowen can include the following: Bowen, Bowan, Bowin, Bowon, Bowun, Bowwen, Bohan, and Bowene. The spelling adopted would greatly depend on individual families, regions, and historical periods.

Bowen is also believed to have been altered to similar surnames like Bowens, Bohen, Boen, Bown and Bowne, often due to misspellings or regional accents. On the other hand, it also has close relations with Bowen-like Welsh surnames such as Owens, Bevan, or Bowen-Jones .

Furthermore, it is important to note that the use and distribution of these variations are likely to change over time due to the influence of dialects, cultural blending, and marriage. It can also be found with Irish or Scottish prefixes such as McBowen, O'Bowen, or MacBowen, in families of mixed heritage.

Famous people with the name Bowen

• Julie Bowen: An American actress, best known for her role in the TV show "Modern Family."
• Andrea Bowen: An American actress notable for her role on "Desperate Housewives."
• Michael Bowen: An American actor who starred in films like "Kill Bill."
• Bruce Bowen: A retired American professional basketball player.
• Peter Bowen: A British author known for his mystery novels.
• Gary Bowen: A well-known Canadian artist.
• T-Bone (Louis) Bowen: An American guitar bluesman.
• Catherine Drinker Bowen: An American historian and a biographer.
• Elizabeth Bowen: An Irish novelist and short story writer.
• Keegan Connor Tracy (born Tracy Armstrong): A Canadian actress who adopted Bowen as her stage name.
• Ryan Bowen: An Australian professional basketball player and coach.
• Roger Bowen: An American comedic actor and best known for his portrayal of Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake in the film "M*A*S*H."
• Clare Bowen: An Australian actress, singer, and songwriter best known for her role in the American TV series "Nashville."
• Humphry Bowen: A British chemist and botanist.
• James Bowen: A British author known for his autobiographical novel "A Street Cat Named Bob."

Other surnames

BoweBöweBowenkerkBowensBowerBowermanBowersBowes