McGowan is a Gaelic name of the smith — the craftsman who held an honoured place in old Irish society.
Where does the McGowan name come from?
McGowan is an anglicised form of the Gaelic Mac an Ghabhann, “son of the smith,” from gabha, a smith or metalworker. The smith was a figure of great respect in Gaelic Ireland, and the name is sometimes translated directly into English as Smith, especially in County Cavan.
McGowan in Ireland
The name is associated particularly with Connacht and with County Cavan and the north, where Mac an Ghabhann families were long established. As an old Gaelic name, McGowan appears in several spellings and is found today across Ireland and among the diaspora in the United States, Canada, Australia and Britain.
Did you know?
- McGowan comes from the Gaelic Mac an Ghabhann.
- It means “son of the smith.”
- The smith was a respected figure in Gaelic society.
- In Cavan it was often translated as Smith.
- The name is strong in Connacht and the north.
Going, Gowing, Gowen and Goan in Irish records
Patrick Woulfe lists Going, Gowing, Gowen and Goan among the anglicized forms of Mac an Ghobhann, “son of the smith.” His separate entry for Ó Gobhann, “descendant of the smith,” also includes Going and related spellings. Robert Matheson likewise recorded Going with Gowen and Gowing as registration synonyms.
This means the Going spelling can be relevant to McGowan research, but it does not prove that every Going family belongs to one McGowan line. Researchers should compare place, religion, relatives and original records before connecting a Going household with Mac an Ghobhann, Ó Gobhann, McGowan or Smith. See our fuller Irish Smith surname history for the translated occupational form.
Related Irish family names
You may also like McGrath, McHale, and Barry.
Carry the McGowan name with you
We craft heritage gifts for thousands of Irish and Scottish family names — mugs, woven blankets, ornaments and more. To find yours, type it into the search bar at the top of the page, or browse the McGowan collection here.
Frequently asked questions
Is McGowan an Irish surname?
Yes — McGowan is a Gaelic Irish surname, from Mac an Ghabhann, “son of the smith,” found especially in Connacht and Cavan.
What does McGowan mean?
It means “son of the smith,” from gabha, a smith or metalworker.
Is there a McGowan family crest?
Families of the name have heraldic traditions; the crest and tartan artwork on our McGowan products is created as decorative heritage artwork to celebrate the name.
Selected sources and further research
- Patrick Woulfe, Irish Names and Surnames: Mac an Ghobhann
- Patrick Woulfe, Irish Names and Surnames: Ó Gobhann
- Robert E. Matheson, Going surname synonyms in Irish registration
Continue with the McGowan surname search, or use the store search to explore the Going spelling and other smith-name variants.