Surname Owen - Meaning and Origin

Ancestral Journey - Unveiling the Mysteries of the Owen Surname Through an iGENEA DNA Test

I decided to delve into my ancestral past and took the iGENEA DNA test to unfold the mystery around my surname, Owen. The results were shocking and exciting, revealing ties to populations across Western Europe, going back to the Bronze Age and even further to the Paleolithic period.

C. Owen

Owen: What does the surname Owen mean?

The surname Owen is of Welsh origin and is derived from the first name Owain, which is itself derived from the Latin name Eugenius, meaning "well-born" or "noble". The last name initially began as a patronymic surname, with people named as "Owen's son". As surnames evolved over time, Owen became a common family name not only in Wales but also in England and other English-speaking countries. In present day, Owen is a widespread surname held by several notable personalities in various fields such as science, arts, sports and politics.

Owen: Where does the name Owen come from?

The last name Owen is a very common surname throughout the world. It is most prevalent in English-speaking countries, particularly in the United Kingdom and Wales. There is also a high concentration of the Owen surname in Ireland and the United States.

In the U.K., Owen is a very popular surname, ranking as the 66th most common surname. It originated from Wales and is derived from the name 'Owain'. Wales is home to many Owens, and is the most patronymic nation in the world. In fact, the Owen surname is the third most common Welsh name.

The Owen surname is also popular in the United States. The 2000 Census listed Owen as the 136th most common surname with over 134,000 people bearing the name. In more recent American data, the name has risen to the 128th most common surname with estimates of almost 200,000.

The popularity of the last name Owen is also evident in the rest of the English-speaking world, including Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. This widespread popularity of the Owen name is evidence of its historical prominence, which spans multiple countries and cultures.

Variations of the surname Owen

Owen is one of the most old and powerful surnames with a long history of origins in the British Isles. This ancient surname has changed throughout the years and there are many alternate spellings and variants, including ‘Owens’, ‘Owin’, ‘Owynes’, ‘MacOwen’, ‘McOwen’, ‘MacEwan’ and ‘MacOwain’.

Originally, the surname Owen was derived from the Welsh personal name Owain, meaning “the Well-Born”, which is closely related to the Celtic word for “noble”. It is believed that Owain was introduced to Britain by the Roman Empire, and variations of the name began to appear in both England and Wales. During the Middle Ages, the surname Owen was most common in Wales, where the spelling of the family name began to change as it combined with other local languages.

The first recorded spelling of the surname Owen occurred in 1273 in London, referred to as “Adam Owines”. This spelling evolved into many different versions including ‘Owen’, ‘Owens’, ‘Owynes’, ‘Owins’ and ‘Owins’. Spelling variations continued as the British Isles evolved into different regions with distinct languages.

The name Owain was also used in Scotland, where it evolved into the surnames MacOwen, MacEwan, and MacOwain. Although the Gaelic orthography is slightly different from other versions, the roots of the surname are the same—just like in Ireland and Wales.

As the surname Owen traveled north, it took on slight modifications as it combined with other languages like Saxon, Norse, and Gaelic. Even today, the surname Owen remains a highly-popular surname across the British Isles, having spread far beyond its original Welsh roots.

Famous people with the name Owen

• Clive Owen: Actor best known for his roles in films such as Closer, Children of Men, and Inside Man.
• Owen Wilson: Actor best known for his roles in films such as Meet The Parents, Wedding Crashers, and Zoolander.
• Michael Owen: Soccer player who played for various teams including Manchester United and Liverpool.
• Owen Teale: Actor best known for his roles on Game of Thrones and Torchwood.
• John Owen: Puritan theologian most known for his work, The Death of Death in the Death of Christ.
• Wilfred Owen: Poet best known for his war poems including “Dulce et Decorum Est” and “Disabled.”
• Gary Owen: Actor and stand-up comedian most known for his roles in The House Bunny and Think Like a Man series.
• Kevin Owen: Professional wrestler best known for his time with Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW).
• Gareth Owen: Welsh rugby union player who played for Swansea RFC and London Wasps.
• Owen Farrell: Rugby Union player who currently plays for Saracens and England.

Other surnames

OwensOweston