Surname Owing - Meaning and Origin

Owing: What does the surname Owing mean?

Owing is a surname of English origin though its original meaning is not clearly defined. Most likely, it evolved from a place name or professional occupation as was common in historical English societies. Some suggest that it is an abbreviated form of "Owings," which is a patronymic surname referring to "son of Owen." Owen, in old Welsh, means "young warrior" or "well-born."

It's also possible that Owing could have been derived from "owing," a term used in accounting, a possibly indicating that an ancestor worked in finance or trade. However, given the age of the name, this seems less likely.

As such, without specific historical records pertaining to the family name 'Owing', the definitive origin and meaning of this surname remain uncertain. Like many surnames, the meaning could also change throughout generations and relocation. It is important to remember that surnames can have multiple origins and the exact meaning can be specific to individual family histories.

Generally, surnames are unique to each lineage making it key to refer to genealogical records for accurate interpretations.

Owing: Where does the name Owing come from?

The last name Owing is most commonly found in Europe and parts of North America. In Europe, the name is most prevalent in the Netherlands, where it is estimated that around 6,000 people carry the last name. It is also quite common in England, with around 3,000 people having the name. In the US and Canada, the number of bearers of the surname is much smaller, with just over 1,000 names registered in the US alone.

The etymology of the name Owing is believed to be of Anglo-Saxon origin. Its original meaning is thought to be the one who owns a small plot of land. This is further suggested by the myriad of spellings associated with it, such as 'Owens' and 'Owenson'. The name Owing is also known to be derived from the even older Old English word 'wena', which referred to a small plot of land.

Today, people with the last name Owing can be found in many countries around the world, with the most common countries being the Netherlands, England, the US and Canada. It is believed that the oldest records of the surname can be traced back to 12th century England and the Netherlands. As a result, many bearers of the surname today are thought to be descended from those families.

Variations of the surname Owing

The surname Owing is most commonly spelled as Owing, but there are also some variants and alternate spellings for the surname. These spellings include Owings, Owynge, Owinge, Owin, Owen, Ownge, Owinnges, and Owyng.

Owing is an English and German patronymic surname, meaning “son of Owe,” a Middle English given name of Germanic origin that is derived from the Old English Aelfwine, which means “elf friend.”

In England, Owing is derived from the Old English personal name Owy or Uwe. It is also found in counties Cornwall, Devon, Somersetshire, and Wiltshire.

The variant surnames Owings and Owynge were mainly found in east and west of London but also in Kent and North Wales. These were typically recorded in documents during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

Owinge was a variant spelling commonly found in documents of the seventeenth century. It was a patronymic name formed by the addition of an -e at the end of the personal name Owy or Uwe.

Owin is a variant of the surname Owing found in records in the south and west of England.

Owen is a variant of the surname Owing commonly found in Wales, particularly Glamorgan and Carmarthenshire.

Ownge, Owinnges, and Owyng are other variants of the Owing surname found in records of Cornwall and Devon.

In Germany, variants of the surname Owing include Uwe, Uwens, Uwent, Uwenz, Uwez, Uwensz, Uwie, Uwenz, Uwense, and Uwenjes.

Famous people with the name Owing

• Jeff Owing: Jeff is the former State Senator for Michigan's 24th District. He served from 2017 to 2021 and was the highest-ranking Republican in the Michigan Senate.
• Steve Owing: Steve is a British television presenter and former radio host best known for his presenting on BBC's music shows, such as Pepsi Chart Show, until he retired in 2004.
• Mark Owing: Mark is an Australian rules footballer who spent his entire playing career with the Geelong Cats in the Australian Football League.
• Ben Owing: Ben is an American sailor and member of the U.S. sailing team. He currently competes in the 49er FX, a two-person keelboat class, and has won multiple world and national championships.
• Margarete Owing Miller: Margarete is a researcher, author and professor focusing on consumer behavior. She holds a Ph.D. in business administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and currently serves as professor of marketing and director of the Center for Research in Retail at Montana State University.
• Archie Owing: Archie is a former professional American football player who played for several NFL teams in the 1950s and 1960s, most notably the Philadelphia Eagles. He was the first African American player to join the Eagles' roster and is widely credited with being one of the founders of the team's "hurricane" defense.
• Katie Owing: Katie is a British Actress known for her appearances in TV shows such as Doctor Who, Torchwood, and Casualty.

Other surnames

OwinOwings