Bowen
A Welsh surname meaning “son of Owen,” originally from the patronymic form Ap Owen.
The #407 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 3,917 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Bowen is generally explained as a Welsh patronymic from Ap Owen, meaning “son of Owen.” In Welsh naming practice, ap means “son of,” and over time Ap Owen contracted and merged into the surname Bowen. The name Owen itself is of old Welsh origin and was widely used as a personal name in Wales.
History
The surname is especially associated with Wales, and older genealogical works note it as common in Pembrokeshire. In English records, the name appears in many spelling forms as Welsh patronymics were standardized into fixed surnames. It is now well established in Wales and also widely found in English-speaking countries through migration.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Older surname dictionaries often grouped Bowen with other Welsh surnames formed from ap + a father's name, like Bevan and Beddoe.
From the historical record
“ville and Bojde, which see. DeBowell. H.R. BOWEN. Welsh, Ab-Owen, Owen's son. Pembrokeshire is the greatest liabiiat of this name. • BOWER. A Scotticism for Bowyer. Also a room in a feudal mansion. See under Borrer. BOWERMAN. A Chamberlain. See mider Borrer. BOWERS. See Bower.”
— Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United KingdomNotable people named Bowen
- Elizabeth Bowen (1899–1973)
- Jarrod Bowen (b. 1996)
- Mark Bowen (b. 1963)
Sourced from Wikidata; linked to their Wikipedia page.