MacEwen
| MacEwen, MacEwan, McEwan, McEwen, McEwing | |
|---|---|
| Family name | |
| Meaning | "son of Eógan" |
| Region of origin | Scotland |
| Related names | McCowan, McCune, McCunn, McKeown |
| Clan affiliations | Clan MacEwen Clan Campbell Clan MacDougall |
The Scottish surname MacEwen derives from the Old Gaelic Mac Eoghainn, meaning 'the son of Eoghann'. The name is found today in both Scotland and Northern Ireland. Because it was widely used before its spelling was standardised, the modern name has several common variations.
The earliest attested use is by a Malcolm MacEwen, who witnessed a charter in 1174.[1] The surname has arisen independently in a number of clans throughout Scottish history. Although R. S. T. MacEwen claimed that all these families originated in Clan Ewen of Otter, this assertion is not supported by evidence.[2] Recently however, Clan MacEwen has sought recognition as a clan in its own right.
The name has varied heraldic traditions, reflecting its various origins. The first MacEwen armiger was granted arms in 1743, and his achievement reflects his family's origins in Clan MacDougall. However a second grant of arms in the name made in 1793 to William MacEwan of Glenboig, displays Cameron symbolism in both its crest and its central charge.[2]
If one looks at the geographic distribution of the variants MacEwan and MacEwen in the 1881 census, it becomes apparent that the MacEwen variant mainly occurred in the extreme northeast in Kirkwall, and at a lesser density in the adjacent Inverness shire. By contrast in 1881 MacEwan occurred almost exclusively in the southwest in Paisley (around Argyll). There is no overlap of the distributions, with neither name appearing in the intervening Perth shire. variants such as McEwan and McEwen are mainly in Perth and more southerly regions of Scotland, perhaps suggesting that these forms arose as people moved in more recent times.
There are three versions of MacEwen tartan, the first of which is listed in Vestiarium Scoticum as Farquharson.[3]
Notable People
- born after 1800
- William McEwan (1827−1913), Scottish brewer and politician
- Thomas (Tom) McEwan (1846−1914), Scottish artist
- William Macewen, CB, FRS, (1848–1924), Scottish surgeon
- Alexander Robertson MacEwen (1851–1916), Scottish writer, minister, professor and Moderator of the United Free Church of Scotland
- John Blackwood McEwen (1868–1948), Scottish composer
- Alexander MacEwan (1875−1941), former leader of the Scottish Party and the Scottish National Party
- Norman MacEwen CB, CMG, DSO, RAF (1881–1953), senior commander in the Royal Air Force during the first half of the 20th century
- John "Cap" McEwan (1892–1970), American football coach of Army, Oregon and Holy Cross
- Clifford McEwen (1896−1967), Canadian air marshal
- born after 1900
- John "Black Jack" McEwen (1900−1980), Prime Minister of Australia
- Annie McEwen (1900−1967), wife of Australian Prime Minister John McEwen
- Grant MacEwan (1902−2000), Canadian academic, politician, and author
- John "Jock" McEwan (1903-1957), footballer: S.F.A. Cup Winner with Kilmarnock F.C., 1929.
- Sydney MacEwan (1908−1991), Scottish tenor
- Billy McEwan (1914−1991), Scottish footballer
- Robert C. McEwen (1920−1997), U.S. Representative from New York (1965–1981)
- Robert MacEwen (1928–2013), former Rugby Union international who represented Scotland from 1954 to 1958
- Geraldine McEwan (1932−2015), British actress
- Gwendolyn MacEwen (1941–1987), Canadian poet and novelist
- Paul MacEwan (1943− ), politician and MLA in Nova Scotia, Canada
- Ian McEwan (1948− ), English novelist
- born after 1950
- Bob McEwen or Robert D. "Bob" McEwen (1950− ), U.S. Representative from Ohio (1981–1993)
- Rob McEwen (1950− ), businessman
- Billy McEwan (1951− ), Scottish footballer and manager
- James McEwan (1952− ), American slalom canoeist and writer
- Anne McEwen (politician) (1954− ), Australian Labor Party politician
- Mark McEwen (1954− ), American media personality
- Mark McEwan (1957− ), Canadian celebrity chef
- Stan McEwan (1957− ), Scottish footballer
- David McEwan (producer) (1972− ), Australian/British music producer and musician
- Joe McEwing (1972− ), American baseball player
- Robbie McEwen (1972− ), Australian-Belgian cyclist
- Sparky McEwen (1968− ), American football player
- Andrea McEwan (1978− ), Australian singer
- David McEwan (footballer) (1982− ), Scottish footballer
- Danielle McEwan (1991− ), American ten-pin bowler
Places
- Castle MacEwen, Argyll, Scotland
- MacEwan, Edmonton, a neighbourhood in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- MacEwan Glen, a neighbourhood in Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- McEwen, Tennessee, a place in the United States
- Division of McEwen, an electoral district in the Australian House of Representatives in Victoria
Other
- MacEwan University, a university in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
- MacEwan-Pratt Petrol Railcar, type of railcar in New Zealand
- Macewen's operation, operation for the cure of inguinal hernia, developed by Scottish surgeon Sir William Macewen (1864–1924)
- Macewen's sign, sign used to help to diagnose hydrocephalus (accumulation of excess cerebrospinal fluid) and brain abscesses
- McEwans, a beer produced by the Caledonian brewery
See also
- Clan Ewen of Otter
- Clan MacEwen
- Eógan (given name), Ewen, Euan, Owain
- List of Scottish Gaelic surnames
- Alfred McEwen
References
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