Owen

Owen is a Welsh and English surname originating from the Welsh given name Owain. Originally a patronymic, Owen became a fixed family name in Wales during the reign of Henry VIII. Etymologists mainly trace Owain to the Latin Eugenius, meaning 'noble-born' or 'well-born'. The name appears in Old Welsh as Ougein or Eugein, and in Middle Welsh as Owein, Iwein, or Ywein.

Etymology

According to T. J. Morgan and Prys Morgan in Welsh Surnames, the name is a derivation of Latin Eugenius, which was Latinized as Eugenius or Ou(u)ein. They note less-likely alternative etymologies, such as connection to Celtic roots for 'sheep' or 'desire' combined with the suffix -gen meaning 'born of'. The Irish form Eoghan is a cognate and near-homonym.

Historical Significance

The given name Owain appears in several notable historical figures. Owain mab Urien was a 6th-century prince of Rheged who fought against the Angles. The 12th-century French poet Chrétien de Troyes adapted him into Yvain for his Arthurian romance Yvain, the Knight of the Lion, representing one of the Knights of the Round Table, son of King Urien of Gore. Later figures include Owain the Great, a 12th-century king of Gwynedd, and Owain Glyndŵr, leader of the Welsh revolt against English rule. As a surname, Owen became common in Wales and spread to England, with related forms including Bowen (Welsh) and Owens.

• Origin: Patronymic from Owain, becoming fixed in Welsh at time of Henry VIII
• Meaning: 'Noble-born' or 'well-born' (from Latin Eugenius)
• Type: Surname
• Regions: Wales and English-speaking countries.