OWEN
The surname Owen is chiefly associated with the British Isles, and in particular with Wales, where it has been one of the most common family names for many centuries.
The name derives from the personal name Owain, itself a Celtic form of the Greek name Eugenius. The Greek word eugenes means “well‑born” or “noble”, and this meaning is retained in the surname, signalling an ancestral claim to a noble or respectable lineage. An alternative Celtic source has also been proposed: the pre‑7th‑century personal name Ouein, which may have arisen from the Welsh word oen (a lamb) or from the Latin eugerius, again meaning “well‑born”. Both linguistic streams could have contributed to the later development of the surname.
Early documentary evidence records the name in a variety of spellings, including Owan, Owens, Owin, Howen, Oen, Oene and Onn. The first known appearance of the family name in a legal context is the entry for Ralph Owein in the Warwickshire Assize Rolls of 1221, during the reign of King Henry III. Subsequent entries from the London registers of the eighteenth century, such as the christening witness Richard Oen (1730) and the marriage of Ann Onn (1791), demonstrate the spread of the name beyond its Welsh heartland.
Within Wales the surname Owen has consistently ranked among the most popular, second only to Jones in frequency. Its widespread use reflects the long tradition of the personal name Owain, which has been borne by at least forty figures in early Welsh legend, including the thirteenth‑century chieftain Owen Gwynedd and the celebrated national hero Owain Glyndŵr (1353‑1416). Glyndŵr, regarded as the true Prince of Wales, established a Welsh parliament and almost secured an independent kingdom before his defeat by the forces of King Henry IV of England.
In sum, the surname Owen encapsulates a rich tapestry of linguistic influences—Greek, Latin and Celtic—and a deep‑rooted presence in Welsh cultural and historical identity, making it a prominent example of British onomastic heritage.
Typical given names associated with the Owen surname
Male
- Christopher
- David
- Gareth
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Richard
- Robert
- William
Female
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Helen
- Julie
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Owen in...
Braille
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Morse
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Did you know?
According to a survey carried out by Democracy Club, politicians and candidates with the surname Owen are most likely to say that their favourite biscuit is a Chocolate Hobnob.
There are approximately 69,666 people named Owen in the UK. That makes it the 90th most common surname in Britain. Around 1,070 in a million people in Britain are named Owen.
Surname type: From given name or forename
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Wales
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Welsh
Famous people named Owen
- Clive Owen - Actor
- Michael Owen - Football player
- Wilfred Owen - Poet and soldier (1893 to 1918)
- David Owen - Politician
- Alison Owen - Film producer
- Mark Owen - Singer-songwriter
- Rachel Owen - Photographer, printmaker and academic expert on medieval Italian literature (1968 to 2016)
- Richard Owen - Biologist (1804 to 1892)
- Robert Owen - Welsh social reformer (1771 to 1858)
- Reginald Owen - Actor (1887 to 1972)
- Lloyd Owen - Actor
- Sid Owen - Actor
- Nicholas Owen - Journalist
- Nicholas Bond-Owen - Actor
- Jonny Owen - Actor and producer
- Nick Owen - Journalist
- Terry Owen - Football player
- Tim Owen - Barrister
- Glyn Owen - Actor (1928 to 2004)
- Michael Owen - Welsh rugby union football player
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.