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The McGowan DNA Project is collecting & studying DNA data on McGowan (and all other possible spellings).  The purpose of these tests is to distinguish the relationships between the various lines.  Please click the link along the top border labeled 'y-Results' to see the Y-DNA Results for this project.

Spelling variations of this family name include: Smith, MacGowan, McGowan, MacGowin, McGowin, MacGowen, McGowen, Gow, Gowan, Gowen, Gowin, MacGavin and many more. (Origin Gaelic) From Gow, a smith; the son of a smith, Smithson.  Mac an Ghobhain was anglicized to MacGowan and Gowan. Mac Gobha, later McGow, was also made MacGowan. As the maker of arms and armor, the smith was an important hereditary position in each clan and were found throughout the Highlands. The Gowan usually ranked as third officer in the chief's household.

In Scotland: First found in Invernessshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Nis) divided between the present day Scottish Council areas of Highlands and Western Isles and consisting of a large northern mainland area and various island areas off the west coast. The shire was anciently both a Pictish and Norweigian stronghold, where they were seated from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

In Ireland: One of the chief families of Breffny, the McGowan's originated in Co. Cavan near the Co. Leitrim border.  O'Gowan is also the name of an ancient family in Ulster, centered near Ballygowan in Co. Down. THE Chiefs and Clans of Ulidia, and the territories they possessed in the twelfth century, as collected from O'Dugan's Topography - Gowan (gobha: Irish, a blacksmith) and MacGowan (modernized "Smith," "Smeeth," and "Smythe") were of the Irian race and of the Clan-na-Rory, who descend from the warrior Conail Kearnach and were mostly expelled by the English into Donegal, whence large numbers of them emigrated to the county Leitrim, and more lately to the county Cavan.

Most of us realize we have gone as far as possible with traditional methods of research (courthouse records, bible records, etc.). We have lots of theories about how our lines mesh, but we don’t have any proof positive. DNA testing can help solve that problem and could put us on the right track, showing us which lines are related, and which are not. Our group is looking for DNA sampling from any McGowan (all spellings) male, in a direct line of documented descent.  These are a few of the surname spellings that we encourage to participate in our project: McGowan, McGowen, McGowin, McGown, Gow, Gowan, Gowen, Gowin, Gowing, Smith. See our Recruitment Page for details on joining our project. See our Miscellaneous Page for details on contributing to the "General Fund." You can also go to FamilyTreeDna at http://www.familytreedna.com/group-join.aspx?Group=McGowan and order your kit today!

For basic information, visit World Families Network and check out the "Getting Started" block