Mcewen Family History

Scottish and Irish: Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Eoghain ‘son of Eoghan’ a widespread and old personal name possibly derived from eo ‘yew’ meaning ‘born of the yew-tree’ (see Ewen). It was Latinized as Eugenius (see Eugene). This was the name of one of the two sons of Niall of the Nine Hostages; the other was Conall.

The usual spelling in Ireland is McKeown. Anglicized form of Gaelic Mac Eathain ‘son of Eathan’ a personal name from Latin Johannes (see John). John was taken into Irish as Eoin at first; Seán is a later form.

In later Irish, as in the surnames, the personal names Eoghan and Eoin were often confused.