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Gowen Family History

Gowen Surname Meaning

Irish (Laois): from Ó Gobhann or Mac Gobhann see Gowan. Irish: alternatively from a shortened form of Mag Eoghain see Keown.

English (southern): variant of Gowing.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


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Where is the Gowen family from?

You can see how Gowen families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Gowen family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Gowen families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 209 Gowen families living in Norfolk. This was about 29% of all the recorded Gowen's in United Kingdom. Norfolk had the highest population of Gowen families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Gowen surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Gowen ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Incapacitated and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Gowen. 8% of Gowen men worked as an Incapacitated and 76% of Gowen women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Gowen were Agricultural Worker and Unpaid Domestic Duti.

View Census Data for Gowen | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Incapacitated
    8%
  • General Labourer
    8%
  • Bricklayer
    8%
  • Agricultural Worker
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    76%
  • Housewife
    5%
  • Incapacitated
    3%
  • Unpaid Domestic Duti
    3%

What Gowen family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 31,000 census records available for the last name Gowen. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Gowen census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Gowen

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Gowen. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Gowen immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 5,000 military records available for the last name Gowen. For the veterans among your Gowen ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Gowen military records

You've only scratched the surface of Gowen family history

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What is the average Gowen lifespan?

Between 1947 and 2004, in the United States, Gowen life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1948, and highest in 1989. The average life expectancy for Gowen in 1947 was 44, and 77 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Gowen

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Gowen ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

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