Ancient history

Where does the surname mcEwen come from?

McEwen is a patronymic surname, derived from the given name Ewen. It is of Scottish and Irish origin, and also a common surname in New Zealand. In Scotland, the surname is traditionally associated with the Clan MacEwen, a Highland clan that originated in Argyll and Lochaber. The name McEwen is composed of the Gaelic prefix "Mac" (meaning "son of") and the personal name "Ewen", which is derived from the Gaelic name "Eóghan" (meaning "born of the yew tree"). The surname McEwan, with the "w", is a variant spelling of McEwen and has similar origins.