Surname Gowdy - Meaning and Origin

Gowdy: What does the surname Gowdy mean?

The surname Gowdy is derived from the Scottish and Gaelic word ‘Gow’, meaning proud and noble. It is believed to have been used as a nickname or personal name. It is especially popular in Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Gowdy usually refers to someone who is proud and dignified, strong-willed, and having a strong sense of loyalty. It is usually thought of as a description of an honorable and respected person. It might also have originally referred to someone with a good reputation, as this was highly valued in the past.

The roots of the surname Gowdy can be traced back to the 12th century in Scotland. It is believed that the family was an ancient Scottish clan and were renowned hunters and brave warriors. They were known for being wise and noble, and for having a sharp wit.

The Gowdys have a long and proud history, and the name is still in use today, although not as commonly as it once was. It is a reminder of a long line of proud warriors, and a reminder of the importance of honor and courage. The Gowdy name is still respected and admired by many, and still carries with it a spirit of pride.

Gowdy: Where does the name Gowdy come from?

The Gowdy surname is most commonly found in Scotland and the United Kingdom, with Scotland having the highest concentration of the name. The surname may also be found in Canada, the United States, and Australia, which all have smaller populations of Gowdys.

Traditionally, the Gowdy surname originated from the Scottish-Gaelic word “goudy,” which translates to “hairy” in English, likely referring to a particularly hairy individual, which in turn became a nickname for someone of that name. Many Gowdys bear the family crest of Clan MacKay, a prominent Scottish clan.

In Scotland, the most common locations where the Gowdy name is found are Glasgow, Fife, Edinburgh, Inverness, Stranraer, Renfrewshire, Ayrshire, and the Hebrides Islands. In the United Kingdom, the name is most commonly found in London and the Midlands, with smaller populations throughout the country.

In Canada, the Gowdy surname is most often found in Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, and the Atlantic provinces. In the United States, the surname is most common in Texas and Florida, although there are many smaller pockets of the Gowdy name throughout the country. In Australia, the Gowdy surname is most common in Victoria and New South Wales.

Overall, the Gowdy surname is most commonly found in Scotland and the United Kingdom, with North America and Australia having significantly smaller populations of individuals bearing the name.

Variations of the surname Gowdy

Gowdy is a surname with Scottish and Northern Irish origins, which has a variety of different variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variant of Gowdy is Gowdie, although other spellings include Goudie, Gowdie, and Gadie. The two most common surnames of the same origin as Gowdy are Goodie and Goudy.

Goodie, which is the most common variant of Gowdy, is an old Scottish surname derived from the personal name Good, which deriving from the Old English word “Good”, meaning “good” or “able”. The name Goodie has two distinct branches, one emanating from Ayrshire and the other from Aberdeenshire.

Goudy, the second most common surname of the same origin as Gowdy, originated in the Scottish Highlands in the 11th century. It is an anglicized spelling of the Gaelic name “Goud”, which means “noble”.

The other two variants of Gowdy, Gowdie and Gadie, are both variants of the same root name. Gowdie is often a spelling variant of Goudie or Goodie, while Gadie is a variant of the old Gaelic name “Gathad”, which means “great” or “mighty”.

Overall, Gowdy is a surname with a long history and many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, such as Goodie, Goudy, Gowdie and Gadie. These surnames all originated in Scotland and Northern Ireland, and are connected to the same root name.

Famous people with the name Gowdy

• Trey Gowdy: Trey Gowdy is an American lawyer and politician who served in the United States House of Representatives from 2011 to 2019. He was a Republican representing South Carolina's 4th congressional district.
• Curt Gowdy: Curt Gowdy was an American sportscaster and a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. His career included stints at NBC, ABC and CBS. He was best known for his work on baseball, football, and the Olympics.
• Phil Gowdy: Phil Gowdy is notable for being the editor of the Baseball Encyclopedia, arguably the most comprehensive publication of all time on the game of baseball.
• Ted Gowdy: Ted Gowdy was a major league umpire in the American League from 1931 to 1951. He spent 22 years umpiring, mainly in the American League but also served two years in the National League during World War II.
• John Gowdy: John Gowdy is a research ecologist at the Marine Biological Laboratory and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. He has published on a wide range of environmental topics, from fisheries recovery efforts to climate change mitigation and adaptation.
• Richard Gowdy: Richard Gowdy is a Boston-based actor who has starred in theater productions, short films, and commercials.
• Will Gowdy: Will Gowdy is a professional photographer and cinematographer based out of New York City. He is known for his work with some of the world's top brands, as well as his sharp sense of fashion.
• Christine Gowdy: Christine Gowdy is a distinguished professor of physics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She is a founding member and former Director of the UW-Madison Center for Biology and Society.
• Bill Gowdy: Bill Gowdy is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for five years from1959 to 1964. He is best known for playing for the Cleveland Indians.
• Sam Gowdy: Sam Gowdy is a former college and professional American Football player who played defensive back in the National Football League for the Detroit Lions and New Orleans Saints. He is now a professional actor, and resides in California.

Other surnames

GowderGowdeyGowdie