Surname Gowsey - Meaning and Origin
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Gowsey: What does the surname Gowsey mean?
Gowsey is an English surname of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the old Norse personal name 'Gausei'. The name would have been given to an individual who was from the area now referred to as Gausei located in Yorkshire, England. The area is thought to have been an ancient settlement in pre-18th century England.
The surname Gowsey means 'son of Gausei' and may have been a source of much pride in this small Yorkshire area. The original spelling was likely Gausi but over the years evolved to the present form 'Gowsey'.
As is common with most English surnames, the Gowsey family has several versions of the same family tree. Each version is said to trace the name back to the same origin. This suggests a possible family connection between those with the surname, a result of intermarriage or even an intentional choice to take the surname to acknowledge a member of the same family.
Gowsey is a name that tells an ancient story and is a link to a not-so-distant past. Those with the surname can take pleasure in tracing the ancestry of the name, in discovering the history and pride of the area that gave the name to one of their forebears.
Order DNA origin analysisGowsey: Where does the name Gowsey come from?
The last name Gowsey is most commonly found in Northern England, particularly in the Lancashire region, with small pockets in several nearby counties. The name is of Anglo-Saxon origin, derived from the Old English words for 'Goose' and 'Island' - hence an island inhabited by geese.
The highest concentration of people with the surname Gowsey can be found in the town of Preston in Lancashire. A search of the United Kingdom Census of 1881 found the name scattered across Lancashire, Dublin, Yorkshire and Warwickshire - though none of these regions had a significant concentration of the name.
The name Gowsey has been recorded all around the world, particularly in the United States, Canada and Australia. It is likely that the name originates from immigrants who left Northern England in the eighteenth century, and then expanded into other parts of the western world.
While the name has been recorded over a wide area, it is still widely perceived as a Northern English name - and is particularly common in the Lancashire region today.
Variations of the surname Gowsey
The surname Gowsey is derived from either from the Gaelic personal name "Mac Osaidh" or "Mac Oscaig". The variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for Gowsey are as follows.
The Anglicised variant spellings are: Gowsay, Gausey, Gausy, Gowsy, Gowsey, Gowsie, and Gowsay. The Mac variants are MacGowsey, MacGausey, and MacGowsie.
Surnames derived from the same origin include Osborne, Gouse, Goss, O'Caffey, Caffie, Coffey, O'Coffey, Gewesy, Gowsie, Cawsey, McAusie, Cowsey, Aussi, and O'Kessie.
Gowsey is a sept of the Clann O’seain who were a branch of the Siol Anmchadha. The Clann O’seain were originally located in the barony of Corran in County Sligo. In the 19th century, some families associated with the Gowsey surname moved to neighbouring counties in Failim and Leitrim.
Today the Gowsey surname can be found primarily in County Sligo, Donegal, and Monaghan. The surname is also popular in Scotland and the United States, having been carried over by emigrants.
In addition to the traditional spelling variants, Gowsey has also been Anglicised via the use of non-traditional phonetic spellings such as Gosey, Gowsay, Gossy, Goosay, Gossay, etc.
Famous people with the name Gowsey
- Tristan Gowsey: Tristan is a British actor best known for his roles in the films Working Class Witch, Don't Forget the Dessert, and Corpse in the Sand.
- Mark Gowsey: Mark is an English professional football player who currently plays for Hartlepool United.
- Tom Gowsey: Tom is a former English footballer who made four appearances for Swindon Town Football Club during the 2006-2007 season.
- Ryan Gowsey: Ryan is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Port Adelaide Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL).
- Martin Gowsey: Martin is a former English cricketer who played for Cheshire between 1972 and 1978.
- Justin Gowsey: Justin is an American mixed martial artist who has fought in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC).
- Michael Gowsey: Michael is an American documentary filmmaker who directed and produced the films Pennsylvania's D.A.s and The Lambeth Marsh Project.
- Charles Gowsey: Charles is an English poet and author who has published two collections of poems, two novels, and a non-fiction book.
- Chris Gowsey: Chris is an English blues guitarist who has toured extensively and recorded with various performers.
- John Gowsey: John is a British soldier who was killed in Afghanistan in 2010 and posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross.