This is a early surname of Olde English, Celtic and Gaelic origins. Recorded in many forms including Ewen, Ewens, Ewence, Ewin, Ewins, Hewen and Yewen, it derives from the personal name Eoghann meaning "youth". In medieval documents, the name was Latinized to Eugenius, and consequently its ultimate origin is frequently taken to be the Greek "Eugenios" meaning noble or well born. Ewen and Ewein (without a surname) are recorded in the English Domesday Book of 1086 for the county of Herefordshire. Ewain given as being the "Vicecomes de Scon," witnessed King Malcolm's charter of Scon in 1164, Ywein Ladde was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of the county of Norfolk, England, in 1177, whilst Walter Ywain appears in the Pipe Rolls of Warwickshire, dated 1202. Later examples include Elizabeth Ewen who was christened on August 31st 1609 at St. Michael's church, Wood Street, whilst on February 12th, 1678, Christian Ewan and Mary Cans were married at St James Clerkenwell, both in the city of London. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Douenaldus Ewain, of Dunpeldre. This was dated 1165, in the Scottisd register known as "Saint Marie de Neubotle", during the reign of King William, known as "The Lion of Scotland", 1165 - 1214. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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