This famous surname is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic "Mac Eoghainn", the prefix "mac" denoting son of, plus the personal name "Eoghann" meaning Ewen, itself coming from the Greek "eugenes", well-born. The surname dates back to the late 11th Century (see below). Early recordings include Gilpatrick mac Ewen, who was one of the perambulators of the lands of Kynblathmund (1219), Patrick McEwyn, provost of Wygtoun (1331), and Johannes M'Eogan, who was cited in 1355 to give evidence regarding the lands of Glassre in Argyllshire. Variations in the spelling of the surname include MacEwen, MacEwen, MacEwing, MacEuen, McEuen, and McEwan. Church Records of Edinburgh list the christenings of John, son of Charles and Christian McEwen, on April 2nd 1699, and of Patrick, son of John and Eupham McEwen, on March 24th 1727. A Coat of Arms granted to the family is per fesse blue and gold, in chief a silver lion rampant gorged with a green antique crown, in base a blue garb. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Malcolm Mac Ewen, which was dated 1174, witnessed a charter in the "Cartulary of the Priory of St. Andrew's", during the reign of King William of Scotland, knonw as "The Lion", 1165 - 1214. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

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