Title: Cowan (surname) - Wikipedia
Headings: Cowan (surname)
Cowan (surname)
Contents
As a Scottish or Irish surname
As a Jewish surname
Notable people with the surname
See also
References

Content: Cohn, Conn, Kahn, Kohn (e) and Kohner (Germany and Austria); Cahn, Cahen, Cahon, Caen and Cain (France); Coen (Italy); Cahan, Cahona, Kahana, Kahano, Kahane, Kon, Koihen, Kagan, Kogan, Kaplan, Kohnowsky, Koganovitch, Kahanow, Kahansky, Konstamm (Eastern Europe). Cohan, Cohane, Cohne, Cone, Coon, Kan and Koon are recorded in the United States. The old title Kohen Tzedek, meaning in Hebrew "authentic priest" (a more accurate translation than the more common term "righteous priest"), indicated authentic lineage. It was abbreviated to Katz, literally "cat" an animal name, in Yiddish and German, and became the source of numerous family names. Cohanim/Cohens who had broken one of the sacred laws or special rules applying to them were sometimes known as Halal and no longer called Cohen. Some took different family names, among them the North African Bettan and Ben Kessous. Distinguished bearers of the Jewish family name Cowan include the British lieutenant colonel Phineas Cowan (1832-1899) and the 20th century Polish-born Australian educator Henry Jacob Cowan.