Bowen (surname)

Bowen is a Celtic surname representing two separate Celtic ethnicities, the Welsh ab Owain meaning "son of Owen" (Owen meaning 'noble') and the Irish Ó Buadhacháin meaning "descendant of Bohan" (Bohan meaning 'victorious').^[1][2] The Bowen lineage can be traced back to Llwyngwair in the 11th century, near Nevern in Pembrokeshire.^[3] The Bowen surname was adopted in 1424. There are seven Bowen crests and the Bowen/Owen family group share a tartan.^[4][5] The Bowen/Bowens surnames are more commonly found in southern Wales, while the Owen/Owens surnames are more commonly found in northern Wales.^[6]

This is a list of notable people born with the last name Bowen and people who married into the Bowen family.

• Adam Bowen, American billionaire businessman, co-founder of Juul
• Sir Albert Bowen, 1st Baronet (1858–1924), British-Argentinian businessman
• Albert E. Bowen (1875–1953), American member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
• Alex Bowen (skier) (born 1991), American freestyle skier
• Alex Bowen (water polo) (born 1993), American water polo player
• Andrea Bowen (born 1990), American actress and singer
• Andy Bowen (1867–1894), American boxer
• Anthony Bowen (1809–1872) African-American civic leader
• Arthur "Waring" Bowen (1922–1980), solicitor who founded the charity British Rheumatism & Arthritis Association
• Ashley Bowen (1728–1813), American sailor and writer
• Bart Bowen (born 1967), American cyclist
• Ben Bowen (2002–2005), American child who died from cancer
• Ben Bowen (musician) (born 1976), Canadian children's musician
• Benjamin John Bowen (1915–2009), Welsh rugby player
• Bill Bowen (1929–1999), African-American Ohio state senator
• Billy Bowen (1897–1960), Welsh rugby union and rugby league footballer of the 1920s
• Branden Bowen (born 1996), American football player
• Brian Bowen (born 1998), African-American college basketball player
• Bruce Bowen (born 1971), African-American basketball player
• Caroline Bowen (born 1944), Australian speech therapist
• Catherine Drinker Bowen (1897–1973), American author and historian
• Charles Bowen, Baron Bowen (1835–1894), English judge
• Charles Bowen (New Zealand politician) (1830–1917)
• Charles Bowen (Ontario politician) (1923–1992), mayor of Brantford
• Charles W. Bowen, Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard
• Chris Bowen (born 1973), Australian politician
• Christopher Bowen (born 1959), British actor
• Christopher C. Bowen (1832–1880), South Carolina Congressman
• Claire McKay Bowen, American statistician
• Cliff Bowen (1875–1929), Welsh rugby player and cricketer
• Collin Bowen (1919–2011), Welsh archaeologist and landscape historian
• Curtis Bowen (born 1974), Canadian ice hockey player
• Daniel Bowen (born 1970), Australian blogger
• Dave Bowen (1928–1995), Welsh football (soccer) player
• Dave Bowen (Australian footballer) (1886–1946), Australian rules footballer
• David Bowen (cricketer) (born 1971), English cricketer
• David Bowen, Felinfoel (1774–1853), Welsh Baptist minister
• David Bowen (pathologist) (1924–2011), Welsh pathologist
• David Bowen (Wisconsin politician) (born 1987), member of the Wisconsin State Assembly
• David Glyn Bowen (1933–2000), Welsh Congregationalist minister and missionary
• David James Bowen (1925–2017), Welsh scholar
• David John Bowen (1891–1912), Welsh boxer
• David R. Bowen (born 1932), Congressman for Mississippi
• Dayna Bowen Matthew (born Dayna Bowen, fl. 1980s–2020s), American law school dean
• Denis Bowen (1921–2006), South African artist, gallery director and promoter
• Dennis Bowen (1950–2012), American character actor
• Devin Bowen (born 1972), American tennis player
• Diamantina Bowen (c. 1832–1893), wife of British colonial administrator George Bowen
• Drayk Bowen (born 2004), American football and baseball player
• Edmund Bowen (1898–1981), British chemist
• Edward Bowen (footballer, born 1858) (1858–1923), Druids F. C. and Wales footballer
• Edward Bowen (politician) (1780–1866), Irish lawyer and politician in Lower Canada
• Edward Bowen (priest) (1828–1897), Anglican priest in Ireland
• Sir Edward Bowen, 2nd Baronet (1885–1937) of the Bowen Baronets
• Edward Ernest Bowen (1836–1901), Harrow schoolmaster
• Edward George Bowen (1911–1991), Welsh physicist
• Edward L. Bowen (1942–2025), American author of books on horse racing
• Elizabeth Bowen (1899–1973), Irish novelist
• Emanuel Bowen (1694–1767), Welsh engraver
• Emma L. Bowen (1914–1996), community activist in community health care and fair media
• Emma Lucy Gates Bowen (1882–1951), American opera singer
• Ezra A. Bowen, Wisconsin state senator
• E. G. Bowen (1900–1983), Welsh geographer
• E. N. Bowen (1893–1959), American judge, lawyer and Illinois politician
• Francis Bowen (1811–1890), American philosophical writer and educationalist
• Gail Bowen (born 1944), Canadian mystery writer, playwright and educator
• Geoffrey Bowen, Captain in the Battle of Wau
• Sir George Bowen (1821–1899), British colonial administrator
• George Bowen (colonial settler) (1803–1889), military officer and settler of New South Wales
• George Bowen (footballer) (1875–1945), English soccer player
• George Bowen (missionary) (1816–1888), American missionary in India
• George Bowen (New York politician) (1831–1921), New York state senator
• George Bowen (rugby union) (1863–1919), Welsh international rugby union half back
• George Bevan Bowen (1858–1940), Welsh Conservative landowner and county officer
• Sir George Edward Michael Bowen, 6th Baronet (born 1987) of the Bowen baronets
• Geraint Bowen (musician) (born 1963), director of the Hereford Three Choirs Festival
• Geraint Bowen (poet) (1915–2011), Welsh language poet and Archdruid of the Eisteddfod
• Harold G. Bowen Sr. (1883–1965), United States Navy admiral
• Harold L. Bowen (1886–1967), bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Colorado
• Harry Bowen (rugby) (1864–1913), Welsh rugby player
• Harry Bowen (actor) (1888–1941), American character actor
• Henry Bowen (1841–1915), Virginia lawyer, soldier and Congressman
• Henry Chandler Bowen (1813–1896), American businessman
• Herbert Wolcott Bowen (1856–1927), American poet and diplomat
• Hilda Bowen (1923–2002), Bahamian nurse
• Howard Bowen (1908–1989), American economist and college president
• Humphry Bowen (1929–2001), British botanist and chemist
• Ira Sprague Bowen (1898–1973), American astronomer
• James Bowen (artist) (died 1774), English painter and topographer
• James Bowen (Royal Navy officer) (1751–1838)
• James Barton Bowen (1815–1881), mayor of Madison, Wisconsin
• James Bevan Bowen (MP) (1828–1905), British MP for Pembrokeshire
• James Bevan Bowen (RAF officer) (1883–1969)
• James Bowen (railroad executive) (1808–1886), president of Erie Railroad
• James Bowen (author) (born 1979), author of A Street Cat Named Bob
• James Bowen (footballer) (born 1996), English footballer
• James M. Bowen (1793–1880), first owner of "Mirador" residence in Greenwood, Virginia
• Jarrod Bowen (born 1996), English footballer
• Jason Bowen (footballer) (born 1972), Welsh former footballer
• Jason Bowen (ice hockey) (born 1973), retired Canadian ice hockey player
• Jeff Bowen (born 1971), American composer, lyricist and actor
• Jeffrey Bowen, African-American songwriter and music producer
• Jehdeiah Bowen (1817–1891), American politician
• Jenny Bowen (filmmaker), American screenwriter, director, and founder of OneSky
• Jeremy Bowen (born 1960), British journalist and television presenter
• Jimmy Bowen (born 1937), American record producer and pop musician
• Joe Bowen (born 1951), the voice of the Toronto Maple Leafs
• Sir John Edward Mortimer Bowen, 3rd Baronet (1918–1939) of the Bowen baronets
• John Bowen (alderman) (1844–1926), English businessman
• John Bowen (antiquary) (1756–1832), English painter, genealogist and antiquarian
• John Bowen (bishop) (1815–1859), bishop of Sierra Leone
• John Bowen (British author) (1924–2019), British playwright and novelist
• John Bowen (Royal Navy officer) (1780–1827), English sailor; founded Hobart
• John Bowen (pirate) (died 1704), active in the Indian Ocean and Red Sea
• John C. Bowen (1872–1957), Canadian clergyman
• John Clyde Bowen (1888–1978), American federal judge
• John Eliot Bowen (1858–1890), American author
• John Gilbert Bowen (1947–2019), British-born American porn director John T. Bone
• John Henry Bowen (1780–1822), American politician
• John J. Bowen Jr. (born 1955), American entrepreneur
• John S. Bowen (1830–1863), Confederate Army general
• John S. Bowen (executive) (born c. 1927), American advertising executive
• John S. Bowen (sound designer), American synthesizer designer
• John Templeton Bowen (1857–1940), American dermatologist
• John W. Bowen (1926–2011), Republican politician in the Ohio Senate
• John W. Bowen (U.S. Army general) (1910–1977), U.S. Army lieutenant general
• John W. E. Bowen Sr. (1855–1933), African-American Methodist clergyman and educator
• John William Bowen (1876–1965), Member of Parliament for Crewe, 1929–1931
• Jonathan Bowen (born 1956), British computer scientist
• José Antonio Bowen (born 1952), president of Goucher College
• Joseph R. Bowen (1950–2022), American politician
• Katie Bowen (born 1994), New Zealand association footballer
• Keith Bowen (born 1958), English footballer
• Kenneth Bowen (tenor) (1932–2018), Welsh tenor
• Lionel Bowen (1922–2012), Australian politician
• Lorraine Bowen (born 1961), singer/songwriter and comedian
• Luke Kibet Bowen (born 1983), Kenyan marathon runner
• Lynne Bowen (born 1940), Canadian historian, professor and journalist
• Mark Bowen (footballer) (born 1963), Welsh (soccer) footballer
• Mark Bowen (writer), American writer
• Mark Bowen (cricketer) (born 1967), English cricketer
• Sir Mark Edward Mortimer Bowen, 5th Baronet (1958–2014) of the Bowen baronets
• Mark Bowen, lead guitarist of British rock bank Idles
• Matt Bowen (born 1982), Australian rugby player
• Matt Bowen (American football) (born 1976), American football player
• Matt Bowen (musician), American musician
• Michael Bowen (actor) (born 1957), American film and television actor
• Michael Bowen (artist) (1937–2009), American artist
• Michael Bowen (bishop) (1930–2019), British Roman Catholic archbishop
• Murray Bowen (1913–1990), American psychiatrist
• Nanci Bowen (born 1967), American professional golfer
• Natasha Bowen, Nigerian-Welsh writer and teacher
• Nicholas Bowen, educator
• Nigel Bowen (1911–1994), Australian lawyer, politician and judge
• Norman L. Bowen (1887–1956), Canadian geochemist and petrologist
• Oliver Bowen (1942–2000), Canadian engineer
• Otis Bowen (1918–2013), physician and Governor of Indiana
• Peyton Bowen (born 2004), American football player
• Rees Bowen (1809–1879), United States House of Representatives for Virginia
• Richard Bowen (Royal Navy) (1761–1797), officer
• Richard L. Bowen (born 1933), president of Idaho State University
• Richard M. Bowen III, Citigroup whistleblower
• Richard Bowen (bowls) (born 1957), Welsh lawn bowler
• Rob Bowen (born 1981), baseball catcher
• Robert Bowen (politician) (born 1948), Colorado House of Representatives
• Robert O. Bowen (1920–2003), American novelist and essayist
• Robert Sidney Bowen (1900–1977), World War I pilot, journalist and author
• Robin E. Bowen, American college administrator
• Robin Huw Bowen (born 1957), Welsh harpist
• Roger Bowen (1932–1996), American actor
• Rufus Bowen (Robert Edward Bowen, 1947–1978), American mathematician
• Ryan Bowen (born 1975), basketball player
• Ryan Bowen (baseball) (born 1968), baseball player
• Sam Bowen (baseball) (born 1952), American baseball player
• Sam Bowen (boxer) (born 1992), British boxer
• Sam Bowen (footballer, born 1976) (born 1976), English footballer
• Sam Bowen (footballer, born 2001) (born 2001), Welsh footballer
• Samuel Edward Bowen (1903–1981), English footballer
• Sandra Bowen (born 1941), American civil servant
• Sandra Bowen (born 1976), Australian volleyball player
• Shepard P. Bowen (1824–1908), New York politician
• Sherfield Bowen (born 1959), Antiguan politician
• Stephen Bowen (American football) (born 1984), African-American football player
• Stephen Bowen (astronaut) (born 1964), American astronaut
• Stephen Bowen (biologist), American fish biologist and former educator of Emory University
• Stephen Bowen (politician) (born 1969), Maine House of Representatives
• Sir Thomas Frederic Charles Bowen, 4th Baronet (1921–1989) of the Bowen baronets
• Thomas Ambrose Bowen (1916–1982), inventor of the Bowen technique
• Thomas H. Bowen (1850–1896), South Australian surveyor
• Thomas M. Bowen (1835–1906), U.S. Senator
• Thomas Bowen (engraver) (died 1790), map engraver
• Thomas Bowen (Wisconsin politician) (1808–1883), Wisconsin state senator
• Thomas Bowen (Independent minister) (1756–1827), Welsh Independent minister
• Thomas Jefferson Bowen (1814–1875), American expatriate Baptist missionary
• Tom Bowen (athletic director) (born 1961), American sports executive
• Tommy Bowen, member of the English band White Lies (band)
• Tommy Bowen (footballer) (1900–1954), English footballer
• Trevor Bowen (born 1941), English actor and screenwriter
• Trevor Bowen (rugby), British rugby union and rugby league footballer
• Tristan Bowen (born 1991), African-American soccer player
• Vanessa Bowen (born 1974), Sri Lankan cricketer
• William Bowen (actor) (1666–1718), British stage actor
• William Bowen (rugby union) (1862–1925), Welsh rugby union footballer
• William Bowen (author) (1877–1937), children's author and Newbery Honor recipient
• William Bowen (British Army officer) (1898–1961), general
• William G. Bowen (1933–2016), president of Princeton University
• William Miller Bowen (1862–1937), civic leader in Los Angeles
• York Bowen (1884–1961), English composer