The Welsh surname Bowen, also found in England and Ireland is of patronymic origin. The name Bowen, also found as Bowens,  is an anglicized form of the Welshname  ap Owain  meaning “son of Owain.” The personal name Owain  derives from the Greek "Eugenios", meaning well-born or noble. When found in Ireland the name Bowen is an anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Buadhacháin meaning  “descendant of Buadhachán,”  a diminutive of Buadhach meaning  ”victorious.” The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Madocus ap Oweyn, which was dated 1292, in "Placita de Que Warranto", Shropshire.  Notable bearers of the surname Bowen include the 17th Century Welsh map engraver Emanuel Bowen. Emanuel was born in Tal-Y-Llychau in 1694. He achieved the unique distinction of becoming Royal Mapmaker to both to King George II of Great Britain and Louis XV of France. Emanuel died in 1767 at the age of 87.