Surname Kovan - Meaning and Origin
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Kovan: What does the surname Kovan mean?
The last name Kovan is of Slavic origin, and is a toponymic name, derived from the name of a place near which the original bearer once lived or held land. As the population in the area grew, it became necessary to distinguish between individuals with the same name, and so the name stuck.
Kovan means hills or heights in Old Slavic. It is believed to have first been used by someone living on or near a hill. In Italy, there is a village called Koven, and there may have been Kovan villages elsewhere in Europe too. In some cases, Kovan was probably derived from a personal name.
Kovan is most common in the countries of the former Yugoslavia, such as Croatia, Slovenia and Serbia, but it can also be found in countries like the United States, Canada and Australia. There are also several spelling variations, such as Kovanc, Kováň and Koven.
Kovans today come from a variety of national backgrounds, and can be found in almost every field, from politics to medicine and other fields. Many may even find themselves proud to have the surname and closely identify with their cultural background and roots.
Order DNA origin analysisKovan: Where does the name Kovan come from?
The last name Kovan is an uncommon surname today, but was once more widely found in parts of Eastern Europe. It has origins in Croatia and Serbia, where it is still found today as well as a few other pockets around Southeastern Europe. There are also instances of Kovan in certain Middle Eastern countries where it is believed to have been brought by immigrants from these parts of Europe.
In some former Soviet Union countries, the last name Kovan is also found, though it is not as common as in their countries of origin. Kovan is also slightly more common among members of the Armenian English Diocese.
In the United States, the surname Kovan is still largely confined mostly to families with Eastern European and Middle Eastern heritage. It is rarely seen outside the East Coast and Midwest states, with the latter having the highest concentration of people with the surname Kovan.
Overall, the name Kovan is still an uncommon last name today, but those who bear it remain firmly connected to its ethnic origins.
Variations of the surname Kovan
Kovan is a surname of Irish, Scottish, and English origin. It is usually spelled with one “v” but may sometimes appear with two. Variants or alternate spellings may include Kovin, Kowen, Koan, Kovam, Kovanen, Kovenen, Kowin, and Kovinam.
In Ireland, the surname is derived from the Irish surname Mac Eoghan (MacKeown), itself derived from the Irish given name Eoghan, which is of uncertain origin but evocative of eo (“yew”) or o (“deer”). In Scotland, the surname is an Anglicized form of two distinct Gaelic surnames of differing origins: MacOmish and MacEathain. The former is derived from the Gaelic personal name Cormac; the second is derived from the Gaelic personal name Eathan. In England, Kovan is derived from the personal name Cowen.
The most common variant spelling of Kovan is Kovin, which is found more frequently in Scotland, Ireland, Canada, and the United States. It may also appear as Kovinat and Kovinac in Poland and Croatia, respectively. The Norwegian, Dutch, and Danish spelling of Kovan is Kowen, and Koaan is the Lithuanian variant of the surname. Last names that derive from these different spelling variants may include: Kovana, Kovam, Kovinich, Kovenar, Kowin, Kovanen, Kovenen, Kovac, and Kovinam.
In summary, Kovan is a surname of Irish, Scottish, and English origin that may appear in various spellings and phonetic variants around the world. The common and related surnames of its variants are Kovana, Kovam, Kovinich, Kovenar, Kowin, Kovanen, Kovenen, Kovac, Kowen, Koaan, and Kovinam.
Famous people with the name Kovan
- Gary Kovan: Internet entrepreneur, activist, and documentarian behind 1968 Tunnel Rats
- Paul Kovan: American artist and composer of works for the stage and screen
- Michael Kovan: Lawyer and former member of the Marysville City Council
- Meshell Ndegeocello: R&B and neo-soul singer known professionally as "Meshell Kovan"
- Sean Kovan: Pro surfer from Hawaii
- J. Michael Kovan: Aerospace executive
- John Kovan: Member of Washington State House of Representatives
- Stephen Kovan: Oregon politician
- Reynaldo Kovan: Canadian author and publisher
- Mitchell Kovan: NFL Linebacker with the New York Giants
- Steny Kovan: American performance artist and designer
- Zohar Kovan: Israeli chess grandmaster
- Dan Kovan: Former drummer for the American punk rock band The Dead Milkmen
- Jon Kovan: Austin-based music artist
- Dan Kovan: American artist and writer
- Steve Kovan: Musician and producer with the band Daisyhead
- Ralph Kovan: English musician, songwriter, and record producer
- Nate Kovan: Hollywood production manager and camera operator
- Linc Kovan: Canadian actor best known for his roles in films such as ' System Crash' and 'Hand Chain Reaction'
- Akon Kovan: Canadian singer-songwriter of Jamaican heritage