Nowlan

Nowlan is a surname of Irish origin. It is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic Ó Nualláin, meaning "descendant of Nuallán." Nuallán is a Gaelic personal name derived from nuall, typically interpreted as "noble" or "famous." The surname belongs to the wider group of Irish names formed with the patronymic Ó and is closely related to Nolan, which shares the same root.

Historically, Nowlan appears in Irish records with connections to regions where Gaelic was spoken, and it is found across several counties in Ireland. Through emigration, bearers of the name spread to other parts of the British Isles and to North America, contributing to Irish diaspora communities in Canada and the United States, as well as to Australia and beyond.

Variants and spellings: Nowlan is one of the Anglicizations of Ó Nualláin. The most common modern form is Nolan, but Nowlan persists in certain families and regional records, reflecting local pronunciation and clerical practices. A related Irish form seen in some contexts is Nolán (with the acute accent).

See also: Nolan (surname); Ó Nualláin. Further details on the surname can be found in genealogical and onomastic sources that document Irish surnames and their Anglicizations.