Cowell

Etymology

This surname has several possible origins. As an Irish and Manx surname, it is a shortening of McCawell, Anglicised from Mac Cathmhaoil ("son of Cathmhaol"), meaning "battle chief"; see Caulfield. Also as an Irish surname, it may be shortened from Mac (Giolla) Comhghaill ("son of (the devotee of) Saint Comhghal"); see Cool. It may also be shortened from McCool. As an English surname, it comes from several places named Cowhill, analysable as cow plus hill, or from Cowleigh in Worcestershire, equivalent to cow plus Leigh; alternatively it is a variant of Cole. As a Polish, Carpathian Rusyn and Jewish surname, it is Americanised from Kowal.