Does anyone know with absolute certainty how to pronounce the last name "Co

Question:

Does anyone know with absolute certainty how to pronounce the last name "Cowan"?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: In addition to the above answer (great if you are Scot), this is also a variant of Cohen, Cohan, Cowen, Cohwen (rare). And any pronunciation, like most surnames, is dependent on the area. This is one reason there are so many variants of surnames. Often happened when a person (usually illiterate) from a different area verbalizes their name to a clerk (usually semi-illiterate) and because of their accent, the clerk used their best guess. Some other variants are because of transliteration of languages that include characters not in the standard alphabet. What is the proper pronunciation of Eldgyth?? (Hint: Edith). The above answer may be exactly right - or not - depending on where the person with this surname came from - and WHEN. Pronunciations even change within the same region over time. http://www.surnamedb.com/surname.aspx?na...
Cowan
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\Cow"an\ (kou"an), n. [Cf. OF. couillon a coward, a cullion.] One who works as a mason without having served a regular apprenticeship. [Scot.]

Note: Among Freemasons, it is a cant term for pretender, interloper.