Did the last name Bowen originate in Ireland?

Yes, the last name Bowen is believed to have originated in Ireland, where it is often spelled O'Bowen. The name is derived from the Gaelic Ó Baoán, which means "descendant of Baoán." Baoán was a legendary warrior and chieftain who is said to have lived in the 6th century. The O'Bowen clan was originally from County Tyrone in Northern Ireland, but they were dispossessed of their lands in the 17th century and many of them emigrated to other parts of the world, including the United States, Canada, and Australia.