The surname Gow is a sept of the Clan Macpherson, a Highland Scottish clan. The Clan Macpherson are in turn a member of the confederation of the Clan Chattan. Within the clan the surname Smith is considered synonymous with that of Gow and this is due to the family's progenitor being either of the surname Smith or of having been of the occupation of Blacksmith. They are known in Scottish Gaelic as the Sliochd an Gobh Cruim which means "the race of the crooked smith".
In 1369, the Battle of the North Inch took place in Perth, Scotland and was fought as a trial by combat in front of Robert III of Scotland. On one side were the confederation of Clan Chattan and on the other side was the Clan Cameron. Thirty warriors were selected to represent each side, but one of the Chattan men fell sick prior to the commencement of the battle and it was therefore proposed that the Camerons should lose one man to keep the numbers even on each side. However, a local man from Perth named either Henry Wynd or Henry Smith who was either a smith or armourer, by trade volunteered to take the sick man's place on the condition that he would be paid a fee if he survived. According to John Scott Keltie, Henry was known as Gow Crom which is Scottish Gaelic for "Crooked Smith". Only one man of the Clan Cameron and eleven men of the Clan Chattan survived the battle, including Henry Wynd or Smith. Historian Charles Fraser-Mackintosh stated that Henry, who was a swordsman, had contributed greatly to the success of his side during the battle. Keltie stated that Henry was the only one of the survivors on the Chattan side who was not wounded and that by his excellence as a swordsman had mainly contributed to gain the day. After the battle Henry Smith was invited north, and adopted into the Clan Chattan where he became the progenitor of the family known in Scottish Gaelic as Sliochd an Gobh Cruim which means "the race of the crooked smith", according to Alexander Mackintosh-Shaw. According to Charles Fraser-Mackintosh, they are known as Sliochd a Ghobha Chrom and that Henry had twelve followers who to keep in his favor learned to make swords and how to use them. They spread out over the country and in time took the surname of Mackintosh who was their chief. Fraser-Mackintosh states that the Gows took protection of Mackintosh in 1399. However, the modern publication Scots Kith & Kin states that the Gows were a sept of the Clan Macpherson who are also part of the Clan Chattan.
