This place-name appears to be of English origin. While Owen is often used as an anglicised form of the Irish personal name Eoghan (see Ó Corráin & Maguire, 1981 pp.87–8), as well as the surnames Mac Eoghain, Mac Eoin and Ó hEoghain (see SGG pp.358–9, 568–9), the evidence does not indicate Irish origin in this case. Most English place-names of this construction in the barony of Forth contain an Anglo-Norman personal name or surname: note that the surname Owen was recorded among Anglo-Norman settlers in Wexford at an early date, e.g. 1368 ‘Thos. Oweyn’ (Hore i 195) and 1332 ‘Adam Oweyn’ (Hore v 109). ‘Owneistowne’ (1) shows the vowel before the genitive marker -s frequently met with in English place-names in South Wexford and elsewhere in the Pale (see CODDSTOWN (#54405), par. Ballymore).

Anglo-Norman Owen is likely in this instance to be an anglicised version of Middle Welsh Ewein, Ywein, Oue(i)n (see Reaney, 1970 s.nn. Ewan, Owen), itself etymologically related to Irish Eoghan (see Morgan & Morgan, 1985 pp.172–3). The Irish translation Baile Eoghain (see BPP p.77) is therefore perfectly suitable here. [‘Owinstowne’ which is spelled with -in- is doubtless a variant spelling of Owenstown, and the absence from the historical record of similar forms means that it cannot be understood to indicate an alternative derivation. Similarly, the initial H- seen in late historical forms such as ‘Howenstown’ is not reflected in earlier versions of the name, indicating so-called intrusive [h] of recent origin, unrelated to the original form of the name.]

Townlands called Owenstown are also found in Dublin and Meath.

[Excerpt from Logainmneacha na hÉireann IV: Townland Names of County Wexford, 2016]