Owan is an ethnic group in the Northern part of Edo State, Nigeria. They are one of the Edoid peoples.

Owan is currently made up of two Local Government Areas, namely: Owan East and Owan West, including so many clans; notable amongst them are: Ihievbe, Emai people, Iuleha land, Ora, Igue, Uokha, Otuo, Ikhin, Ivbi-Mion, Ikao, Ivbi-adaobi, Ozalla, Uzebba etc. Owan was derived from the largest and longest river in the area which is known as Onwan/Owan. Onwanvbua was abbreviated as onwan, which means one who makes merry in affluence.

The name Owan, also pronounced Onwan, is derived from the root word "Owanbua" which is a name of a notable daughter of Egomi of Uvbiato. Uvbiato is the present day Uhonmora, meaning the head of all Ora. Folklores have it that Madam Owan married at Otuo village but was not blessed with any children. When she died, it is said that she was not left in her hut because she had no children. So, she was determined to return to her hometown and her burial place became a stream that flowed from Otuo, through many villages in Owan East and expanded in Owan West because she said that she has reached her home before joining the Ule river which eventually emptied into the river "Ose".

Many Owan communities trace their origins to migrations from Benin at different times. Historical accounts, including those by Chief Jacob U. Egharevba, suggest that Omorodion, popularly known as Odion among the people of Uwokha, was one of the sons of Oba Eweka I. Following a succession dispute after the demise of Oba Eweka I, Omorodion left Benin City and established Uwokha, a name derived from the Benin word "Uwoha," meaning "bush." Over time, the name evolved into Uwokha or Uokha.

The Okhaku'roros so perfected the art of wars to a stage that they used magical means to make tortoises into signaling devices. These tortoises would whistle to indicate imminent attacks. An Akhuere or ducant tree was planted on a spot in Avbiosi to mark the fetish object, which they named Unuo gboeren. To avoid spiritual repercussions, hunters would not pick the whistling tortoise in that vicinity. The Unuo gboeren is a shrine that still stands today in Avbiosi. In 1976, the Unuo gboeren tree was to give way to a new road, being constructed by Niger cat construction company. The road was supposed to be a thoroughfare, passing through Avbiosi to Ifon in Ondo state, Nigeria. The intervention of Pa Alfred Onime Obuhoro spared this tree, and the road was diverted from the shrine. Pa Obuhoro was born under the tree on 24 December 1922. This shrine is appeased during severe draughts to bring rain.