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Show ContentsHowell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The ancestors of the name Howell are thought to have lived among the ancient Britons, who inhabited in the hills and Moors of present day Wales. This particular surname was derived from the Welsh personal name Hoel, which was originally derived from the Old Welsh name Houel. This name was imported by Welsh settlers into the English counties bordering Wales; however, in the eastern English counties, the name was brought by Breton settlers. The Breton forms of the name were Houuel, Huwel, Huwal, and Howael.

Early Origins of the Howell family

The surname Howell was first found in Monmouthshire (Welsh: Sir Fynwy), where they held a family seat from very ancient times.

King Hoel, also known as Sir Howel, Saint Hywel and Hywel the Great, was a late 5th and early 6th-century member of the ruling dynasty of Cornouaille.

Vychan Howel that is, Howel the Little (d. 825), was a Welsh prince, said to have been son of Rhodri, a reputed descendant of Cunedda and King of Gwynedd, or North Wales. "But Rhodri died in 754, and nothing is heard of Howel or of his brother Cynan whom the tenth-century genealogy of Owain ab Howel Dda makes son of Rhodri, until over fifty years later. Possibly they were Rhodri's grandsons, who emerge from obscurity when the downfall of the Mercian overlordship gave Welsh kings a better chance to attain to power. In 813 there was war between Howel and his brother Cynan, in which Howel conquered. It apparently arose from Cynan driving Howel out of Anglesey, and resulted in Howel's restoration in 814. In 816 Howel was again expelled, but the Saxons invaded Snowdon and slew Cynan. This probably brought Howel back again. He died in 825. The name Vychan comes from a late authority." 1

Dda Howel, that is, Howel the Good (d. 950), the most famous of the early Welsh kings, was the son of Cadell, the son of Rhodri Mawr, through whom his pedigree was traced by a tenth-century writer up to Cunedda and thence to 'Anne, cousin of the Blessed Virgin.' 1

Howel ab Ieuav, or Howel Ddrwg, that is, Howel The Bad (d. 984), the North Welsh prince, was the son of Ieuav, son of Idwal, who was imprisoned and deprived of his territory by his brother Iago about 969. 1

Howel ab Edwin (d. 1044), the South Welsh prince, was son of Edwin, son of Eineon, who was the son of Owain, the eldest son and successor of Howel Dda [q. v.] 1

Early History of the Howell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Howell research. Another 100 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1086, 1170, 1300, 1313, 1356, 1381, 1588, 1593, 1625, 1644, 1645, 1650, 1657, 1660, 1666 and 1679 are included under the topic Early Howell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Howell Spelling Variations

Although there are not an extremely large number Welsh surnames, there are an inordinately large number of spelling variations of those surnames. This variety of spellings began almost immediately after the acceptance of surnames within Welsh society. As time progressed, these old Brythonic names were eventually were recorded in English. This process was problematic in that many of the highly inflected sounds of the native language of Wales could not be properly captured in English. Some families, however, did decide to modify their own names to indicate a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even a patriotic affiliation. The name Howell has seen various spelling variations: Howell, Howel, Hawell, Howels, Howells, Hovell and many more.

Early Notables of the Howell family

Prominent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was

  • Rt. Rev. Thomas Howell (1588-1650), Welsh Bishop of Bristol from 1644 to 1645, born in Llangamarch, Brecknockshire
  • Francis Howell (1625-1679), Principal of Jesus College, Oxford from 1657 to 1660

Howell World Ranking

In the United States, the name Howell is the 219th most popular surname with an estimated 119,376 people with that name. 2 However, in Canada, the name Howell is ranked the 900th most popular surname with an estimated 5,968 people with that name. 3 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Howell is the 124th popular surname with an estimated 291 people with that name. 4 Australia ranks Howell as 404th with 9,137 people. 5 New Zealand ranks Howell as 523rd with 1,320 people. 6 The United Kingdom ranks Howell as 361st with 17,373 people. 7

Ireland Migration of the Howell family to Ireland

Some of the Howell family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 49 words (4 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

United States Howell migration to the United States +

In the 1800s and 1900s, many Welsh families left for North America, in search of land, work, and freedom. Those who made the trip successfully helped contribute to the growth of industry, commerce, and the cultural heritage of both Canada and the United States. In the immigration and passenger lists were a number of people bearing the name Howell

Howell Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Andrew Howell, who landed in Jamestown, Va in 1624 8
  • Arthur Howell, aged 20, who arrived in Virginia in 1634 aboard the ship "Bonaventure" coming via St. Domingo 8
  • Walter Howell, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 8
  • Henry Howell, who landed in Virginia in 1637 8
  • Cobb Howell, who landed in Virginia in 1638 8
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Howell Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Martha Howell, who arrived in Virginia in 1704 8
  • Evan Howell, who landed in Virginia in 1705 8
Howell Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Joseph Howell, who arrived in Charleston, South Carolina in 1807 8
  • James Howell, aged 23, who landed in New York in 1812 8
  • Rufus Howell, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 8
  • Simon Howell, who arrived in Mississippi in 1850 8
  • Robert F Howell, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1851 8
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Howell migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Howell Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Joseph Howell Sr., U.E. who arrived at Port Roseway [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on December 13, 1783 was passenger number 443 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on November 14, 1783 at East River, New York 9
  • Master.JosephHowell Jr., U.E. (b. 1771), aged 12 who arrived at Port Roseway [Shelburne], Nova Scotia on December 13, 1783 was passenger number 618 aboard the ship "HMS Clinton", picked up on November 14, 1783 at East River, New York 9
  • Mr. Matthew Howell U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 9
  • Mr. Warren Howell U.E. who settled in Fredericksburgh [Greater Napanee], Ontario c. 1784 9
  • Mr. John Howell U.E. who settled in Sophiasburgh and Ameliasburgh [Prince Edward County], Ontario c. 1784 9
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Howell Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Nathan Howell, who landed in Canada in 1831
  • Garet Howell, who arrived in Canada in 1832
  • Isaac Laning Howell, who arrived in Canada in 1834
  • Mr. Thomas Howell, aged 15 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Larch" departing from the port of Sligo, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle In September 1847 10
  • Mr. Edmund Howell, aged 4 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Mail" departing 25th April 1847 from Cork, Ireland; the ship arrived on 19th June 1847 but he died on board 11
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Howell migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Howell Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. George Howell, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
  • Mr. John Howell, English convict who was convicted in Warwick, Warwickshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 13
  • Mr. Peter Howell, (b. 1790), aged 26, English convict who was convicted in Sussex, England for 14 years for forgery, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 16th January 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1877 14
  • Mr. Thomas Howell, Jr., (b. 1792), aged 27, English labourer who was convicted in Stafford, Staffordshire, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Dromedary" on 11th September 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1866 15
  • Mr. Charles Howell, British Convict who was convicted in Norfolk, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl St Vincent" on 20th April 1826, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 16
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Howell migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Howell Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • David Howell, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • John Howell, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • Simeon Howell, aged 23, a smith, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1840
  • Elizabeth Howell, aged 23, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "London" in 1840
  • Thomas Howell, aged 34, a bricklayer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Martha Ridgeway" in 1840
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Howell (post 1700) +

  • Chauncey D. Howell Jr. (1935-2021), American newscaster, radio journalist, and print journalist, five-time Emmy Award recipient
  • Brigadier-General George Pierce Howell Jr. (1901-1979), American Commandant of the Parachute School (1942-1943) 17
  • John McDade Howell (1922-2016), American academic, 7th Chancellor of East Carolina University
  • Lida Howell (1859-1939), American three time Olympic gold medalist for archery at the 1904 Summer Games
  • Brigadier-General Reese Maughan Howell (1889-1967), American Commanding Officer Artillery, 9th Division (1943-1946) 18
  • Brigadier-General Clark Howell (1894-1966), American Adjutant-General of Georgia (1943-1944) 19
  • Roger Howell, American Historian
  • Francis Clark Howell (1925-2007), award-winning American anthropologist
  • Dorothy Howell (b. 1919), American mother of Hillary Rodham Clinton
  • Charles Howell III (b. 1979), American golf player
  • ... (Another 14 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Empress of Ireland
  • Miss Lilian Howell (1904-1914), Canadian Third Class Passenger from Brantford, Ontario, Canada who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 20
  • Mrs. Alice Howell (1873-1914), née Waters Canadian Third Class Passenger from Brantford, Ontario, Canada who was traveling aboard the Empress of Ireland and died in the sinking 20
Halifax Explosion
  • Miss Helen Constance  Howell (1910-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 21
HMS Cornwall
  • Bernard John Howell (d. 1942), British Musician aboard the HMS Cornwall when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 22
HMS Dorsetshire
  • Doug Howell, British aboard the HMS Dorsetshire (1945) when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he survived the sinking 23
HMS Prince of Wales
  • Mr. Ronald Sheridan Howell, British Chief Yeoman of Signals, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and died in the sinking 24
  • Mr. John Howell, British Able Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 24
  • Mr. Bernard Howell, British Petty Officer, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 24
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. John Howell, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 25
HMS Royal Oak
  • Ronald S. Howell, British Yeoman of Signals with the Royal Navy aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 26
North Sea Flood
  • Alfred Howell, British citizen, living in Fellixstowe, England,killed in the North Sea Flood, a major storm surge in 1953
RMS Titanic
  • Mr. Arthur Albert Howell (d. 1912), aged 31, English Saloon Steward from Kitchen, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking and was recovered by CS Minia 27
SS Newfoundland
  • Mr. Adolphus Howell (1895-1914), Newfoundlander from Newtown, who on the 30th March 1914 he was part of the Seal Crew of the "SS Newfoundland" leaving the ship to intercept the Stephano which took him to the hunting grounds, he disembarked to begin sealing, but was caught in a thickening storm, attempting to return to the Newfoundland he and the 132 crew made camp for two days the sealers were stranded on the ice in a blizzard attempting to return to the ship, he died during this time
  • Mr. Edgar Howell (1895-1914), Newfoundlander from Newtown, who on the 30th March 1914 he was part of the Seal Crew of the "SS Newfoundland" leaving the ship to intercept the Stephano which took him to the hunting grounds, he disembarked to begin sealing, but was caught in a thickening storm, attempting to return to the Newfoundland he and the 132 crew made camp for two days the sealers were stranded on the ice in a blizzard attempting to return to the ship, he died during this time
  • Mr. James Howell (1891-1914), Newfoundlander from Templeman, who on the 30th March 1914 he was part of the Seal Crew of the "SS Newfoundland" leaving the ship to intercept the Stephano which took him to the hunting grounds, he disembarked to begin sealing, but was caught in a thickening storm, attempting to return to the Newfoundland he and the 132 crew made camp for two days the sealers were stranded on the ice in a blizzard attempting to return to the ship, he died during this time
  • Mr. Mark Howell (1892-1914), Newfoundlander from Newtown, who on the 30th March 1914 he was part of the Seal Crew of the "SS Newfoundland" leaving the ship to intercept the Stephano which took him to the hunting grounds, he disembarked to begin sealing, but was caught in a thickening storm, attempting to return to the Newfoundland he and the 132 crew made camp for two days the sealers were stranded on the ice in a blizzard attempting to return to the ship, he died during this time
SS Southern Cross
  • Mr. William J. Howell (1885-1914), Newfoundlander from Carbonear who was aboard the "SS Southern Cross" when it is suspected she sank between the 31st March 1914 and early April during the storm with a heavy load of pelts; no survivors were ever found
USS Arizona
  • Mr. Leroy Howell, American Coxswain from Indiana, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 28
  1. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  4. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  5. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  6. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  7. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  8. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  9. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  10. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 34)
  11. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 80)
  12. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
  13. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
  14. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
  15. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dromedary
  16. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-st-vincent
  17. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, March 30) George Howell. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Howell/George_Pierce__Jr./USA.html
  18. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, March 30) Reese Howell. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Howell/Reese_Maughan/USA.html
  19. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, March 30) Clark Howell. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Howell/Clark/USA.html
  20. Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
  21. Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
  22. Force Z Survivors Crew List HMS Cornwall (Retrieved 2018, February 13th) - Retrieved from https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listcornwallcrew.html#A
  23. Force Z Survivors HMS Dorsetshire Crew List, (Retrieved 2018, February 13th), https://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listdorsetshirecrew.html
  24. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  25. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
  26. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
  27. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
  28. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html
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