Show ContentsHowen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Howen family

The surname Howen was first found in Hampshire where they held a family seat as Lords of the Manor. The Saxon influence of English history diminished after the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The language of the courts was French for the next three centuries and the Norman ambience prevailed. But Saxon surnames survived and the family name was first referenced in the year 1200 when Walkelin Hone held estates in that shire.

Early History of the Howen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Howen research. Another 120 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1276, 1279, 1296, 1342, 1455, 1487 and 1649 are included under the topic Early Howen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Howen Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Howen include Hone, Hoan, Hoyne, Hoin, O'Hoone, O'Hone, Hoan, Howen and many more.

Early Notables of the Howen family

More information is included under the topic Early Howen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Howen family to Ireland

Some of the Howen family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 77 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Howen migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Howen Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Robert Howen, who settled in Boston in 1642
  • Robert Howen, who arrived in Boston, Massachusetts in 1642 1
Howen Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Peter Howen, who settled in Ohio in 1867

HMS Repulse
  • Mr. Hubert J Howen, British Ordinary Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking, also sailed aboard the HMS Exeter 2


  1. 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)
  2. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html


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