Show ContentsHowlin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The present generation of the Howlin family is only the most recent to bear a name that dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from having lived in the county of Lancashire, where they held the estate of Holden in the parish of Haslingden.

Early Origins of the Howlin family

The surname Howlin was first found in Lancashire where "Holden was an estate in the parish of Haslingden. A family of that name early sprang from the place." [1].

"Lancashire is the great home of the Holdens. The ancient gentle family of the Holdens, of Holden, Haslingden, dates back to the 13th century; from it there branched off in the 16th century the Holdens of Todd Hall in the same parish. The Holdens of Ewood, Livesey, date back to the reign of Henry VIII. The Holdens of Aston, Derbyshire, who go back to the beginning of the 17th century, may hail from the Lancashire stock." [2]

Other early records include: Robert de Holden, Lancashire, listed there during the reign of Henry III; and Magota de Holdene who was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls. The Wills at Chester list the following: Oliver Holden, of Haslingden, Lincolnshire in 1588; Adam Holden, of Spotland, Lancashire in 1596; and Catherine Holden, of Holden in 1685. The Preston Guild Rolls of 1642 list Ralph Holden de Holden. [1]

Early History of the Howlin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Howlin research. Another 104 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1285, 1539, 1571, 1578, 1580, 1583, 1596, 1599, 1618, 1623, 1662, 1710, 1778 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Howlin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Howlin Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Howlin include Holden, Holdin, Holding, Houlden, Houldin, Howlin and many more.

Early Notables of the Howlin family

Notables of the family at this time include Henry Holden (1596-1662), an English Roman Catholic priest and author. "He was the son of Richard Holden, owner of a small estate at Chaigley, near Clitheroe, on the northern slope of Longridge Fell. He was born in 1596, and on 18 September 1618 he went to Douay, taking there the name of Johnson, and in 1623...
Another 63 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Howlin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Howlin family to Ireland

Some of the Howlin family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 121 words (9 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


United States Howlin migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Howlin were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Howlin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Kate Howlin, aged 28, who landed in America, in 1892
Howlin Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Anne Howlin, aged 34, who landed in America from Enniscorthy, in 1905
  • Johanna Howlin, aged 28, who landed in America from Kilmore, in 1906
  • Frank Howlin, aged 11, who immigrated to America from Manchester, England, in 1907
  • William Howlin, aged 40, who immigrated to America from Manchester, England, in 1907
  • James Howlin, aged 47, who immigrated to the United States from Wellington Bridge, Ireland, in 1913
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Howlin migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Howlin Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Mr. James Howlin, aged 40 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Royal Adelaide" departing from the port of Killala, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle In August 1847 [3]

New Zealand Howlin 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:

Howlin Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Howlin, British settler as part of the 8th Detachment of the Royal New Zealand Fencibles travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Oriental Queen" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 18th September 1849 [4]
  • Mrs. Anne Howlin, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Oriental Queen" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 18th September 1849 [4]

Contemporary Notables of the name Howlin (post 1700) +

  • Brendan Howlin (b. 1956), Irish Labour Party politician


The Howlin Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Nec temere nec timide
Motto Translation: Neither rashly nor timidly.


  1. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  2. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  3. 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)
  4. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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