Show ContentsHousel History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The present generation of the Housel 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 settlement of Housley Hall in Ecclesfield in the West Riding of Yorkshire.

Early Origins of the Housel family

The surname Housel was first found in Yorkshire, where they held a family seat from medieval times.

Early History of the Housel family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Housel research. Another 35 words (2 lines of text) covering the year 1379 is included under the topic Early Housel History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Housel 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 Housel include Housely, Houseley, Hously, Housley and others.

Early Notables of the Housel family

Distinguished members of the family include

  • Johannes de Houselay

Housel Ranking

In the United States, the name Housel is the 13,495th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [1]

Migration of the Housel family

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 Housel were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: Joseph Hously, who sailed to Philadelphia in 1732; Joachim Housely to Philadelphia in 1739; and Joseph Howsley to Philadelphia in 1858.


Contemporary Notables of the name Housel (post 1700) +

  • Rebecca Housel, American author and editor
  • Lorenzo W. "L.W." Housel (1873-1935), American politician, Connecticut state legislator
  • William E. Housel, American Republican politician, Postmaster at Lewisburg, Pennsylvania, 1910-14, 1922-27 [2]
  • L. W. Housel, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Iowa, 1916 [2]
  • J. K. Housel, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Nevada, 1944 [2]
  • George W. Housel, American politician, Member of New Jersey State House of Assembly from Mercer County, 1908-10 [2]

USS Arizona
  • Mr. John James Housel, American Storekeeper First Class from Missouri, 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 [3]


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 14) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  3. 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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