Howard Family Crest and Name History

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Howard PDF Surname History


The Ancient History Of The Distinguished Surname Howard

Howard

Contents

Howard history with Howard Family Crest
Howard Motto Translated
Suggested Readings for Howard

Surname Notables

About Family Crests

Howard Products

Origin Displayed: English

Where did the English Howard family come from? What is the English coat of arms/family crest? When did the Howard family first arrive in the United States? Where did the various branches of the family go? What is the history of the family name?

Howard is an ancient Anglo-Saxon surname that came from the Old French name Huard or the Old German name Howard. The former name is derived from the Old German name Hugihard, which literally means heart-brave. The latter name, which is also spelled Howart, is a cognate of the Old Norse name Haward and means high or chief warden. Occasionally, the surname Howard may have been applied to someone who worked at a dairy farm at which female sheep were kept. In this case, the derivation is from the Old English words eowu, which means ewe, and hierde, which means herd.

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore, spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Howard has been recorded under many different variations, including Howard, Howerd and others.

First found in Cumberland where they were seated from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Howard or a variant listed above: John Howard, who settled in Virginia in 1622; William Howard settled in Virginia in 1635; John Howard settled in Virginia in 1634; James Howard settled in Virginia in 1656.

Motto Translated: Virtue alone invincible.

For more information on the last name Howard, the PDF Surname History is available for purchase as well as other products.

Suggested Readings for the name Howard

Norris, Hackett, Prescott and Allied Families: Our ancestors and Their Descendants, Including Adams, Andrews, Bachelder, Bartlett, Boulter, Brewer, Brown, Harding, Hinkley, Howard, Huntington et al by Hugh Albert Johnson.
Ancestors and Descendants of Matthew A.B. Howard, Georgia-Florida, 1793-1978, with Allied Families by Norma Slater Woodward.
The Dukes of Norfolk: A Quincentennial History by John Martin Robinson.

Some noteworthy people of the name Howard

Edwin Lee Howard (1951-2002), American CIA officer, who defected to the Soviet Union in 1985
Harlan Howard (1927-2002), American country songwriter, who wrote "I Fall to Pieces"
Ronald William "Ron" Howard (b. 1954), award winning American film and television actor and director
Brigadier General James Howell Howard (1913-1995), the only fighter pilot in the European Theater of Operations in World War II to be awarded the Medal of Honor (1944)
John Howard (1913-1995), American soldier awarded the both the Navy Cross and the Croix de Guerre for his actions during WWII
Sidney Coe Howard (1891-1939), American playwright and screenwriter awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1925 and a posthumous Academy Award in 1940 for the screenplay for Gone with the Wind
Richard Howard (b. 1929), American poet, literary critic, essayist, teacher, and translator awarded the 1970 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry
Esme William Howard (1863-1939), 1st Baron Howard of Penrith, British diplomat, ambassador to Switzerland, Sweden, Spain, and the US
Prime Minister John Winston Howard (b. 1939), Australian politician, Prime Minister of Australia (1996-)

Tell Me More About Family Crests

Family Crests: the Heraldic Artist

We have researched the Howard family crest in the most recognized sources. Before an artist or craftsman can render a family crest, it must exist. In other words the crest must have been designed and recorded by the heralds from time immemorial.

Heraldic designs matriculated by the lay-artist in many cases becomes uninspired, meretricious and even ugly...

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Family Crests: Timeline

Many of the symbols adopted into armory have been used since the time of the ancient Egyptians, but heraldry itself did not begin until the 11th century. In continental Europe, the most ancient recorded family crest was discovered upon the monumental effigy of a Count of Wasserburg in the church of St. Emeran, at Ratisobon, Germany...

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Family Crests: Elements

In the Howard coat of arms as in all coat of arms the crest is only one element of the full armorial achievement. Again the Family Crest is just part of the story of Coats of Arms or Heraldry. Heraldry is defined as the hereditary art or science of blazoning, the description is appropriate technical terms of Coats-of-Arms and other heraldic and armorial insignia, and is of very ancient origin...

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Family Crests and Genealogy: how they relate

We encourage you to study the Howard genealogy to find out if you descend from someone who bore a particular family crest. Anyone making a study of heraldry usually becomes interested in Genealogy or seeking legal claim to a particular family crest. No families, not even the royal houses, can make sound claim to the right to bear arms unless a proven connection is established through attested Genealogical records...

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Howard Family Crest Products

Anniversary

Anniversary products for the name Howard.

Apparel

Apparel revealing the family crest for the surname Howard.

Armorial histories

Armorial histories for the name Howard.

Ceramics

Ceramics with a Howard coat of arms.

Clip art

Clip art of all the most used heraldic pieces.

Coat of Arms

Coat of Arms for the name Howard.

Downloads

Downloads revealing the family crest for the surname Howard.

Family Crest

Family Crest for the name Howard.

Family Tree

Family Tree revealing the family crest for the surname Howard.

Hand Painted Plaques

Hand Painted Plaques revealing the family crest for the surname Howard.

Keychains

Keychains displaying the Howard family crest.

Mouse pads

Mouse pads proudly displaying the Howard family crest.

New Products

New Products emphasing the family crest for the name Howard.

Packages

Packages revealing the family crest for the surname Howard.

Plaques and Frames

Plaques and Frames with a Howard family crest.

Surname Histories

Surname Histories for the name Howard.

Symbolism

Symbolism with a Howard coat of arms.

Travel Mugs

Travel Mugs with a Howard coat of arms.

Popular Products
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The Howard Family Crest was acquired from the Houseofnames.com archives. The Howard Family Crest was drawn according to heraldic standards based on published blazons. We generally include the oldest published family crest once associated with each surname.