Contents [hide]

House History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

House History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
France

The name House comes from one of the family having worked as a person employed "at the house"; in most cases, this was a religious house or convent. The surname House is derived from the Old English word hus, which means house. In some cases, the name House may be a form of the surname Howes. It is thought to have been an occupational name for a person employed "at the house"; in most cases, this was a religious house or convent. 1

Early Origins of the House family

The surname House was first found in Oxfordshire where Simon Hus was listed at Eynsham in 1226. 2

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included: Geoffrey de la House, Huntingdonshire; William de la House, Huntingdonshire; and Richard de la Huse, Buckinghamshire. 3

In Somerset, the first record there was Jacob Huse, 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of Edward III.) 4

In Cheshire, Walter del Hus was listed in the Assize Rolls for 1289 and in Kent, William atte House was found in the Feet of Fines for 1331. Much later, Nicholas Howse and Robert Howes were listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Suffolk in 1524. 2

"House is a very common name in the Bridgewater district [of Somerset]. Howse is the Wiltshire form of the name, and reference to its origin will be found under that county." 5

Early History of the House family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our House research. Another 97 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1603, 1607, 1610, 1611, 1631, 1632, 1644, 1650, 1659 and 1718 are included under the topic Early House History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

House Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name House have been found, including: House, Howse, Howes, Hoose, Hows, Houser, Hooser and others.

Early Notables of the House family

Distinguished members of the family include Edmund Howes (fl. 1607-1631), English chronicler who lived in London, and designated himself 'gentleman.' "Howes's first edition of Stow's 'Abridgement, or Summarie of the English Chronicle,' appeared in 1607. A dedication to Sir Henry Rowe, the lord mayor, a few notices of 'sundry memorable antiquities,' and a continuation of `maters forrein and domesticall' between 1603 and 1607, constitute Howes's contributions. In 1611 Howes issued another edition of the same work, with a further continuation...
Another 79 words (6 lines of text) are included under the topic Early House Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

House Ranking

In the United States, the name House is the 688^th most popular surname with an estimated 42,279 people with that name. 6 However, in Newfoundland, Canada, the name House is ranked the 119^th most popular surname with an estimated 300 people with that name. 7

House migration to the United States +

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Among the first immigrants of the name House, or a variant listed above to cross the Atlantic and come to North America were :

House Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Samuel House, who arrived in New England in 1633 8
John House, who arrived in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1644 8
Edw House, who landed in Virginia in 1650 8
Jane House, who arrived in Virginia in 1652 8
William House, who arrived in Virginia in 1652 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

House Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

James House, who landed in Virginia in 1704 8
Johannes House, who landed in New York in 1721 8
John Peter House, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1772 8

House Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Cornelius House, who arrived in New York in 1834 8
George House, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1835 8
Robert House, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 8
W house, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1855 8
Christian House, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1860 8

House migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

House Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

William House, who settled in St. John's, Newfoundland in 1706 9
Private. Daniel House U.E. who settled in Clinton Township [Lincoln], Home District, Ontario c. 1784 he served in the Butler's Rangers as a Drummer 10
Mr. Frederick House U.E. who settled in Home District [York County], Ontario c. 1784 10
Private. George House U.E. born in Canajoharie, Mohawk Valley, New York, USA who settled in Willoughby [Regional Municipality of Niagara], Home District, Ontario c. 1784 he enlisted in 1777 in the Indian Department, Butler's Rangers under Walter Butler's Company 10
Private. Harmanus House U.E., "Harmonus, Hermanius, Hermanus" born in Canajoharie, Mohawk Valley, New York, USA from Sasquehanna Valley, USA who settled in Niagara, Ontario c. 1784, then in Clinton Township, Beamsville 1786, "Cave Springs Farm." he served in Butler's Rangers he died in 1822 in Clinton Township, Lincoln County, Ontario, married to Maria Margretha Walrad they had 13 children 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

House Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Daniel House, who landed in Canada in 1831

House migration to Australia +

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

House Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. James House, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for life, transported aboard the "Batavia" in October 1817, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 11
Mr. Jarvis House, (Charles), English labourer who was convicted in Wiltshire, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Dromedary" on 11th September 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1865 12
Mr. James House, English convict who was convicted in Somerset, England for life for stealing, transported aboard the "Caledonia" in 19th June 1822, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 13
Mr. Abraham House, British Convict who was convicted in Dorset, England for 7 years for machine breaking, transported aboard the "Eleanor" on 26th June 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
Mr. James House, English convict who was convicted in Wiltshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 2nd February 1831, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 15
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

House 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:

House Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Timothy House, aged 36, a farm labourer, who arrived in Hawkes Bay aboard the ship "Queen of the North" in 1874
Frank House, aged 23, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Avalanche" in 1875
Sarah House, aged 22, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Avalanche" in 1875
Maude House, aged 2, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Avalanche" in 1875
Caroline House, aged under 1, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Avalanche" in 1875
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

House migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 16

House Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Hester, Elizabeth, Rebecca, and Roger House, who all immigrated to Barbados in 1663

Contemporary Notables of the name House (post 1700) +

Jim House (1948-2018), American farmer and a Democratic politician from the U.S. state of Arkansas
Major-General Edwin Jacob House (1895-1969), American Commanding General US Army Air Forces Tactical Center, Florida (1944-1945) 17
Henry Franklin House (1930-2005), American Major League Baseball player
Howard Payne House (b. 1908), American Physician, ear surgeon, considered to be the father of modern otology
Edward Mandell House (1858-1938), American diplomat, a close advisor of President Wilson
John Ford House (1827-1904), American lawyer and politician, member of the United States House of Representatives from Tennessee
Charles S. House, American Republican politician, Member of Connecticut State House of Representatives from Manchester, 1941; Superior Court Judge in Connecticut, 1964 18
Charles M. House, American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from California 34th District, 1986, 1988 18
C. P. House, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Washington, 1912 18
Arthur H. House, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Connecticut 6th District, 1984; Candidate for Connecticut State Senate 8th District, 2008 18
... (Another 52 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the House family +

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. Charles V House, British Telegraphist, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 19

RMS Titanic

Mr. William House (d. 1912), aged 38, English Saloon Steward from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 20

USS Arizona

Mr. Clem Raymond House, American Chief Water Tender Permanent from California, 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 21

Citations +

Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
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)
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)
Seary E.R., Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland, Montreal: McGill's-Queen's Universtity Press 1998 ISBN 0-7735-1782-0
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
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/batavia
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dromedary
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 30th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/caledonia
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eleanor
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, March 30) Edwin House. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/House/Edwin_Jacob/USA.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 14) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html