Show ContentsHouser History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Houser is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name was taken on by someone who worked as a person employed "at the house"; in most cases, this was a religious house or convent. The surname Houser is derived from the Old English word hus, which means house. In some cases, the name Houser 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 Houser family

The surname Houser 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 Houser family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Houser 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 Houser History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Houser 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 Houser include House, Howse, Howes, Hoose, Hows, Houser, Hooser and others.

Early Notables of the Houser 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 Houser Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Houser Ranking

In the United States, the name Houser is the 1,466th most popular surname with an estimated 19,896 people with that name. [6]


United States Houser 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:

Houser Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Hans Houser, who landed in New York in 1709 [7]
  • Niclaus Houser, aged 11, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1734 [7]
  • Christian Houser, aged 50, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1734 [7]
  • Felix Houser, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1738 [7]
  • Hans Jacob Houser, aged 20, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1743 [7]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Houser Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Andrew Houser, who landed in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1876 [7]

Contemporary Notables of the name Houser (post 1700) +

  • John Bradley Houser (1960-2023), American bass guitar, baritone saxophone and bass clarinet player, co-founding member of the New Bohemian
  • George M. Houser (1916-2015), American Methodist minister, civil rights activist
  • Ralph Houser (1914-2001), American officer in the United States Marine Corps awarded the Navy Cross for his actions against enemy Japanese forces in 1944
  • Bud Houser (1901-1994), American three-time Olympic gold medalist track and field athlete
  • Harold Houser (1897-1981), United States Navy Rear admiral, 35th Governor of American Samoa (1945-1947)
  • Shawn Randolph "Randy" Houser (b. 1975), American country music singer-songwriter
  • Vice Admiral William D. Houser (b. 1921), United States Navy officer and telecommunications executive
  • Michael Houser (1962-2002), American musician, founding member and lead guitarist of the band Widespread Panic
  • Kevin Houser (b. 1977), American NFL football long snapper who played from 2000 to 2010
  • John Wesley Houser Jr. (b. 1935), American NFL football offensive lineman who played from 1957 to 1963
  • ... (Another 31 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)


Suggested Readings for the name Houser +

  • Descendants of John house, 1709-1763 by Elmer A. Houser.
  • The Houser Family: Directory Listing, Memorable Dates, and Genealogical Data: The Family of Charles Franklin Houser and Fannie Jane Murphey by E.A. Houser Jr.

  1. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  4. 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.
  5. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  6. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  7. 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)


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