Phowell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Phowell is thought to be a nickname for 'the fowl.' "A West-country form of Fowell and Fowle, a fowl, a bird; compare Vivash and Visick for Fiveash and Fishwick. Especially compare Vowler for Fowler. The genitive of Vowle is Vowles; compare Brooks for Brook, or Williams for William, (a) Bapt. 'the son of Voel,' an ancient Welsh personal name. Just as Hoel became Howell, so Voel has become Vowell. It is probable that, so far as Vowell is concerned, (a) is the chief parent." 1

Early Origins of the Phowell family

The surname Phowell was first found in Devon where they held the manor of "Fowelscombe, in this parish, the original seat of the Fowel family, created baronets in 1661." 2

Normandy was their origin; of this there is no doubt. "John, Robert, Hugh, Geoffry de Fauvel [were found in] Normandy, 1180-95 (Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae). William Fauvel held from Oliver de Tracy, Devon, 1165. 3 The name changed to Fauel, Fouel, Voghill, Vowell, and Fowell; the family was seated at Bolters Combe, Devon, and from it descended the Baronets Fowell and the Vowells." 4

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included the following entries all in Oxfordshire: Walter le Fowel; Matthew le Fowel; and John le Fouel. 1

Early History of the Phowell family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Phowell research. Another 227 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1080, 1091, 1163, 1275, 1399, 1510, 1538, 1578, 1586, 1593, 1598, 1600, 1608, 1609, 1619, 1620, 1623, 1640, 1646, 1648, 1654, 1656, 1659, 1660, 1664, 1665, 1666, 1674, 1677, 1689 and 1692 are included under the topic Early Phowell History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Phowell 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 Phowell include Fowell, Fowl, Fowall, Fowel, Phowel, Phowell, Vowell, Voules, Vowels, Vowels, Fowls, Fuggle, Foul, Vowl and many more.

Early Notables of the Phowell family

Distinguished members of the family include Sir Edmund Fowell, 1st Baronet (1593-1674), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1640 to 1648 and in 1656; Edmund Fowell (c. 1598-1664), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons between 1646 and 1660; Sir John Fowell, 2nd Baronet (1623-1677), an English politician who sat in the House...
Another 60 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Phowell Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Phowell 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 Phowell were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: Edmond Fowell, who came to Virginia in 1666; James Fowell, on record in the Windward Islands in 1722; John Fowell, who received a land grant in Virginia in 1666.

Citations +

Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Worth, R.N., A History of Devonshire London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, E.G., 1895. Digital
Liber Niger Scutarii ("Black Book of the Exchequer"), containing reports by county on feudal holdings in England in 1166 (reign of Henry II)
The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)