Howett History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The Howett family name is linked to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from the personal name Hugh, which is supplemented by a form of the common diminutive suffix -et. The surname Howett is occasionally of local origin and was applied to someone who lived in a clearing. In this case, the name is derived from the Old English word hiewett, which means cutting, and referred in this instance to a place where trees had been cut down.

Early Origins of the Howett family

The surname Howett was first found in Yorkshire where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Howett family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Howett research. Another 84 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1469 and 1691 are included under the topic Early Howett History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Howett 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 Howett include Howatt, Howat, Howet, Howett and others.

Early Notables of the Howett family

More information is included under the topic Early Howett Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Howett migration to the United States +

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 Howett were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Howett Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Howett, who landed in Virginia in 1659 1

Howett Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Jacob Howett, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1765 1

Howett 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:

Howett Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. James Howett (Hewett), British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Gipsey" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 25th October 1854, en-route to Wellington 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Howett (post 1700) +

John Howett, British President of Toyota Motorsport, and the Toyota F1 team
Mark Hedley Howett (b. 1963), Australian multi-award winning director, designer and lighting designer
Roberta Howett (b. 1981), Irish singer

The Howett Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Post tenebras lux
Motto Translation: After darkness light.

Citations +

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)
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html