Show ContentsHowie History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Howie family

The surname Howie was first found in Ayrshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir), formerly a county in the southwestern Strathclyde region of Scotland, that today makes up the Council Areas of South, East, and North Ayrshire. The family originated in Howie, which is now believed to be an obsolete place name. 1

Early History of the Howie family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Howie research. Another 177 words (13 lines of text) covering the years 1519, 1567, 1591, 1625, 1634, 1667 and 1672 are included under the topic Early Howie History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Howie Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Howie, Howe, Howey, Howy and others.

Early Notables of the Howie family

Notable amongst the family at this time was

  • Robert Howe or Howie, principal of Marischal College, Aberdeen, author of De Aeterna Dei Procidentia, Basel, 1591, Latinized his name Hovaeus
  • Archibald Howie was burgess of Glasgow, 1625 (Burgesses), John Howie was retoured heir of Andreas Howie in Meikle Warkhill, Oyne, Aberdeenshire, 1634 (Retours, Aberdeen, 224), and James Howie in Foggi...

Howie Ranking

In the United States, the name Howie is the 8,379th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 2 However, in New Zealand, the name Howie is ranked the 937th most popular surname with an estimated 795 people with that name. 3

Migration of the Howie family to Ireland

Some of the Howie family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Howie migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Howie Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • John and Samuel Howie from Kirkcudbrightshire made their homes in North Carolina in 1685
  • John Howie, who arrived in New Jersey in 1685 4
  • Samuel Howie, who landed in New Jersey in 1685 4
Howie Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Alexander Howie, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1730-1731 4
  • Mary Howie, who arrived in Wilmington, North Carolina in 1774 4
  • Robert Howie, aged 18, who arrived in Wilmington, North Carolina in 1774 4
  • David Howie, aged 38, who landed in New York or Georgia in 1775 4

Howie migration to Australia +

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

Howie Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Thomas Howie who was convicted in Glasgow, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Bussorah Merchant" on 24th March 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 5
  • Mr. William Howie, Scottish convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Emperor Alexander"on 6th April 1833, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 6
  • Mr. David Howie, (b. 1815), aged 22, Scottish tailor who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 7 years for theft, transported aboard the "Elphinstone" on 27th May 1837, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1859 7
  • Hugh Howie, aged 39, a miner, who arrived in South Australia in 1852 aboard the ship "Steadfast" 8
  • Mr. John Howie, Scottish convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 10 years, transported aboard the "Dudbrook" on 17th November 1852, arriving in Western Australia 9

Howie 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:

Howie Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Hugh Howie, aged 20, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Jane Gifford" in 1842 10
  • Esther Howie, aged 20, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Jane Gifford" in 1842 10
  • Mr. Howie, British settler travelling from Gravesend, UK aboard the ship "Blundell" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 21st September 1848 11
  • Mr. Alexander Howie, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Gipsey" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 25th October 1854, en-route to Wellington 11
  • Mrs. Howie, British settler travelling from London with 3 children aboard the ship "Gipsey" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 25th October 1854, en-route to Wellington 11
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Howie (post 1700) +

  • William M. Howie, American politician, Representative from New York 17th District, 1886 12
  • J. H. Howie, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Mississippi, 1924 12
  • Gordon Howie, American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for Governor of South Dakota, 2010 12
  • George Howie, American politician, Candidate for Governor of New Hampshire, 1902 (Allied People's), 1904 (Populist) 12
  • David Dickie Howie (d. 1916), Scottish rugby union player
  • Scott Howie (b. 1972), Scottish former professional football goalkeeper
  • David Howie (1886-1930), Scottish professional football central defender
  • Hugh Howie (1924-1958), Scottish footballer
  • Thomas Wyllie Howie JP (1856-1927), Scottish businessman, owner of the renowned Hurlford Fireclay Works
  • John Howie (1735-1793), Scottish biographer
  • ... (Another 8 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

HMS Hood
  • Mr. Robert G W Howie (b. 1917), Scottish Marine serving for the Royal Marine from Glasgow, Scotland, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 13


  1. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  2. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  3. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  4. 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)
  5. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bussorah-merchant
  6. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 11th April 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/emperor-alexander
  7. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 18th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elphinstone
  8. South Australian Register Tuesday 3 February 1852. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) STEADFAST 1852. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/steadfast1852.shtml
  9. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 23rd July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dudbrook
  10. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  11. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  12. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, August 11) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  13. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm


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