| ![Show Contents]() Powley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The Welsh surname Powley comes from the personal name Hoel or Howell, which were both derived from the Old Welsh name Houel. The surname Powley features the distinctive Welsh patronymic prefix "ap-". The original form of the name was ap-Hoel or ap-Howell, but the prefixes have been assimilated into the surname over the course of time. Early Origins of the Powley familyThe surname Powley was first found in Breconshire (Welsh: Sir Frycheiniog), a traditional county in southern Wales, which takes its name from the Welsh kingdom of Brycheiniog (5th-10th centuries), where the name "are descended from Philip ap Howell, whose pedigree is traced to Edwin ap Grono, Lord of Tegaingl, founder of the XIII noble tribe of North Wales and Powys." 1 However other records claim the name came from the Welsh King Hywel Dda"the Good" ap Cadell (c.880- c.950), son of Cadell ap Rhodri, in turn a son of Rhodri the Great. Early History of the Powley familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Powley research. Another 201 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1600, 1608, 1624, 1628, 1630, 1632, 1637, 1641, 1653, 1660, 1673, 1678, 1680, 1688, 1689, 1692, 1696, 1721, 1750, 1795, 1798, 1803 and 1834 are included under the topic Early Powley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Powley Spelling VariationsWelsh surnames are relatively few in number, but they have an inordinately large number of spelling variations. There are many factors that explain the preponderance of Welsh variants, but the earliest is found during the Middle Ages when Welsh surnames came into use. Scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded, which often resulted in a single person's name being inconsistently recorded over his lifetime. The transliteration of Welsh names into English also accounts for many of the spelling variations: the unique Brythonic Celtic language of the Welsh had many sounds the English language was incapable of accurately reproducing. It was also common for members of a same surname to change their names slightly, in order to signify a branch loyalty within the family, a religious adherence, or even patriotic affiliations. For all of these reasons, the many spelling variations of particular Welsh names are very important. The surname Powley has occasionally been spelled Powell, Powel and others. Early Notables of the Powley familyProminent amongst the family during the late Middle Ages was Thomas Powell (c.1608-1660), a Welsh cleric and writer from Cantref, Breconshire; Sir William Powell, 1st Baronet (c. 1624-1680), born William Hinson, an English politician who sat in the House of Commons in 1660; William Powell (d. 1637), was an esquire of Castle Madoc; Henry Powle (1630-1692), an English lawyer and politician, Speaker of the House of Commons in 1689; Sir Richard Powle (1628-1678), an English lawyer and politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1660 to 1678; Sir John Powell (c. 1632-1696), a Welsh judge...
Another 96 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Powley Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Powley RankingIn the United States, the name Powley is the 17,605th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 2  Migration of the Powley family to Ireland
Some of the Powley 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.
| Powley migration to the United States | + |
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, many people from Wales joined the general migration to North America in search of land, work, and freedom. These immigrants greatly contributed to the rapid development of the new nations of Canada and the United States. They also added a rich and lasting cultural heritage to their newly adopted societies. Investigation of immigration and passenger lists has revealed a number of people bearing the name Powley:
Powley Settlers in United States in the 17th Century- Elizabeth Powley, who arrived in Maryland in 1663 3
- Bryan Powley, who landed in Maryland in 1673 3
Powley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century- Simon Peter Powley, who landed in Arkansas in 1881 3
| Powley migration to Canada | + |
Some of the first settlers of this family name were: Powley Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century- Mr. William Powley U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 4
- Mr. Jacob Powley U.E., (Pouli) who settled in Kingston, Ontario c. 1784 4
- Mr. Francis Powley U.E. who settled in Kingston, Ontario c. 1786 4
- Mr. Johann Powley U.E., (Jacob) (b. 1744) born in Holland from Schenectedy, New York, USA who settled in Kingston, Ontario c. 1786 he enlisted in 1781 serving in the King's Royal Regiment of New York 2nd Battalion, married to Mary Ann Van Voorse having one child, he died in 1814 4
| Powley migration to Australia | + |
Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include: Powley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century- Mr. Robert Powley, British Convict who was convicted in Norfolk, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Earl St Vincent" on 20th April 1826, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 5
- Mr. William Powley, (b. 1800), aged 31, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Exmouth" on 3rd March 1831, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6
| Historic Events for the Powley family | + |
- Mr. Herbert W Powley (b. 1900), English Chief Engine Room Artificer serving for the Royal Navy from Eastleigh, Hampshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 7
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: Edrych i fynw
Motto Translation: Looking Up.
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
- 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)
- 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 14th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-st-vincent
- Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th May 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/exmouth
- 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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Powley migration to the United States 
Powley migration to Canada 
Powley migration to Australia 
Wales
Ireland
