Surname Howdishell - Meaning and Origin
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Howdishell: What does the surname Howdishell mean?
The last name Howdishell is an English surname of Anglo-Saxon origin. It is thought to be derived either from the Middle English personal name "Houde" or the Middle English phrase "how de shell," meaning "how do you fare?"
In the Middle Ages, Howdishell was a topographic name for someone living near a conical hill or hill risers. It is now most commonly found in the northern parts of England.
The Howdishell surname is also found in records in the United States from the early 19th century. This may have been due to the migration of English settlers to the colonies or perhaps, because of German and other European immigrants with similar sounding surnames.
The Howdishell surname is not typically found in Britain today. It is thought that the Howdishells that remained in England were probably absorbed into the local population through intermarriage.
Today, the Howdishell name is quite rare. Most people with the Howdishell surname are descended from English ancestors and are proud of their heritage. Nowadays, many Howdishells are found in the United States, but there are also a few living in the United Kingdom, and in other countries around the world.
Order DNA origin analysisHowdishell: Where does the name Howdishell come from?
The Howdishell surname is quite rare today, and little is known about its origin. It is thought to have originated in England and then made its way to colonial America, where it eventually made its way onto various smaller census records in the mid 1700s.
The surname appears to have first settled in what is now Pennsylvania and Maryland. The earliest known record of Howdishell in the United States can be found in the tax rolls of Lancaster, Pennsylvania in 1783. From there, it spread throughout the country, according to the US Census records.
Today, it is still fairly rare in the United States but can be found across the nation, from Alabama to Wisconsin. It is also found in other countries, such as Canada and Australia.
The Howdishells have typically been engaged in farming, milling, military service and various other trades. It is likely many of the original Howdishells have descendants still bearing the same name today.
The rarity of Howdishell today may stem from the fact that the surname is slightly difficult to spell and pronounce, which leads to variations in its spelling. As time goes by, the name may become increasingly difficult to trace.
Despite its growing rarity, however, the Howdishell name is sure to remain alive in the stories and oral histories of its descendants for generations to come.
Variations of the surname Howdishell
The surname Howdishell is a variation of the name Houdyshell. The most common variant of the name is the surname Houdeshel or Houdecell. This is seen throughout England and America, in both Anglicized and French forms such as Howdishell, Houdysell, Howdisel, Hadecell, Hoeddeshel, and Huddyshel. It may have originated from a place name or an occupational name, or a combination of the two; derives from the Middle English “houd” which originally meant “hide,” and “shel” meaning “to inclose” or “enclose.”
The surname Howdishell can also be spelled differently in many countries, including Hodeshell, Howdishill, Hudishill, Howdissill, Howdeskill, Hodeskel, Huddishall, Hoddeshel, Hudishall, Howdesshall and Howdishill.
In Scotland, there is a variation of the Howdishell name spelled 'Oudisill.' This can be seen in records from the mid 1700s. It is believed to have originated in the Northumbrian region of the country, which is now Scotland.
Common variations of the name, even in Anglicized forms, commonly include some form of the letter 'D.' It is possible that this “d” sound was derived from the Dutch influence in the UK, especially in the North East of England.
In modern times, the surname Howdishell is still relatively common. It is most commonly seen in England, Scotland, and America, and still rare in other parts of the world.
Famous people with the name Howdishell
- Austi Howdishell: Professional Wrestler
- Jeff Howdishell: Professional Golfer
- Audi Howdishell: Actor
- Lillian Howdishell: Actress
- Vince Howdishell: Musician
- Kenny Howdishell: Professional Pool Player
- Carl Howdishell: Professional Baseball Player
- Martin Howdishell: Professional Swimmer
- Melissa Howdishell: Model
- Rokesh Howdishell: Political Activist