Surname Howells - Meaning and Origin

iGENEA DNA Test: An Emotional Journey into the Depths of the Surname Howells

Drawing the curtains on my ancestry using iGENEA's DNA test turned into an emotional roller-coaster that transformed my perception of the family name, Howells. It provided me with an enriched sense of belonging and identity, resonating through a newfound respect and appreciation for my roots.

Z. Howells

Howells: What does the surname Howells mean?

The surname Howells is of Welsh origin and is derived from the often found Welsh given name Hywel. This name comes from the Old Welsh elements ‘ho’ meaning “high” and ‘well’ meaning “fame”. The surname Howells is also found as Howel, Howles, and Howleson.

The Howells family was first found in Wales with records dating back to the 12th century. The family name was found in Monmouthshire, and later in Glamorganshire. In the 19th century, the family was found in such diverse places as Shropshire, Wiltshire, Yorkshire, Somersetshire, Cornwall, Kent and London.

The Howells family are active in civic and cultural activities, and were prominent in local government for many generations. Sir William Howells served on the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1971 to 1979.

In Wales, the Howells family had a long standing tradition of being landowners and prominent in Welsh politics. A current member of the house of lords is Lord Howells of St Davids. In modern times, one of the most famous Howells is John Howells, the Welsh sculptor.

The Howells surname is a proud Welsh one with a noble past. Throughout the centuries, the Howells family has had a deep connection to Wales. Through their active and engaging civic and political lives, the Howells name has become a respected one in Welsh and British history.

Howells: Where does the name Howells come from?

The last name Howells is quite common in many parts of the world, with the greatest concentration being found in the United Kingdom. It is particularly popular in counties like Herefordshire and Worcestershire in England, as well as throughout Wales and Scotland. In the United States, the surname Howells is more prevalent in the southern states, such as Mississippi, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, and North Carolina. It is also commonly found in New York, Pennsylvania, California, and Florida.

Outside of the Anglophone world, the last name can also be found in Germany, France, Japan, China, India, and many other countries that have significant populations of people with British ancestry, either through immigration or due to historic ties. Howells is also commonly used in Spanish-speaking countries, such as Mexico.

Moreover, as many people with the last name are descended from immigrants, the surname Howells may appear in places where immigrants settled. Examples of such locations include Argentina, South Africa, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and more. Additionally, many countries in Latin America have communities that have adopted the last name.

Overall, the last name Howells is found in a wide variety of countries across the world, both in places where people of British descent settled, as well as in locations to which individuals with the aforementioned surname had immigrated over the years.

Variations of the surname Howells

The surname Howells is a toponymic last name, which is derived from the Welsh word "hywel," meaning “eminent” or “prominent.” This surname can also come from a place-name derived from the Welsh elements "ho," meaning "tidal stream," and "wells," meaning "spring" or "stream."

The common variants and spellings of the name Howells include: Howell, Howelle, Howel, Howill, Howil, Howilse, Hewells, and Hewells. The surnames of similar origin include: Howellson, Howlson, Howeson, Howison, and Hoelson.

Other variants come from the Welsh name Hughes, which is derived from the Middle Welsh personal name "Hue," believed to be a pet form of a Welsh personal name Hugh, which in turn is derived from Old German elements meaning “heart” and “mind.” The variants of this surname include: Hewish, Hewies, Hewessing, Heuws, Huechsen, Huches, Hughs, and Huish.

Additionally, Howell is also an anglicized form of the Irish name O’ hUallachain, which is derived from the Gaelic name Uallachan, a personal name believed to be derived from the word "uallach," meaning “proud” or “boastful.” Variants of this surname include: O' Houlihan, O' Huallachain, O'Howllahan, Howlan, Halahan, O'Hallohan, Howlin, Hallinan, and O’Hallahan.

Famous people with the name Howells

• William Dean Howells, American novelist, realist and poet.
• Evan Howells, Australian footballer and cricketer.
• Colin Howells, British writer and actor.
• Hezekiah Howells, Welsh landscape painter.
• Amber Howells, British television presenter.
• Michael Howells, English actor and director.
• Fred Howells, English footballer and manager.
• Helen Huntington Howells, American author and poet.
• Lewis Howells, Welsh-born poet and novelist.
• Christopher Howells, British diplomat.
• Tony Howells, Welsh professional golfer.
• Tim Howells, British computer scientist.
• Sarah Howells, Welsh singer-songwriter.
• Isaiah Howells, British notary public.
• Albert Howells, British painter.
• Mark Howells, British actor.
• Joeys Howells, American photographer.
• Llandinam Howells, British industrialist.
• John Howells, American architect.
• Adeline Howells, German-American author and journalist.

Other surnames

HowelHoweldtHöwelhansHowell