Surname McHowall - Meaning and Origin

McHowall: What does the surname McHowall mean?

The last name McHowall is likely a variant or misspelling of the Scottish surname McDougall or McDowell. Most Scottish surnames starting with 'Mc, Mac, or M’' mean 'son of.' Therefore, 'McHowall' would mean 'son of Howall.', if 'Howall' is a person's name (which is not typically a recognizable English or Scottish personal name). The original surname may have been distorted over generations due to emigration and variations in spellings. Due to the lack of recognized meaning or historical prominence for the name 'McHowall,' it is advisable to track your family lineage to determine the right origin or version of your last name. With regards to the common surname McDowell, it is of Scottish Gaelic origin and it roughly translates to "son of Dougal," where Dougal means "dark stranger" in Gaelic. Surnames beginning with 'Mc' or 'Mac' are widespread in Scotland and Ireland.

McHowall: Where does the name McHowall come from?

The surname McHowall does not appear to exist in any verified records. It is possible that it might be a misspelling or variation of the surname MacDowell, McDowall, or McDowell. These surnames are of Scottish origin, deriving from the personal name Dougal. In these surnames, "Mac" or "Mc" means "son of" in Gaelic language, so "MacDowell" would mean "son of Dougal".

The MacDowall family originated from Galloway, a region in southwestern Scotland, and the name has numerous variations due to phonetic spellings and anglicization.

Today, bearers of the surnames MacDowell, McDowall, and McDowell are found in many places around the world due to the diaspora of the Scottish people. These surnames are fairly common in countries including Scotland, England, the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

However, without more specific information, it's hard to provide details on the surname "McHowall". It's always best to look into specific family history or to consult a professional genealogist for the most accurate and personalized details regarding family surname origins and distribution.

Variations of the surname McHowall

The surname McHowall is not a common one and it doesn't appear in many records. Also, there's no widely recognized variant or origin associated with it. However, based on its structure, it looks to be of Scottish or Irish origin, indicating Mc (Mac) which, in Gaelic, means 'son of'.

Considering the structure of the surname, it may be a variant of several different surnames, based on phonetic variations, misspellings, or mistranscriptions. The 'Mc' could be interchanged with 'Mac', while variations of the 'Howall' part could include Howell, Howall, Hovall, or even Hoal. Thus, surnames like McHowell, MacHowell, McHoal or MacHoal could be possible variants.

It's also possible that the 'Howall' part of the surname was derived from a given name, like Howell or Hall, which could lead to other potential variants like McHall or MacHall.

However, special attention must be taken as these potential variations are merely educated guesses based on the structure and potential origins of the surname, and do not guarantee a direct relationship or common origin with the surname McHowall. More detailed genealogical research would be required to confirm any connections.

Famous people with the name McHowall

• Frank McDowell: American actor best known for roles in popular films such as Into the Wild, The Hangover and Spread
• Robert McHolloway: American writer who has had numerous works published in magazines, newspapers and on the internet
• William McHowall: English poet and lyricist who wrote the hymns 'He Shall Overcome' and 'Lord Of The Nations Hear Our Crying'
• Margaret McHowall: Canadian writer and activist who has campaigned for the rights of women and First Nations people
• Donald McHowall: United States Army sergeant who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his service during WWII
• Deveraux McHowall: British diplomat who served as the British Ambassador to Bahrain
• A.J. McHowall: Irish rugby union player who competed for Ireland in the 1920 Olympics
• David McHowall: American jazz guitarist and composer who has released several albums
• Ben McHowall: English actor and producer, best known for his roles in the Harry Potter movies
• Ann McHowall: Australian entrepreneur who founded the online retail company boohoo.com

Other surnames

McHowan