Surname Vowell - Meaning and Origin

Vowell: What does the surname Vowell mean?

The surname "Vowell" does not have a well-documented meaning or established origin, making it quite challenging to provide a precise interpretation. Like many surnames, it potentially could have occupational, geographical, or personal characteristic origins. Some sources suggest it could be a variant of "Vowles," itself possibly a derivative of "Fowell", a medieval English personal name. Keep in mind, surname meanings can be incredibly diverse, as they developed independently in different cultures around the world. It is also common for last name meanings to have evolved or become obscured over time. Hence, despite these speculative links, the actual meaning of the surname "Vowell" remains uncertain. Therefore, tracing the surname's history via genealogical research may yield more insights.

Vowell: Where does the name Vowell come from?

The last name Vowell is not particularly common today, but it can still be found in pockets throughout the world.

In the United States, the prevalence of the Vowell surname is concentrated in the south. Alabama has the highest number of people with the Vowell last name, followed by Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Georgia. Interestingly, the 2010 United States Census data report the population of Vowell’s to be larger in Texas than in any other state. The Vowell family has likely spread throughout the United States due to migration in search of better economic opportunities.

In the United Kingdom, the Vowell surname has a presence in several areas. Kent, Devon, and London have the highest concentration of Vowell’s, and the location of some of the oldest Vowell family records on record have been traced to these areas.

In Australia, the Vowell name is not as prevalent but can be found in small pockets. Victoria has the most Vowell’s on record, though there are records of the name scattered throughout New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, and Western Australia.

Today, the name Vowell can also be found in several other countries around the world. Canada, Ireland, France, Sweden, and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are just a few countries where the Vowell surname is most likely to be found. It is likely that the Vowell family has spread to these countries due to migration from Britain and elsewhere in Europe in search of new opportunities.

Variations of the surname Vowell

The surname Vowell is derived from Old French "voeu," which means "vow." Patronymic surnames originating from this source include Vowles, Vowels, Voweles, Vowells, and Vowlese. Variants of Vowell include Vowel, Vowell, Voweloe, and Vowill.

Surnames of similar spelling include Vowey, Bowell, and Bowels. Vowey is possibly derived from the place name Owlsey, meaning "steady of the owl" in Old English. Bowell has its roots in Old French, derived from the personal name Beaudoul, itself from beaud, meaning "brave" and doul, meaning "dove." The surname Bowels is derived from the Old English personal name Bule, Anglo-Saxon for "famed one."

Vowell is also linked to the Middle English words “vol” and “vel,” which are both derivatives of the Old French “voueler." This word meant to "call out," and was derived from Latin "vocare," meaning "to call." Variants here include Vol, Vel, Veal, Vila, Voillar, Voile, and Voilly.

Other surnames derived from these words include Veale, Vealls, Vealy, Vale, Vili, Vilne, Vely, Voel, Voell, Voille, Voillier, Voire, and Vole. Common variants of these include Veel, Veals, Vill, Vile, Villier, Voles, Voyle, and Voyles.

Famous people with the name Vowell

• Sarah Vowell: An American bestselling author, public radio contributor, and journalist. She is best known for her work as a contributing editor for the radio program This American Life.
• Richard Vowell: An American singer-songwriter and record producer. Vowell has written hits for artists like Kanye West, Jay-Z, Rihanna, Drake, and more.
• Ray Vowell: An American broadcaster, best known for his work in radio and television. He is also the former host of the Entertainment Tonight television show.
• Richard Vowell: A former United States Navy admiral who was commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East during the Persian Gulf War.
• Hon. Joseph J. Vowell: Retired Supreme Court justice of the Supreme Court of the U.S. Virgin Islands.
• Jada Vowell: An American cosplayer and social media star.
• Rocky Vowell: An American football player, most notably for the Washington Redskins.
• Celdric Vowell: A professional mixed martial artist, primarily fighting in the Lightweight division of the UFC.
• Robert Vowell: An American actor best known for his role as Harry on the series Hart to Hart.
• Kristen Vowell: An award-winning children's author and illustrator best known for her published works Pete the Cat books.

Other surnames

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