UK surname
A Welsh surname derived from the medieval personal name Hywel, meaning "prominent battle" or "conspicuous youth".
In the 1881 census there were 272 people recorded with the Howel surname, ranking it #10,409 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 78, ranked #33,171, down from #10,409 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Sedgley and Bryn-Eglwys. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Howel is 575 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 71.3%.
1881 census count
272
Ranked #10,409
Modern count
78
2016, ranked #33,171
Peak year
1851
575 bearers
Map years
5
1851 to 1901
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Howel surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Howel surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.
| Year | Period | Count | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 | historical | 575 | #4,429 |
| 1861 | historical | 406 | #6,320 |
| 1881 | historical | 272 | #10,409 |
| 1891 | historical | 158 | #17,705 |
| 1901 | historical | 137 | #19,032 |
| 1911 | historical | 88 | #24,041 |
| 1997 | modern | 54 | #32,210 |
| 1998 | modern | 57 | #32,226 |
| 1999 | modern | 47 | #33,320 |
| 2000 | modern | 55 | #32,609 |
| 2001 | modern | 57 | #32,275 |
| 2002 | modern | 63 | #32,113 |
| 2003 | modern | 59 | #32,530 |
| 2004 | modern | 65 | #32,177 |
| 2005 | modern | 58 | #33,094 |
| 2006 | modern | 56 | #33,587 |
| 2007 | modern | 59 | #33,634 |
| 2008 | modern | 65 | #33,303 |
| 2009 | modern | 68 | #33,341 |
| 2010 | modern | 72 | #33,324 |
| 2011 | modern | 68 | #33,613 |
| 2012 | modern | 72 | #33,502 |
| 2013 | modern | 75 | #33,409 |
| 2014 | modern | 78 | #33,270 |
| 2015 | modern | 75 | #33,425 |
| 2016 | modern | 78 | #33,171 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Sedgley, Bryn-Eglwys, London parishes and Penmaen, Rhoscilly, Penrice. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 2 | Sedgley | Staffordshire |
| 3 | Bryn-Eglwys | Merionethshire |
| 4 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 5 | Penmaen, Rhoscilly, Penrice | Glamorganshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Howel surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Howel, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.
These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.
The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.
UK neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Howel surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Howel household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Howel is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Howel is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Howel, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname HOWEL is of Welsh origin, deriving from the Welsh personal name Hywel, which itself is derived from the Old Welsh name Houel. This name is believed to have originated from the Welsh words "ho" meaning "outstanding" and "gwell" meaning "better."
The earliest recorded instances of the surname HOWEL can be traced back to the 12th century in various regions of Wales. One notable example is found in the Black Book of St. David's, a 12th-century manuscript that mentions a person named Howel ap Ythyn.
During the Middle Ages, the name HOWEL was often associated with Welsh nobility and landed gentry. One prominent figure was Hywel ap Gruffydd (c. 1285-1349), a Welsh prince and descendant of the Princes of Powys. He was known for his involvement in the Welsh Wars of Independence against the English monarchy.
In later centuries, the surname HOWEL spread beyond Wales and can be found in various parts of England and other regions of the British Isles. One notable bearer of the name was James Howel (1594-1666), an English writer and historian who served as a clerk of the Privy Council under King Charles I.
Another individual of note was Laurence Howel (1664-1720), a Welsh clergyman and author who served as the Principal of Jesus College, Oxford. He was known for his works on theology and philosophy.
In the 19th century, the surname HOWEL gained further recognition with the birth of William Dean Howells (1837-1920), an influential American novelist, literary critic, and playwright. He is considered a leading figure in the literary realism movement and is known for works such as "The Rise of Silas Lapham" and "A Modern Instance."
While the surname HOWEL has Welsh roots, it has been adopted and adapted in various cultures and languages over the centuries, with variations in spelling and pronunciation. However, its origins can be traced back to the ancient Welsh language and the traditional Welsh naming practices.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Howel surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 33 Howels recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.24x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 33 | 1.24x |
| Staffordshire | 25 | 2.79x |
| Glamorgan | 19 | 4.11x |
| Kent | 16 | 1.77x |
| Lancashire | 14 | 0.44x |
| Surrey | 12 | 0.93x |
| Wiltshire | 12 | 5.11x |
| Norfolk | 10 | 2.45x |
| Warwickshire | 10 | 1.49x |
| Essex | 9 | 1.72x |
| Gloucestershire | 9 | 1.73x |
| Merionethshire | 8 | 16.48x |
| Yorkshire | 8 | 0.30x |
| Caernarfonshire | 7 | 6.53x |
| Montgomeryshire | 7 | 11.51x |
| Pembrokeshire | 7 | 8.30x |
| Sussex | 7 | 1.56x |
| Cumberland | 6 | 2.63x |
| Cardiganshire | 5 | 7.73x |
| Shropshire | 5 | 2.18x |
| Worcestershire | 5 | 1.44x |
| Devon | 4 | 0.72x |
| Monmouthshire | 4 | 2.09x |
| Suffolk | 4 | 1.24x |
| Cheshire | 3 | 0.51x |
| Lanarkshire | 3 | 0.35x |
| Somerset | 3 | 0.70x |
| Durham | 2 | 0.25x |
| Hampshire | 2 | 0.37x |
| Lincolnshire | 2 | 0.47x |
| Angus | 1 | 0.41x |
| Ayrshire | 1 | 0.50x |
| Bedfordshire | 1 | 0.73x |
| Berkshire | 1 | 0.50x |
| Cambridgeshire | 1 | 0.60x |
| Carmarthenshire | 1 | 0.89x |
| Denbighshire | 1 | 1.00x |
| Midlothian | 1 | 0.28x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 0.40x |
| Oxfordshire | 1 | 0.61x |
| Stirlingshire | 1 | 1.02x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Deptford St Paul in Kent leads with 11 Howels recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.75x.
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Howel surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 21 |
| Elizabeth | 16 |
| Jane | 9 |
| Sarah | 8 |
| Ann | 7 |
| Eliza | 5 |
| Ellen | 5 |
| Annie | 4 |
| Emily | 4 |
| Harriet | 4 |
| Caroline | 3 |
| Alice | 2 |
| Elizth. | 2 |
| Fanny | 2 |
| Frances | 2 |
| Hannah | 2 |
| Lilly | 2 |
| Margaret | 2 |
| Martha | 2 |
| Sophia | 2 |
| Susan | 2 |
| Anm | 1 |
| Augusta | 1 |
| Catherine | 1 |
| Cathrin | 1 |
| Charlott | 1 |
| Charlotte | 1 |
| Clara | 1 |
| Edith | 1 |
| Elinor | 1 |
| Ellonar | 1 |
| Esther | 1 |
| Eva | 1 |
| Harriett | 1 |
| Henrietta | 1 |
| Jenny | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Leah | 1 |
| Lily | 1 |
| Lydia | 1 |
| Maria | 1 |
| Matilda | 1 |
| Maud | 1 |
| Minnie | 1 |
| Phoebe | 1 |
| Rebecca | 1 |
| Rodah | 1 |
| Rosanah | 1 |
| Rosanna | 1 |
| Winifred | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Howel surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| John | 23 |
| Thomas | 11 |
| George | 10 |
| Edward | 7 |
| Robert | 7 |
| William | 7 |
| James | 6 |
| Henry | 5 |
| Richard | 4 |
| Charles | 3 |
| Frederick | 3 |
| Jesse | 3 |
| Walter | 3 |
| Alfred | 2 |
| Arthur | 2 |
| Benjamin | 2 |
| David | 2 |
| Evan | 2 |
| Fred | 2 |
| Joseph | 2 |
| Daniel | 1 |
| Edwin | 1 |
| Eli | 1 |
| Ephraim | 1 |
| Fredk. | 1 |
| Harry | 1 |
| Herbert | 1 |
| Isaac | 1 |
| Jessie | 1 |
| Joan | 1 |
| Lot | 1 |
| Owen | 1 |
| Rees | 1 |
| Samson | 1 |
| Samuel | 1 |
| Sephaniah | 1 |
| Stanley | 1 |
| Whittingham | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 272 people were recorded with the Howel surname. That placed it at #10,409 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 78 in 2016. That gives Howel a modern rank of #33,171.
A Welsh surname derived from the medieval personal name Hywel, meaning "prominent battle" or "conspicuous youth".
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Howel bearers relative to the surrounding population.
The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.