NameCensus.

UK surname

Howell

Derived from the Welsh name Hywel, meaning "eminent" or "prominent," and likely referring to a landowner or person of influence.

In the 1881 census there were 12,608 people recorded with the Howell surname, ranking it #331 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 17,033, ranked #365, down from #331 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Bridgend and Forest of Dean.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Howell is 17,489 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.1%.

1881 census count

12,608

Ranked #331

Modern count

17,033

2016, ranked #365

Peak year

1999

17,489 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Howell had 12,608 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #331 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 17,033 in 2016, ranked #365.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 16,923 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Howell surname distribution map

The map shows where the Howell surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Howell surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Howell over time

The 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 9,291 #282
1861 historical 9,539 #276
1881 historical 12,608 #331
1891 historical 13,465 #323
1901 historical 15,264 #342
1911 historical 16,923 #280
1997 modern 16,786 #355
1998 modern 17,486 #357
1999 modern 17,489 #358
2000 modern 17,168 #363
2001 modern 16,812 #361
2002 modern 17,257 #361
2003 modern 16,847 #360
2004 modern 16,827 #362
2005 modern 16,490 #364
2006 modern 16,476 #363
2007 modern 16,669 #360
2008 modern 16,743 #359
2009 modern 17,094 #359
2010 modern 17,335 #365
2011 modern 17,185 #363
2012 modern 16,780 #365
2013 modern 17,272 #361
2014 modern 17,343 #364
2015 modern 17,159 #364
2016 modern 17,033 #365

Geography

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Where Howells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Cardiff St John and St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to King's Lynn and West Norfolk, Bridgend, Forest of Dean, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff Gloucestershire
3 London parishes London 1
4 London parishes London 3
5 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 002 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
2 Bridgend 008 Bridgend
3 Forest of Dean 008 Forest of Dean
4 Pembrokeshire 002 Pembrokeshire
5 Carmarthenshire 006 Carmarthenshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Howell

These lists show first names that appear often with the Howell surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Howell

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Howell, 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

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Howell surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Howell household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Howell is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Howell is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Howell falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Howell is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Howell, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Howell

The surname Howell originates from Wales, deriving from the Old English words "hol" meaning "hollow" or "hole" and "well" meaning "spring" or "stream." This combination suggests the name initially referred to someone who lived near a stream or spring in a hollow or valley. The earliest recorded spelling of the name was Howel, found in the ancient Welsh Chronicles from around the 11th century.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, a census record commissioned by William the Conqueror, the name is listed as Howel and Howelle among landowners in various counties of England, indicating the name had already spread from its Welsh origins. By the 13th century, various spellings like Howell, Howelle, and Howel appeared in records across England and Wales.

One of the earliest documented individuals with the Howell surname was Sir John Howell, a Welsh soldier and diplomat born around 1350. He served under King Edward III and later became the Standard Bearer of England during the reign of Richard II. Another notable figure was Thomas Howell (1588-1646), a Welsh Member of Parliament and one of the judges who presided over the trial of King Charles I during the English Civil War.

In the 16th century, the name Howell was particularly prevalent in the Welsh counties of Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, and Glamorganshire, where several Howell families held lands and estates. James Howell (1594-1666), a renowned writer and historian from Carmarthen, published a famous collection of letters and travel narratives during this period.

The name also has connections to various place names in Wales, such as Howell's Cross in Pembrokeshire and Howell's Hill in Monmouthshire, which likely derived from the surname. In the 18th century, Francis Howell (1625-1679), a Welsh lawyer and landowner, served as the High Sheriff of Carmarthenshire and is remembered for his influential role in local politics.

Throughout history, the Howell surname has been associated with several notable individuals, including the American explorer and frontiersman David Howell (1747-1828), who played a significant role in the exploration and settlement of the American West. Additionally, the British Romantic poet Thomas Howell (1768-1844) gained recognition for his works celebrating nature and rural life.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Howell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Howell surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 1,782 Howells recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.45x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 1,782 1.45x
Glamorgan 1,288 6.01x
Staffordshire 834 2.01x
Gloucestershire 830 3.44x
Surrey 802 1.34x
Lancashire 681 0.47x
Yorkshire 503 0.41x
Warwickshire 461 1.48x
Somerset 441 2.22x
Sussex 433 2.09x
Norfolk 431 2.28x
Wiltshire 348 3.20x
Carmarthenshire 314 6.05x
Kent 310 0.74x
Monmouthshire 244 2.74x
Hampshire 242 0.96x
Essex 231 0.95x
Pembrokeshire 215 5.49x
Cheshire 209 0.77x
Worcestershire 191 1.19x
Suffolk 190 1.27x
Shropshire 189 1.78x
Lincolnshire 132 0.67x
Devon 124 0.48x
Northamptonshire 122 1.05x
Durham 110 0.30x
Montgomeryshire 80 2.84x
Cambridgeshire 73 0.94x
Cardiganshire 52 1.73x
Oxfordshire 51 0.67x
Denbighshire 49 1.05x
Buckinghamshire 47 0.63x
Lanarkshire 47 0.12x
Herefordshire 46 0.91x
Huntingdonshire 43 1.76x
Brecknockshire 40 1.62x
Derbyshire 40 0.21x
Flintshire 37 1.12x
Merionethshire 36 1.60x
Hertfordshire 35 0.41x
Nottinghamshire 35 0.21x
Dorset 30 0.37x
Bedfordshire 28 0.44x
Cornwall 23 0.17x
Midlothian 18 0.11x
Berkshire 16 0.17x
Northumberland 16 0.09x
Cumberland 15 0.14x
Leicestershire 15 0.11x
Channel Islands 13 0.36x
Royal Navy 11 0.75x
Dunbartonshire 9 0.27x
Caernarfonshire 6 0.12x
Fife 6 0.08x
Morayshire 6 0.31x
Stirlingshire 6 0.13x
Angus 5 0.04x
Inverness-shire 5 0.14x
Orkney 5 0.37x
Rutland 5 0.55x
Renfrewshire 4 0.04x
Anglesey 3 0.14x
East Lothian 2 0.12x
Isle of Man 2 0.09x
Kirkcudbrightshire 2 0.11x
Westmorland 2 0.07x
Banffshire 1 0.04x
Wigtownshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 216 Howells recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.09x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 216 2.09x
Aston 177 2.07x
Wolverhampton 168 5.26x
Islington London 160 1.34x
Lambeth 157 1.46x
Camberwell 143 1.82x
St Pancras London 142 1.43x
Sedgley 122 7.90x
Shoreditch London 116 2.17x
Brighton 113 2.70x
St Marylebone London 110 1.67x
Kensington London 109 1.59x
Llanelly 107 9.15x
West Ham 100 1.86x
Bedminster 94 5.05x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 94 4.13x
Battersea 87 1.92x
Swansea Town 87 4.95x
Llansamlet Lower 81 41.73x
Hammersmith London 79 2.60x
West Dean 79 20.14x
Ystradyfodwg 73 3.88x
Hackney London 67 0.97x
Stoke Upon Trent 67 1.52x
Croydon 66 1.98x
Portsea 63 1.27x
St Woollos 62 6.24x
Liverpool 55 0.62x
Wolstanton 55 4.36x
Great Walsingham 53 276.91x
Cardiff St John 52 7.43x
Acton 51 7.07x
Cardiff St Mary 51 4.32x
Eglwysilan 51 13.71x
Manchester 51 0.78x
Harborne 50 3.75x
Warrington 49 2.83x
St George Hanover Square 47 2.17x
Clifton 46 3.77x
Swindon 46 5.45x
Worsley 46 5.11x
Llandaff 44 6.17x
Newington 44 0.97x
Tottenham 44 2.24x
West Derby 44 1.03x
Cwmdu 43 16.46x
Everton 43 0.92x
Walcot 43 4.07x
Bromley London 42 1.55x
Margam 42 17.56x
Mile End Old Town London 42 1.60x
St George In East London 42 3.63x
Burslem 41 3.44x
Southwark St George Martyr 41 1.65x
Llanrhidian Higher 40 29.37x
Wednesfield 40 6.54x
Bethnal Green London 38 0.71x
Chelsea London 38 1.02x
Clerkenwell London 38 1.31x
Paddington London 38 0.84x
Westminster St John 38 2.53x
Clase 37 4.64x
Ecclesall Bierlow 37 1.49x
West Bromwich 37 1.55x
Deptford St Paul 36 1.11x
Little Walsingham 36 84.07x
Oystermouth 36 21.70x
Tythegston Higher 36 55.32x
Bradford On Avon 35 10.04x
Newton Nottage 35 59.48x
Roath 35 3.59x
Leeds 34 0.49x
Sculcoates 34 1.76x
Wakefield 34 3.63x
Newland 33 16.26x
Lewisham 32 1.43x
Westminster St Margaret 32 5.39x
Manningham 31 2.06x
Newcastle Higher 31 21.29x
Snape 31 144.79x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Howell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 845
Elizabeth 484
Sarah 414
Ann 254
Jane 242
Eliza 227
Alice 168
Emma 161
Emily 157
Annie 155
Margaret 151
Ellen 150
Martha 116
Hannah 104
Edith 95
Florence 89
Catherine 85
Louisa 83
Caroline 81
Maria 78
Fanny 77
Charlotte 72
Harriet 70
Clara 64
Anne 63
Ada 62
Susan 57
Lucy 53
Harriett 49
Kate 48
Esther 47
Frances 47
Amelia 45
Sophia 41
Rose 40
Agnes 36
Matilda 34
Amy 27
Julia 27
Rebecca 26
Eleanor 25
Gertrude 25
Lydia 25
Rachel 25
Laura 23
Minnie 23
Elizth. 22
Jessie 22
Bertha 21
Maud 21

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Howell surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 810
John 673
Thomas 412
George 363
Henry 310
James 305
Charles 237
Edward 194
Joseph 163
Alfred 148
David 139
Arthur 133
Frederick 132
Robert 119
Richard 103
Walter 96
Samuel 95
Albert 76
Harry 69
Benjamin 68
Edwin 54
Ernest 49
Frank 46
Herbert 44
Wm. 37
Daniel 34
Thos. 32
Evan 31
Francis 27
Sidney 22
Fred 20
Isaac 20
Fredk. 17
Lewis 17
Stephen 17
Edmund 16
Howell 16
Enoch 15
Geo. 15
Horace 14
Chas. 13
Griffith 13
Fredrick 12
Percy 12
Tom 12
Job 11
Frederic 10
Jno. 10
Sydney 10
Willm. 10

FAQ

Howell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Howell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 12,608 people were recorded with the Howell surname. That placed it at #331 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Howell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 17,033 in 2016. That gives Howell a modern rank of #365.

What does the Howell surname mean?

Derived from the Welsh name Hywel, meaning "eminent" or "prominent," and likely referring to a landowner or person of influence.

What does the Howell map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Howell bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

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.