NameCensus.

UK surname

Howells

From the Welsh name Hywel, meaning "eminent" or "prominent," combined with the patronymic suffix -s, indicating "son of Hywel."

In the 1881 census there were 7,664 people recorded with the Howells surname, ranking it #554 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 12,292, ranked #532, up from #554 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Merthyr Tydfil and Aberdare. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Carmarthenshire, Swansea and Pembrokeshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Howells is 12,589 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 60.4%.

1881 census count

7,664

Ranked #554

Modern count

12,292

2016, ranked #532

Peak year

1999

12,589 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Howells had 7,664 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #554 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 12,292 in 2016, ranked #532.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 10,718 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Howells surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Howells surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Howells 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 3,985 #714
1861 historical 4,263 #663
1881 historical 7,664 #554
1891 historical 8,116 #541
1901 historical 9,889 #528
1911 historical 10,718 #456
1997 modern 11,944 #517
1998 modern 12,379 #517
1999 modern 12,589 #514
2000 modern 12,578 #512
2001 modern 12,264 #513
2002 modern 12,509 #512
2003 modern 12,121 #518
2004 modern 12,117 #517
2005 modern 11,936 #518
2006 modern 11,961 #518
2007 modern 12,046 #520
2008 modern 12,069 #525
2009 modern 12,442 #517
2010 modern 12,550 #529
2011 modern 12,432 #523
2012 modern 12,189 #527
2013 modern 12,421 #530
2014 modern 12,446 #534
2015 modern 12,320 #535
2016 modern 12,292 #532

Geography

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Where Howells' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Merthyr Tydfil, Aberdare, Bedwelty and Llanelly. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Carmarthenshire, Swansea, Pembrokeshire and Rhondda Cynon Taf. 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 Merthyr Tydfil Glamorganshire
3 Aberdare Glamorganshire
4 Bedwelty Monmouthshire
5 Llanelly Carmarthenshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Carmarthenshire 027 Carmarthenshire
2 Swansea 007 Swansea
3 Pembrokeshire 002 Pembrokeshire
4 Rhondda Cynon Taf 023 Rhondda Cynon Taf
5 Carmarthenshire 006 Carmarthenshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Howells

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Howells

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Howells, 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 Howells surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Howells 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, Howells 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

Howells is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

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

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Howells falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Howells is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Howells

The surname Howells is of Welsh origin, deriving from the personal name "Hywel" or "Howell". The name Hywel is an ancient Welsh name meaning "prominent" or "conspicuous". It is believed to have originated in the 9th century or earlier.

The surname Howells is thought to have first emerged in the Welsh counties of Glamorgan, Monmouthshire, and Pembrokeshire. These regions were strongholds of the Welsh language and culture throughout the Middle Ages and into the modern era.

In its early forms, the name was rendered as "Howel", "Howell", or "Houel" in various medieval records and documents. One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Houel" in the entry for Gloucestershire.

By the 13th century, the surname Howells had become more widespread across Wales and parts of western England. Notable early bearers of the name include Hywel ab Owain Gwynedd (c.1170-1241), a Welsh prince and military leader, and Hywel Fychan (c.1300-1370), a Welsh landowner and influential figure in medieval Powys.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, the Howells surname gained prominence in the English counties of Herefordshire, Gloucestershire, and Somerset, likely due to migration from Wales. During this period, the name was sometimes anglicized to "Howles" or "Howles".

Among the notable individuals with the surname Howells throughout history are:

- Sir William Howells (c.1585-1647), a Welsh lawyer and Member of Parliament during the English Civil War. - William Dean Howells (1837-1920), an American novelist and literary critic, considered a leading figure of the realist movement in American literature. - Herbert Norman Howells (1892-1983), an English composer and teacher, known for his choral works and chamber music. - Denton Howells (1916-1998), a Welsh rugby union player who captained the British Lions on their 1950 tour of New Zealand and Australia. - Betsy Howells (1923-2005), a Welsh novelist and short story writer, whose works often explored themes of Welsh culture and identity.

The surname Howells remains prevalent in Wales, England, and among Welsh diaspora communities around the world. Its origins can be traced back to the ancient Welsh personal name Hywel, reflecting the rich linguistic and cultural heritage of Wales.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Howells families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Howells 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. Glamorgan leads with 2,578 Howells' recorded in 1881 and an index of 19.86x.

County Total Index
Glamorgan 2,578 19.86x
Carmarthenshire 1,002 31.89x
Monmouthshire 770 14.29x
Pembrokeshire 740 31.23x
Shropshire 597 9.27x
Staffordshire 276 1.10x
Cardiganshire 211 11.60x
Brecknockshire 173 11.60x
Herefordshire 165 5.40x
Gloucestershire 163 1.11x
Montgomeryshire 159 9.31x
Middlesex 136 0.18x
Yorkshire 87 0.12x
Lancashire 79 0.09x
Durham 77 0.35x
Worcestershire 68 0.70x
Warwickshire 60 0.32x
Hampshire 46 0.30x
Surrey 36 0.10x
Merionethshire 25 1.83x
Derbyshire 24 0.21x
Sussex 23 0.18x
Caernarfonshire 22 0.73x
Radnorshire 19 3.16x
Denbighshire 16 0.57x
Flintshire 10 0.50x
Kent 10 0.04x
Royal Navy 8 0.90x
Northamptonshire 7 0.10x
Nottinghamshire 7 0.07x
Wiltshire 6 0.09x
Anglesey 5 0.38x
Cheshire 5 0.03x
Lanarkshire 5 0.02x
Buckinghamshire 4 0.09x
Somerset 4 0.03x
Essex 3 0.02x
Norfolk 3 0.03x
Peeblesshire 3 0.86x
Devon 2 0.01x
Leicestershire 2 0.02x
Lincolnshire 2 0.02x
Cumberland 1 0.02x
Isle of Man 1 0.07x
Northumberland 1 0.01x
Oxfordshire 1 0.02x
Perthshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aberdare in Glamorgan leads with 388 Howells' recorded in 1881 and an index of 43.54x.

Place Total Index
Aberdare 388 43.54x
Ystradyfodwg 334 29.33x
Merthyr Tydfil 208 16.67x
Llanelly 178 25.15x
Bedwellty 129 13.56x
Llanwonno 128 27.44x
Aberystruth 96 20.21x
Conwil 92 232.26x
Clase 81 16.78x
Swansea Town 78 7.33x
Llantrisant 74 22.62x
Carmarthen St Peter 70 26.06x
Llanfihangel Y Croyddyn 70 109.53x
Trevethin 66 12.97x
Aberavon 62 51.90x
Llanguick 61 26.23x
Llanboidy 59 149.33x
Llangadock 58 66.96x
Michaelstone Super Avon 58 41.27x
Neath 57 21.58x
Pembroke St Mary 54 17.70x
St Woollos 53 8.81x
Wellington 53 14.64x
Shrewsbury St Mary 52 20.46x
West Dean 52 21.89x
Cwmdu 50 31.62x
Llansamlet Higher 48 49.56x
Monmouth 48 33.59x
Stockton On Tees 46 4.30x
Coedfrank 44 48.92x
Tenby St Mary In 41 33.99x
Briton Ferry 40 25.82x
Islington London 40 0.55x
Bilston 39 8.00x
Llangan East 39 265.85x
Llandilo Fawr 37 26.41x
Margam 37 25.56x
Lower Ystradgynlais 36 39.14x
Cilybebill 34 68.63x
Llanover 34 18.47x
Llanrhidian Higher 34 41.23x
St John Near Swansea 34 21.18x
Roath 33 5.60x
Tipton 33 4.28x
Treleachar Bettws 33 97.14x
Wrockwardine 33 23.30x
Gelligaer 32 10.79x
Llantwit Lower 32 28.04x
Newport 32 83.31x
Pembrey 32 22.15x
Willenhall 32 6.79x
Llangeinor 31 40.55x
Loughor 31 44.97x
Birmingham 30 0.48x
Fishguard 29 56.48x
Abergavenny 27 13.38x
Abergwilly 27 52.33x
Nevern 26 77.36x
Llandaff 25 5.79x
Minstead 25 113.64x
St Issells 25 49.90x
Cardiff St John 24 5.66x
Whitchurch 24 34.18x
Williamston 24 190.78x
Llantwit Vairdre 23 15.76x
Llanycefn 23 237.85x
Bosheston 22 495.50x
Cardiff St Mary 22 3.08x
Llangunnock 22 137.67x
Llansamlet Lower 22 18.72x
Vaynor 22 30.18x
Llanedy 21 35.49x
Madeley 21 8.89x
Shrewsbury St Julian 21 13.18x
Swansea St Thomas 21 16.10x
Boraston 20 346.62x
Kenarth 20 45.97x
Kingswinford 20 2.19x
Ludlow St Lawrence 20 15.61x
Swansea Lower 20 30.21x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 723
Elizabeth 372
Sarah 266
Ann 225
Margaret 222
Jane 159
Martha 115
Hannah 101
Catherine 87
Anne 85
Annie 77
Eliza 77
Emma 58
Harriet 51
Ellen 50
Emily 49
Alice 48
Rachel 45
Esther 39
Maria 34
Gwenllian 29
Louisa 28
Charlotte 27
Edith 23
Margret 22
Sophia 22
Clara 20
Kate 18
Anna 16
Fanny 16
Lucy 16
Margt. 16
Florence 14
Rebecca 14
Eleanor 13
Elizth. 13
Phebe 13
Susan 13
Ada 12
Lydia 12
Agnes 11
Ruth 11
Susannah 11
Frances 10
Gwen 10
Harriett 10
Laura 10
Lizzie 10
Amelia 9
Phoebe 9

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 615
William 519
Thomas 474
David 312
James 153
George 109
Richard 109
Edward 91
Henry 77
Joseph 70
Evan 68
Charles 62
Benjamin 60
Samuel 59
Howell 51
Daniel 38
Alfred 34
Lewis 31
Thos. 28
Arthur 27
Rees 27
Morgan 26
Wm. 25
Albert 22
Griffith 22
Robert 20
Walter 19
Francis 18
Edwin 17
Frederick 15
Jenkin 15
Roger 15
Phillip 14
Owen 13
Ebenezer 12
Harry 12
Isaac 11
Stephen 11
Edmund 10
Enoch 10
Frank 10
Oliver 10
Gwilym 9
Joshua 9
Jonathan 8
Abraham 7
Dan 7
Howel 7
Llewellyn 7
Peter 7

FAQ

Howells surname: questions and answers

How common was the Howells surname in 1881?

In 1881, 7,664 people were recorded with the Howells surname. That placed it at #554 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Howells surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 12,292 in 2016. That gives Howells a modern rank of #532.

What does the Howells surname mean?

From the Welsh name Hywel, meaning "eminent" or "prominent," combined with the patronymic suffix -s, indicating "son of Hywel."

What does the Howells map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Howells 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.