NameCensus.

UK surname

Howle

A locational surname derived from a place named Howle, possibly in Hertfordshire, England.

In the 1881 census there were 172 people recorded with the Howle surname, ranking it #14,163 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 337, ranked #13,552, up from #14,163 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Norton-in-the-Moors, Yardley and Kings Norton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stoke-on-Trent and Doncaster.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Howle is 356 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 95.9%.

1881 census count

172

Ranked #14,163

Modern count

337

2016, ranked #13,552

Peak year

2002

356 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Howle had 172 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,163 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 337 in 2016, ranked #13,552.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 286 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Young Families in Industrial Towns.

Howle surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Howle surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Howle 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 180 #11,300
1861 historical 179 #13,127
1881 historical 172 #14,163
1891 historical 233 #13,392
1901 historical 219 #14,292
1911 historical 286 #11,810
1997 modern 216 #16,802
1998 modern 344 #12,679
1999 modern 349 #12,638
2000 modern 353 #12,480
2001 modern 344 #12,526
2002 modern 356 #12,449
2003 modern 354 #12,319
2004 modern 346 #12,544
2005 modern 336 #12,767
2006 modern 334 #12,912
2007 modern 343 #12,773
2008 modern 338 #13,044
2009 modern 334 #13,409
2010 modern 343 #13,416
2011 modern 354 #12,982
2012 modern 337 #13,345
2013 modern 338 #13,508
2014 modern 342 #13,498
2015 modern 338 #13,527
2016 modern 337 #13,552

Geography

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Where Howles are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Norton-in-the-Moors, Yardley, Kings Norton, Burslem and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stoke-on-Trent and Doncaster. 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 Norton-in-the-Moors Staffordshire
2 Yardley Warwickshire
3 Kings Norton Worcestershire
4 Burslem Staffordshire
5 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stoke-on-Trent 010 Stoke-on-Trent
2 Stoke-on-Trent 006 Stoke-on-Trent
3 Stoke-on-Trent 007 Stoke-on-Trent
4 Doncaster 009 Doncaster
5 Stoke-on-Trent 001 Stoke-on-Trent

Forenames

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First names often paired with Howle

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Howle

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

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Young Families in Industrial Towns

Nationally, the Howle surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Young Families in Industrial Towns, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Howle household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods house predominantly young, UK-born individuals identifying with a White ethnic group with dependent children. Long-term disability and unpaid care are prevalent, and religious affiliations are uncommon. Housing is terraced or semi-detached and social rented sector housing is the norm. Unemployment is above the Supergroup average, and employment is principally in elementary occupations, as process plant and machine operatives, or in caring and leisure services. Educational attainment is low. The group is scattered throughout former industrial towns in the Midlands and the South Wales Valleys.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Howle 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

Howle is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Howle falls in decile 2 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Howle is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Howle

The surname Howle originated in England during the late medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "hol," which means a hole or hollow, and was likely an occupational surname given to someone who lived near a physical hole or depression in the landscape.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name dates back to the 13th century, when a Robert de la Hole was documented in the Hundredorum Rolls of Yorkshire in 1273. This early spelling variation demonstrates the name's evolution from its Old English roots.

In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire in 1327, which listed a William atte Hole. The prefix "atte" was common in surnames during this period and indicated "at the," further suggesting the name's connection to a specific location or landmark.

The Domesday Book, one of the earliest comprehensive records of England, does not contain direct mentions of the surname Howle, as it primarily recorded landowners and tenants. However, it does reference several places with names containing the element "hol," which may have contributed to the surname's formation.

Notable individuals with the surname Howle include John Howle, a 16th-century English clergyman and churchman who served as the Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield from 1619 to 1628. Another notable figure was Sir Giles Howle, a 17th-century English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Lyme Regis in 1659.

In the 18th century, Samuel Howle (1736-1823) was a prominent English engraver and painter known for his portraits and historical works. Thomas Howle (1782-1856) was a British naval officer and explorer who participated in several expeditions to the Arctic regions.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname in America can be traced to William Howle, who arrived in Virginia in 1635. The name also appeared in various early colonial records, such as the land grants and court records of Pennsylvania and Maryland.

The surname Howle has undergone various spelling variations over the centuries, including Hole, Hoole, Howles, and Howell, reflecting the fluidity of English orthography during earlier periods. Despite these variations, the core meaning and origin of the name remain rooted in its Old English heritage, reflecting the importance of place and location in the development of English surnames.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Howle families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Howle 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. Staffordshire leads with 54 Howles recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.53x.

County Total Index
Staffordshire 54 9.53x
Warwickshire 36 8.51x
Shropshire 18 12.42x
Worcestershire 17 7.76x
Middlesex 7 0.42x
Suffolk 7 3.43x
Bedfordshire 6 6.91x
Cheshire 5 1.35x
Kent 5 0.87x
Durham 3 0.60x
Surrey 3 0.37x
Gloucestershire 2 0.61x
Hampshire 2 0.58x
Lancashire 2 0.10x
Derbyshire 1 0.38x
Devon 1 0.29x
Hertfordshire 1 0.86x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.44x
Sussex 1 0.35x

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 19 Howles recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.47x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 19 13.47x
Smallthorne 19 904.76x
Aston 12 10.30x
West Bromwich 12 37.01x
Burslem 9 55.49x
Kings Norton 9 45.80x
Shrewsbury St Mary 8 139.86x
Yardley 8 142.60x
Ipswich St Clement 7 134.87x
Bedford St Paul 6 100.67x
Walsall Foreign 6 20.51x
Audley 5 89.29x
Edgbaston 5 38.11x
Newport 5 285.71x
Deptford St Nicholas 4 88.11x
Mile End Old Town London 4 11.20x
Chester St Oswald 3 44.71x
Edgmond 3 187.50x
Harborne 3 16.53x
Monk Hesleden 3 215.83x
Millbrook 2 23.09x
Nantwich 2 46.51x
Battersea 1 1.62x
Bolas Magna 1 588.24x
Chipping Barnet 1 49.51x
Cirencester 1 22.47x
Egham 1 19.92x
Fulham London 1 4.11x
Gloucester St Nicholas 1 65.79x
Hampstead London 1 3.83x
Kingston On Thames 1 5.09x
Liverpool 1 0.83x
Normanton 1 45.05x
Nottingham St Mary 1 1.71x
Oldham 1 1.56x
Paddington London 1 1.62x
Rye 1 37.17x
South Molton 1 52.08x
Tonbridge 1 4.84x
Wellington 1 12.27x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 13
Sarah 10
Ann 4
Elizabeth 4
Florence 4
Ada 3
Alice 3
Caroline 3
Eliza 3
Fanny 3
Jane 3
Ellen 2
Emma 2
Hannah 2
Margaret 2
Matilda 2
Susan 2
Adeline 1
Anne 1
Annie 1
Beatrice 1
Bertha 1
Clara 1
Edgar 1
Elsie 1
Emily 1
Frances 1
Gertude 1
Grace 1
Isabella 1
Isabelle 1
Livinia 1
Lucy 1
Minnie 1
Nellie 1
Rhoda 1
Selnia 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 11
John 8
Joseph 6
Thomas 6
Arthur 4
Henry 4
Richard 4
Charles 3
George 3
James 3
Robert 3
Ernest 2
Francis 2
Harry 2
Samuel 2
Stephen 2
Will. 2
Benjamin 1
Clifford 1
Earnest 1
Edward 1
Edwin 1
Eli 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Herbert 1
Hy. 1
Leonard 1
Peter 1
Roland 1
Sidney 1
Simeon 1
Sydney 1
Thos. 1

FAQ

Howle surname: questions and answers

How common was the Howle surname in 1881?

In 1881, 172 people were recorded with the Howle surname. That placed it at #14,163 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Howle surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 337 in 2016. That gives Howle a modern rank of #13,552.

What does the Howle surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place named Howle, possibly in Hertfordshire, England.

What does the Howle map show?

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