Surname Houle - Meaning and Origin

A Viking Surprise and Celtic Connotations: Discovering the Unexpected Heritage of the Houle Surname through iGENEA DNA Test

Embarking on a personal quest to uncover the history behind the surname Houle, I never expected that my iGENEA DNA test would throw such surprising revelations my way! From a presumed French origin, the journey veered sharply into unanticipated corners of Scandinavia with an unexpected detour into Celtic heartlands - making me question everything I thought I knew about my ancestry.

M. Houle

Houle: What does the surname Houle mean?

The last name Houle is of French origin and is derived from the French word “houl” which translates to “shelter”. It is a very common French last name that can be found throughout Canada and the United States today. The Houle family is believed to have originated in France, and many of its members were originally farmers who managed their own land in the Toulouse region of France.

In the early 19th century, the Houle family began to immigrate to North America and settled in Quebec, Canada. The surname was anglicized in many areas and became “Houle” or “Whalen”, which are now the most common variations of the name. It can also sometimes be found spelled as “Huille”, “Houles” or “Huillier”.

Today, people with this last name can be found in France as well as Canada and the United States. Many have attained success in various industries, such as politics, business, engineering, and medicine. Houles have also made their mark in the entertainment and music industries and can be found in all parts of the world.

The name Houle is often seen as a symbol of safety, security, and stability. It is a meaningful name with a long and rich history, and one that is sure to be passed down through generations for years to come.

Houle: Where does the name Houle come from?

The last name Houle is most commonly found in Quebec, Canada today. According to Canada's 2016 census, some 5,364 people had this name. This surname is also known by other spellings, such as Hule and Huble.

The origin of the Houle surname dates back to the 11th century, when a group of people known as the Normans migrated from their homeland of Normandy, France to England and Scotland. The Houle name has continued to spread throughout Europe over the centuries.

It wasn't until the early 1600s when members of the Houle family ventured across the Atlantic to the Americas. Many of these French Canadians eventually settled in Quebec, where the family name has remained since.

Today, the Houle name is carried by people all over the world, particularly in Canada, the United States, and France. Many of these descendents of original French-Canadian immigrants have since moved away and no longer live in Quebec. Still, the Houle surname remains strong there, as the majority of the population with this name reside in that province.

Variations of the surname Houle

The surname Houle is of French origin. It can be spelled as Houlé, Houlè, Houlée, Houlee, Hule, Hull, or Hulee. It can also take on different forms of the same surname, such as Houlay, Houlais, Houlaisse, or Houlaisée.

This French-origin surname has its roots in the term “houl”, which was a nickname that was often used to refer to people who were small and slender in stature. As such, the surname is thought to have first appeared in France sometime in the 12th or 13th centuries.

The surname Houle is common in France, but is also found in other French-speaking countries, including Canada, in which many of Hunle's descendants eventually settled. The surname is also found in the United Kingdom, particularly in England, as people with this surname can trace their ancestry back to French-Canadian immigrants.

In the United States, the surname is much more common in states with a significant French-Canadian influence, such as Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York.

Variants of the surname Houle can also be found in French-influenced regions of Latin America, such as Brazil, Chile, Mexico, and Argentina. Other variants of Houle can be found in Germany due to French immigrants who arrived in the country during the 16th and 17th centuries.

On the whole, Houle is a French-origin surname with many variants which can be found throughout Europe, the Americas, and even Australia due to the historic dispersal of families bearing this name.

Famous people with the name Houle

• Gabriel Houle: Canadian poet
• Rene Houle: Canadian filmmaker, television director, and writer
• George Raymond Houle: Canadian war veteran and public servant
• Yanick Houle: Former soccer player and sports pundit
• Martin Houle: Canadian lawyer, judge, and former Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Oceans
• Francis Houle: Canadian actor and voice actor
• Lucie Houle: Canadian opera singer
• Michel Houle: Canadian engineer and business executive
• Marie-Nicole Houle: Former Canadian world and Olympic champion swimmer
• Robert Houle: Canadian artist and curator of Indigenous art

Other surnames

HouldernessHoulihanHoultHoultin