Surname Howay - Meaning and Origin
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Howay: What does the surname Howay mean?
The last name Howay is a habitational surname of English origin which originated in a number of places in England bearing the name Howey, Houey, and so on. It is believed to have derived from the pre-7th century Olde English word "haga" meaning 'enclosure, dwelling'. This suggests that it was originally a topographical name for someone living in a haymaking or hawking enclosure or area.
The earliest records of the surname Howay include a John Hovay in the 1327 Subsidy Rolls of Sussex which suggests that the family had been long settled in the area. In 1605, Henry Hovay, an infant, was christened in St. Margarets' Westminster and Robert Howay of Ulvedington, Northumberland was recorded in 1612.
Over the years, the surname Howay has spawned many variations including Hovay, Howie, Howey, Howye, Hawye, and Howieson. The name can also be found in Scotland, Germany, Norway, France, Spain, and various other countries in Europe.
The surname Howay is of locative origin, which denotes the place from which someone comes, and also of occupation origin, which suggests that the surname was assumed by someone who either lived in or worked in an area of haymaking or hawking.
Order DNA origin analysisHoway: Where does the name Howay come from?
The last name Howay is mainly concentrated today in Canada. According to the 2019 Canadian census, the highest concentration of the name Howay can be found in the province of Alberta. In Alberta, it is believed to be primarily a French name, with the majority of its bearers in the province of Quebec. It is also occasionally found in the nearby United States, although not as often.
The last name Howay is relatively rare. According to Polysemy, there are fewer than 38 people in the world with the last name. It is also not overly common in histories and genealogies. It often appears in older records; however, it was likely adopted as a surname much later in history, by families who may have previously used a different surname.
In Alberta, a popular local variant of the name Howay is "Howey". It is sometimes seen as a spelling variant of Howay, however, the two surnames are not known to be directly related. The spelling variation is likely due to a family adapting their name to a local dialect.
In general, the last name Howay remains uncommon today and is primarily found concentrated in the province of Alberta.
Variations of the surname Howay
The surname Howay is an English name derived from the Middle English word “houay” which means brave or valiant. It is also found as variations such as Howey, Howley, Howl, Howie, and hewie.
Due to its geographical variability, the surname Howay is known throughout the British Isles and is found in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. It is also found in the U.S.A, Australia, and Canada.
In England, there are potentially two sources of the Howay surname: across northern England and in Essex. In Scotland it is mostly found in the Strathtay-Balloch areas. In Wales, the name Howay can be found in several isolated locations. In the U.S.A it is mostly found in the states of Ohio, Kentucky, and West Virginia.
Variants and spellings of the Howay surname include Howeray, Howaray, Hoorey, Howrie, Howriand, Howring, Howry, and Howrye. The variants of Howay can also be found in numerous folk songs and literature over centuries.
Other surnames related to Howay include Haway, Hawway, Haway, and Hayway, which are likely to have derived from the Irish Gaelic surname “ÓhAodha.” Other surnames such as Owye, Owrey, and Oury are sometimes found as variants of Howay as they are believed to originate from the same meaning.
The spelling variations of Howay can all be traced back to the Middle English period during which it was recorded in various forms due to dialectical differences throughout the United Kingdom. Therefore, this surname is popularly used all over the world and is recorded in many spellings and variants.
Famous people with the name Howay
- Fred Howay: Canadian politician
- Colin Howay: Also a Canadian politician
- Barry Howay: Canadian actor
- Sarah Howay: Professional Canadian figure skater
- Michael Howay: Professional Canadian football player
- Robert Howay: Canadian Ship Builder
- John Howay: Famous Musician
- Andrew Howay: Professional Canadian Curler
- Alexander Howay: Canadian playwright
- Elizabeth Howay: Professional Canadian Rhythmic Gymnast