Surname Howys - Meaning and Origin
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Howys: What does the surname Howys mean?
The last name Howys is an English surname that was historically borne by people whose ancestral origin was from the island of Howey, located off the coast of Wales in the Bristol Channel. It is derived from the Old English word “hoh,” which translates to “spur of land.”
The Howys family is believed to have migrated to England in the 12th century due to Viking raids on Wales. The migration of the Howys family to England is likely responsible for the name's prominence across England.
In today’s English language, Howys is often translated to mean “adventurous” or “stubborn.” It is thought to reflect the determination of these immigrants to make a new life for themselves.
Today, Howys is still a common English last name, borne by people across the world. Although it can be found in many countries, it is most concentrated in the United Kingdom. As a result of its prominence throughout the English language, many popular stories, books, and films have used the Howys family name as part of their narrative.
No matter where or when the name is used, one thing is certain- Howys has historically been a story of strength and determination. It is a reminder to those who bear this name today that they come from a nobility of their own— a nobility of hard work and perseverance.
Order DNA origin analysisHowys: Where does the name Howys come from?
The last name Howys is most common today in the United States, as well as Canada. According to records from the U.S. Census Bureau, Howys ranks as the 12348th most common last name in the United States. As of 2020, there are an estimated 10,267 people living in the United States with the last name Howys.
Populations of Howys also exist in France, Ireland, and England. Howys is most popular as a surname in France, where it ranks as the 2445th most common name. In Ireland, it ranks as the 1619th most common name. In England and Wales, it ranks as the 16042th most common surname.
The Howys last name is thought to be derived from a French Huguenot surname. The ancestral home of the Howys surname is said to have been located in a small village of Ahéville, near the town of Nesles-la-Vallée, at the northern edge of the Picardy region of France. It is also believed that it may have originated from a Welsh locality known as Howis.
The Howys surname is likely occupational, and was initially used to refer to someone who worked as a steward, or oversaw someone else's property. Other meanings associated with Howys include "he who is wise", and "one who is intelligent". The Howys surname is thought to have come to the United States along with French Huguenots who fled religious persecution in the late 17th and early 18th centuries.
Variations of the surname Howys
The surname Howys has a variety of variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin.
Howys is the Anglicized version of the Welsh surname "Hywys," which can be found in records dating back to the 14th century. It likely derives from the Welsh personal name "Hoiw" (meaning "intermittent") combined with the Celtic suffix "-ys" (meaning "son of"), thus making it a patronymic surname.
Variant spellings and names of the same origin as Howys include Howards, Howis, Howse, Howyshe, Howishe, Howysh and Hows, among others. The German spelling is Howes and in Scotland it is often rendered Houis. Some other surnames which derive from Howys include Howe, Howell, Howle, Houel or Howells.
Howys is more common in Wales than any other region, but is scattered throughout England, Scotland and Ireland, and can also be found in the U.S. It is also popular in South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and a number of other countries.
Although historically the name is associated with the Welsh language, it is no longer exclusively a Welsh surname since it has been adopted by immigrants to other countries during the past few centuries.
Famous people with the name Howys
- Larry Howys, Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher who played for a number of teams in the 1980s and 1990s.
- Colin Howys, Scottish footballer who played for the St Mirren, Everton, and Aston Villa clubs in the 1990s and 2000s.
- Richard Howys, UK Mathematician, and co-author of several books on quantum field theory.
- Radzivon Howys, athlete from Belarus, gold medalist in the hammer throw at the 1991 Summer Universiade.
- Pete Howys, English photographer, videographer, and multimedia artist.
- Amber Howys, singer and actress from Liverpool, UK, who released her debut album in 2018.
- Harry Howys, a British actor who was a founding member of the National Theatre Company in 1963.
- Colin Howys, Canadian writer who specializes in children’s literature and published several books between 1975 and 2017.
- David Howys, Welsh playwright, theatrical director, and actor who co-founded the Swansea Little Theatre in 1938.
- Garry Howys, an Australian born comedian who has appeared in multiple television shows and films throughout the 1990s and 2000s.