The Howe Family History

What Does the Howe Surname Mean? Historical Origins Explained

The surname Howe, found in both Ireland and England, is derived from the Old English word ‘hoh’ and the Old Norse term ‘haugr,’ both of which translate to a hill or a burial mound. Variations of the surname include Hows, Howison, Howes, Hoy, Hoe, Howin, Hoey, Hough, Haughey, and How. These differing spellings often reflect regional influences within England. For instance, in Kent, the name appears as Hoo, while in Sussex and Devon, it is spelled Hooe. In the northern region of Durham, the surname is recorded as Heugh, and in Cheshire, it appears as Hough. The more prevalent Irish renditions are Hoey and Hough. The earliest documented Howe families in England originated from Berkshire and gradually expanded throughout Wales and England over the centuries. Today, the surname is particularly common in London, as well as in the counties of Essex, Middlesex, Suffolk, Durham, Yorkshire, Lanarkshire, Devon, and Somerset. In Scotland, individuals with the surname Howe can be found throughout the nation, with the highest concentrations in Angus, Perthshire, Dunbartonshire, Midlothian, Lanarkshire, Renfrewshire, and Ayrshire. In the United States, the initial Howe families established themselves in states such as Massachusetts, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. Notable individuals bearing the Howe surname include John Howe, a Canadian illustrator; Elias Howe, the inventor of the first practical home sewing machine; the renowned Canadian hockey player Gordon “Gordie” Howe; playwright Tina Howe; Albion P. Howe, a general in the Civil War Union Army; musician Dylan Howe; novelist and publisher Edgar Watson Howe; professional baseball player Les Howe; actor Wallace Howe; musician Virgil Howe; and Gilman Bigelow Howe, who served as President of the National Genealogical Society.