Howard History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Etymology of Howard

What does the name Howard mean?

The name Howard originated with the Anglo-Saxon tribes that once ruled Britain. It is derived from the Old French name Huard or the Old German name Howard. The former name is derived from the Old German name Hugihard, which literally means heart-brave. The latter name, which is also spelled Howart, is a cognate of the Old Norse name Haward and means high or chief warden.

Occasionally, the surname Howard may have been applied to someone who worked at a dairy farm at which female sheep were kept. In this case, the derivation is from the Old English words eowu, which means ewe, and hierde, which means herd.

In other cases, the name was adopted from where the person was born as in "William, son of Roger Fitz Valevine, took the name of Howard from being born in the Castle of Howard, in Wales, in the time of Henry I." 1 Another source sums up the diversity of the family's origin thusly: "Camden, the most important witness of all, places Howard amongst the names in use in England at the time of the Conquest. In all probability this name has had more than one origin." 2

Early Origins of the Howard family

The surname Howard was first found in Norfolk, where one of the first records of the family was Elwin le Heyvard, who was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. The same rolls listed Alice le Heyward in Huntingdonshire and Geoffrey le Hayward in Cambridgeshire. Later, William Heyward or Howard was Sheriff of Norwich, Norfolk in 1657. 3

"The church [of East Winch in Norfolk] is a handsome structure in the later English style, with a square embattled tower; in the east window are the arms of Vere and Howard, and on the north side is the ancient chapel of St. Mary, the burial-place of the latter family. Near Grancourt House, which was the seat of Sir William Howard, who purchased the manor in the reign of Edward the First, are some slight remains of a religious house." 4

But the family quickly became widespread. Epworth in Lincolnshire was another ancient family seat. "This place, which is the principal town in the Isle of Axholme, a district comprising the north-west portion of the county, was anciently the residence of the Howard family, who had a castellated mansion here, of which nothing now remains except the site, where within the last 70 years have been dug up some of the cannon belonging to the fortifications." 4

In Westmorland, at Levens in the parish, union, and ward of Kendal another early branch of the family was found. "On the eastern bank of the river Kent, which is crossed by a bridge on the Kendal road, is Levens Hall, the venerable mansion of the Howards, embosomed in a fine park, and crowned with towers, which, overtopping the highest trees, command extensive prospects on every side. The Howard family built the chapel, a parsonage, and schools, and endowed the living. " 4

Early History of the Howard family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Howard research. Another 200 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1300, 1443, 1485, 1520, 1524, 1536, 1542, 1585, 1587, 1588, 1615, 1624, 1626, 1651, 1654, 1669, 1675, 1679, 1689, 1698, 1701, 1703, 1797 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Howard History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Howard Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Howard has appeared include Howard, Howerd and others.

Early Notables of the Howard family

Notables of the family at this time include

Thomas Howard, 2nd Duke of Norfolk (1443-1524) and 1st Earl of Surrey, who fought for King Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485
Catherine Howard (circa 1520-1542), a cousin of Anne Boleyn and the 5th wife of Henry VIII, executed in 1542
Alethea Howard, 13th Baroness Furnivall, Countess of Arundel (1585-1654) wife of Thomas Howard, 21st Earl of Arundel
Thomas Howard, 1st Earl of Berkshire (1587-1669), an English politician who sat in the House of Commons
Charles Howard, 2nd Earl of Berkshire KB (1615-1679), an English peer
Edward Howard, 1st Baron Howard of Escrick (died 1675), a British nobleman and Parliamentarian
Sir Robert Howard (1626-1698), an English playwright and politician
Charles Howard, Earl of Nottingham (1536-1624), English naval officer, who led the British victory over Spanish Armada in 1588

Howard World Ranking

In the United States, the name Howard is the 65^th most popular surname with an estimated 273,570 people with that name. 5 However, in Canada, the name Howard is ranked the 383^rd most popular surname with an estimated 12,146 people with that name. 6 And in Australia, the name Howard is the 116^th popular surname with an estimated 23,338 people with that name. 7 New Zealand ranks Howard as 274^th with 2,225 people. 8 The United Kingdom ranks Howard as 115^th with 42,446 people. 9

Migration of the Howard family to Ireland

Some of the Howard family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 87 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Howard migration to the United States +

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name Howard arrived in North America very early:

Howard Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Howard, aged 24, who settled in Virginia in 1624 aboard the ship "Swan"
Judeth Howard, who landed in Virginia in 1622 10
John Howard, who settled in Virginia in 1634
William Howard, aged 16, who settled in Virginia in 1635 aboard the ship "Globe"
Samuel Howard, who landed in America in 1635 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Howard Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Susan Howard, who landed in Virginia in 1701 10
Margaret Howard, who arrived in Virginia in 1716 10
Authur Howard, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1746 10
Eignon Howard, who arrived in America in 1758 10
James Howard, who landed in America in 1760-1763 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Howard Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Michael Howard, aged 8, who landed in America in 1803 10
George Howard, aged 50, who arrived in New York in 1812 10
George W Howard, aged 29, who landed in Maryland in 1812 10
Joshua Howard, who landed in America in 1815 10
Dexter Howard, who landed in San Francisco, California in 1850 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Howard migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Howard Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Mr. Dier Howard U.E. who settled in Eastern District [Cornwall], Ontario c. 1784 11
Mr. Edward Howard U.E. who settled in Ernest Town [Ernestown], Lennox & Addington, Ontario c. 1784 11
Capt. John Howard U.E. who settled in Quaco [St. Martins], New Brunswick c. 1784 he served in the King's Orange Rangers 11
Mr. John Howard U.E. who settled in Eastern District [Cornwall], Ontario c. 1784 11
Mr. John Howard Sr., U.E. who settled in Ernest Town [Ernestown], Lennox & Addington, Ontario c. 1784 11
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Howard Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Sarah Magory Howard, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1833
Henry Howard, aged 35, a farmer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Ann & Mary" from Cork, Ireland
Johanah Howard, aged 25, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Ann & Mary" from Cork, Ireland
Robert Howard, aged 22, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Sea Horse" in 1833
Coldwell Howard, aged 27, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Highlander" in 1834
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Howard migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Howard Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Miss Elizabeth Howard, British Convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
Mr. James Howard, British Convict who was convicted in Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
Mr. John Howard, British Convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl Cornwallis" in August 1800, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 12
Thomas Howard, English convict from Leicester, who was transported aboard the "Ann" on August 1809, settling in New South Wales, Australia 13
Mr. James Howard, English convict who was convicted in Gloucester, Glouchestershire, England for life, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 14
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Howard migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Howard Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

George Howard, who landed in Auckland, New Zealand in 1840
Mr Howard, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1841 aboard the ship Antilla
James Howard, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Whitby" in 1841
Mr. Howard, British settler travelling from Cape of Good Hope, South Africa aboard the ship "Antilla" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 8th December 1841 15
Mrs. Howard, British settler travelling from Cape of Good Hope, South Africa aboard the ship "Antilla" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand on 8th December 1841 15
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Howard migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 16

Howard Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Lawrence Howard, aged 30, who arrived in Jamaica in 1684 10

Contemporary Notables of the name Howard (post 1700) +

Ronald William "Ron" Howard (b. 1954), American Academy Award winning film and television actor and director, best known for his movies Cocoon, Apollo 13, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and many more, inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 2013.
Rhyne Howard (b. 2000), American professional gold and bronze medalist basketball player, who competed at the FIBA AmeriCup and 2024 Summer Olympics
Frank Oliver Howard (1936-2023), nicknamed "Hondo", "the Washington Monument" and "the Capital Punisher", an American baseball player, coach, and manager in Major League Baseball
Gregory Allen Howard (1952-2023), American screenwriter and producer, best known for writing the screenplay to Remember the Titans (2000) and for Harriet (2019)
Specs Howard (1926-2022), born Julian Liebman, an American radio personality, creator of the Specs Howard School of Broadcast Arts in 2009
Richard Joseph Howard (1929-2022), adopted as Richard Joseph Orwitz, an American poet, literary critic, essayist, teacher, and translator, born in Cleveland, Ohio, awarded the 1970 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry
Byron P. Howard (b. 1968), American Academy Award winning animator, character designer, story artist, film director, film producer, and screenwriter, best known as the director of the Walt Disney Animation Studios films Bolt (2008), Tangled (2010), Zootopia (2016), and Encanto (2021)
Maureen Howard (1930-2022), American novelist, memoirist, and editor from Bridgeport, Connecticut, recipient of the National Book Critics Circle Award (1978) and was three-time nominated for the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction
Brittany Howard (b. 1988), American musician, singer, and songwriter known for being the lead vocalist, guitarist, and main songwriter of rock band Alabama Shakes, she has nine Grammy Award nominations including Best New Artist and Album of the Year for Sound & Color, winning four awards including Best Alternative Music Album. In 2019 she released her debut solo album, Jaime, in 2019 she received seven Grammy nominations, winning Best Rock Song for "Stay High"
Marilyn Lenore Howard (1939-2020), American politician, 23rd Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction (1999-2007)
... (Another 30 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Howard family +

Grover Shoe factory

Mrs. Howard, American employee of the Grover Shoe factory in Brockton, Massachusetts on 20th March 1905 when the boiler exploded and collapsed the wooden building; she survived by leaping from a window 17

Halifax Explosion

Master Eric S. Howard (1909-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who survived the Halifax Explosion (1917) but later died due to injuries 18
Mrs. Florence Howard, Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 18
Master Eddie Howard (1917-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 18
Mrs. Marion Howard (1891-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 18
Master John Reuben Howard (1906-1917), Canadian resident from Protestant Orphanage, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 18

Hillsborough disaster

Thomas Anthony Howard Jr. (1974-1989), English schoolboy who was attending the FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough Stadium, in Sheffield, Yorkshire when the stand allocated area became overcrowded and 96 people were crushed in what became known as the Hillsborough disaster and he died from his injuries 19
Thomas Howard Sr. (1949-1989), English process operator who was attending the FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough Stadium, in Sheffield, Yorkshire when the stand allocated area became overcrowded and 96 people were crushed in what became known as the Hillsborough disaster and he died from his injuries 19

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. Leonard John Howard (1919-1941), Australian Able Seaman from Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 20

HMS Hood

Mr. Eric S Howard (b. 1922), English Ordinary Seaman serving for the Royal Navy from Guernsey, Channel Island, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 21

HMS Repulse

Mr. William Howard, British Boy 1st Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 22

HMS Royal Oak

Alexander R Howard, British Marine with the Royal Marine aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 23

RMS Lusitania

Mr. William Howard, American 3rd Class passenger from St. Louis, Missouri, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking 24

RMS Titanic

Miss May Elizabeth Howard, aged 27, English Third Class passenger from North Walsham, Norfolk who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking in collapsible C 25
Mr. Benjamin Howard (d. 1912), aged 63, English Second Class passenger from Swindon, Wiltshire who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 25
Mrs. Ellen Truelove Howard (d. 1912), (née Arman), aged 60, English Second Class passenger from Swindon, Wiltshire who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking 25

USS Arizona

Mr. Elmo Howard, American Seaman First Class from Kentucky, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 26
Mr. Rolan George Howard, American Gunner's Mate Third Class from Minnesota, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 26

The Howard Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Sola virtus invicta
Motto Translation: Virtue alone invincible.

Citations +

Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
"Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th August 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-cornwallis
State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2016, October 27) Ann voyage to New South Wales, Australia in 1809 with 200 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/ann/1809
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
California Digital Newspaper from 21st March 1905 (retrieved on 5th August 2021.) Retrieved from https://cdnc.ucr.edu/?a=d&d=SFC19050321.2.19&e=-------en--20--1--txt-txIN--------1
Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
Hillsborough Victims (retreived 21st March 2021). Retreived from https://metro.co.uk/2019/04/15/remembering-96-victims-hillsborough-disaster-30-years-9206566/
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html