HOWLAND
The surname Howland has its origins in the British Isles, specifically in England. It is a name that reflects a blend of linguistic and geographical influences from both Old English and Old Norse.
It is a locational surname, derived from place names in England such as Holland or Hoyland. These places are recorded in the Domesday Book of 1085 as Holanda, Holand, Hoiland and Holant. All of them share a common meaning: “land on or by a ridge”. This meaning comes from the Old English pre‑7th-century word hoh, meaning a ridge, spur of a hill, and the word land, simply meaning land or territory. The first part of the name may also be derived from holh, meaning a hollow or hole. Consequently, the surname could have been given to someone who lived upon a ridge or within a hollow.
At the same time, Howland is a patronymic surname that has been linked to the Old Norse personal name Hugleikr, meaning “mindful” or “thoughtful”. In early medieval times, a name such as Hugleikr would give rise to a hereditary surname of his descendants; the form evolved into Howland and was then passed down through generations.
Historical records demonstrate the surname’s presence long before it became standardised. In the Book of Ely (c. 975) the earliest known spelling appears as Begmundus de Holande, recorded during the reign of Edward the Martyr (975‑978). Later entries include William de Holaund (1246, Lancashire) and Johannes de Holand (1379, Yorkshire). In 1576 the parish registers record the marriage of John Howland and Blanche Nightingale at Newport, Essex, and in 1583 the christening of Giles Howland at St. Bartholomew's Exchange, London.
In 1584 a Blackspot (Coat of Arms) was granted to a family of the name. The heraldic blazon describes a silver shield bearing two black bars in the centre and two black lions rampant in the upper part.
In the later medieval and early modern periods the surname spread through England and beyond. Families bearing the name emigrated to the New World in the 17th century. The most famous emigrant was John Howland, a passenger on the Mayflower and a signer of the Mayflower Compact, who settled in New England. In the United States the surname is largely associated with descendants of these early immigrants. In contemporary times Howland remains uncommon in Britain but is the most frequently encountered form in America, where it is carried by members of several extended families.
Today the surname can still be found in England as well as in other English‑speaking countries such as Australia and Canada. Its history, rooted in early English settlements and preserved in heraldic records, continues to be an area of interest for genealogists and historians alike.
Typical given names associated with the Howland surname
Male
- Alan
- Andrew
- Anthony
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Paul
- Peter
Female
- Bernice
- Claire
- Helen
- Jane
- Jessica
- Julie
- Karen
- Margaret
- Mary
- Patricia
- Rebecca
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Howland in...
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There are approximately 2,022 people named Howland in the UK. That makes it roughly the 4,178th most common surname in Britain. Around 31 in a million people in Britain are named Howland.
Surname type: Location or geographical feature
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Howland
- Chris Howland - Broadcaster (1928 to 2013)
- Robert Howland - Shot putter (1905 to 1986)
- John Howland - Cricketer (1895 to 1958)
- Christopher Howland - Cricketer (1936 to 2010)
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.