HOWLEY
Howley is a surname of dual heritage, appearing both in the English and Irish records. Its earliest documented appearance dates back to the late fourteenth century in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Roll of 1379, where a man named Johannes de Houlay is recorded. This attests to the existence of the name within the English naming tradition well before the turn of the fifteenth century.
The English origin of the surname is rooted in Old English elements. The root word hol denoted a “hollow” or “depression,” while the suffix ‑ley meant a “clearing” or “meadow.” Consequently, the name Howley is thought to designate a person dwelling near a hollow within a meadow or clearing. It is a locational surname linked to various places named Howley in England, notably a hamlet near Bradford in Yorkshire. Some scholars suggest that the place might itself derive from the Old English hugl (hill) combined with leah (enclosure), giving the sense of “enclosure on a hill.”
Over time, the surname spread to many regions of England. The spread may have been precipitated by migrations from the original village in the early fifteenth century. The name remained unhampered in social advancement, as evidenced by the life of William Howley (1766–1848) who served as Archbishop of Canterbury from 1828 until his death.
In Ireland, the surname has a parallel lineage. It is most commonly identified with the Gaelic patronym O hUallaigh, which translates to “descendant of Uallach.” The personal name Uallach means “proud” or “arrogant.” Thus, bearers of the name in Ireland are traditionally regarded as linking back to a proud ancestor. The name O hUallaigh was historically associated with the Connaught region, particularly within the counties of Mayo and Roscommon, where the family played a significant cultural role as hereditary historians and clergy for the O’Connors, a major Irish royal line.
Beyond this Gaelic derivation, some instances of the surname can be traced to the Old Norse phrase haug‑lesa, meaning “leveller of mounds.” Over the centuries this term was anglicised to form Howley, illustrating how Norse influences occasionally merged with local topographic terminology.
The name appears in a number of variant spellings, many of which arose from phonetic transcription by clerks and officials. Common variants include Howly, Hawley, Hauley, Holley, Hooley, Hoolie, Houley, and Houghley. In Ireland particular letters have evolved into forms such as O’Howley, O’Hally, O’Hooly, Hally, and Hooley. These variations are largely a product of inconsistent orthographic practices before the standardisation of surnames.
The surname's spread beyond the British Isles, particularly following the Great Famine, has led to notable communities in the United States, Canada, and Australia. Historical records also show the name in the United States' Midwest, including a 2025 census entry for two brothers, Gordon Charles Howley and Lawrence H. Howley, who were both ordained as Catholic priests in the 1960s in Saginaw, Michigan.
In all its variations, the Howley surname carries a heritage that reflects both topographic description and Gaelic lineage. While the name hints at ancestral settlement near a valley or hilltop clearing, it also suggests descent from a proud Gaelic lineage or even a Norse tradition of mound-leveling. The surname remains a testament to the fluidity and interwoven nature of English, Irish, and broader Celtic histories.
Typical given names associated with the Howley surname
Male
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Patrick
- Paul
- Peter
- Thomas
Female
- Bronwen
- Catherine
- Christine
- Jane
- Janet
- Laura
- Margaret
- Mary
- Michelle
- Patricia
- 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 Howley in...
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There are approximately 1,935 people named Howley in the UK. That makes it roughly the 4,329th most common surname in Britain. Around 30 in a million people in Britain are named Howley.
Surname type: Location or geographical feature
Origin: Celtic
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: Ireland
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: Gaelic
Famous people named Howley
- Rob Howley - Welsh rugby union football player and coach
- William Howley - Archbishop of Canterbury (1766 to 1848)
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.