HOWSON
The surname Howson is of English origin and its roots extend back to Germanic nomenclature. It is a patronymic surname derived from the personal name Hugh, which in turn comes from the Old Germanic name Hugo. In this construction the suffix -son signifies “son of”, so the name literally means son of Hugh.
The personal name Hugh is a shortened form of the Old French name Hu(gh)e, where the initial element hug refers to heart, mind or spirit. It was introduced to England by the Normans, partly due to the popularity of St. Hugh of Lincoln (1140 – 1200), whose fame led many to adopt his given name. The surname first appears in documentary sources in the mid‑eleventh century, during the Norman invasion of England. A record of Wlfuric Hugo Sune dated 1066 in the Inquisitio Eliensis provides the earliest attestation of the family name.
Throughout the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries the surname is documented in a number of legal and administrative records. In 1310 the Calendar of Letter Books of London names a Richard Hughson; the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire contain a William Huggesone in 1327; in 1332 the Supplements of the Cumberland Subsidy Rolls mention a Henry Howsone; and the Court Rolls of the borough of Colchester list a Michael Howesone in 1378. The surname also appears in Scotland, with a record in 1467 of a Moris Howsone in the Registrum de Dumfermelyn concerning an enquiry about fishing on the Tweed.
The Howson surname is predominantly found in the northern parts of England. Variants of the name that appear in historical documents and modern usage include Howeson, Howston, Huson, Hewson, Hooson, Hoosun and Hughson.
A notable bearer of the name was John Howson (1557 – 1632), who served as chaplain to Queen Elizabeth I and King James I, and later held episcopal positions as Bishop of Oxford from 1619 to 1628 and of Durham from 1628 to 1632.
Thus the Howson surname reflects a clear lineage from a patronymic designation connected to the personal name Hugh, with a documented presence in England and Scotland for over nine centuries and a suite of recognised variant spellings.
Typical given names associated with the Howson surname
Male
- Andrew
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Stephen
- Thomas
Female
- Christine
- Claire
- Elizabeth
- Janet
- Lisa
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Rebecca
- Sarah
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
- Hewson
- Holston
- Hewitson
- Hewston
- Heuston
- Hewison
- Hooson
- Heuson
- Hoosen
- Hoson
- Hoason
- Heusen
- Hosson
- Houghson
- Housen
- Houson
- Houssen
- Housson
- Howeson
- Howieson
- Howison
- Howsen
- Howsom
- Hughson
- Huison
- Husen
- Huson
- Hussen
- Husson
- Heussen
- Heweson
- Hoagson
- Hogson
- Hosen
- Hougson
- Houieson
- Houison
- Housten
- Houstin
- Houston
- Howsan
- Howsin
- Howston
- Hueston
- Hughston
- Hustin
- Huston
- Hasan
- Hawson
- Hesson
- Hussein
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Howson in...
Braille
⠓⠕⠺⠎⠕⠝
Morse
....---.--...----.
Semaphore
There are approximately 4,147 people named Howson in the UK. That makes it roughly the 2,248th most common surname in Britain. Around 64 in a million people in Britain are named Howson.
Surname type: From name of parent
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Howson
- Jonny Howson - Football player
- Peter Howson - Painter and printmaker
- Charles Howson - Football player (1896 to 1976)
- Peter Howson - Australian politician (1919 to 2009)
- Sean Howson - Montserratian football player
- John Howson - Cleric (1816 to 1885)
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.