Surname McHowell - Meaning and Origin

McHowell: What does the surname McHowell mean?

The last name McHowell is of Scottish origin and it is a variant of the Gaelic surname MacDhubhghaill. The prefix "Mc" or "Mac" means "son of," while "Howell" is derived from "Dhubhghaill," an old Gaelic name. So, McHowell essentially means "son of Howell." The name Howell itself is a Welsh name resulting from a merger of the Celtic elements "hu," meaning "spirit or inspiration," and "gwal," meaning "a wall or rampart.” Therefore, the surname McHowell could suggest a "son of the inspirational wall," indicating the strength, guidance, and inspiration provided by the Howell clan to its descendants. It should be noted that surnames' meanings can widely vary based on different cultural or literal interpretations of the components of the name.

McHowell: Where does the name McHowell come from?

The last name McHowell is of Scottish origin, but it doesn't seem to be common anywhere today. Its root appears to be similar to "MacDonald" or "MacDougal," where the prefix "Mac" or "Mc" denotes "son of" in Gaelic. Hence, "McHowell" could potentially denote the "son of Howell". However, it's important to mention that it is not quite common and doesn't appear in most comprehensive databases of Scottish surnames. Certain variations, such as "McDowell," are more prevalent and are usually found in regions where Scots have historically immigrated, including countries like the United States, Canada, and Australia. Due to the lack of data about McHowell, it is not possible to say where it is commonly used today.

Variations of the surname McHowell

The surname "McHowell" may have various spellings and variants due to regional pronunciation, translation and transcription errors, or personal preference. Individuals with this surname may trace their ancestry to Celtic origins, primarily from Scotland or Ireland, where patronymic names were common.

Variant spellings can include McHewel, McKewell, McHoell, McHoul, and possibly MacDowell, if the original spelling was modified over time. Some of these may have also resulted from phonetic transcription.

In Gaelic, "Mac" or "Mc" generally signifies "son of", in this case followed by a personal name, Howell.

Howell itself is a Welsh surname, derived from the Welsh personal name Hywel meaning "eminent". Variants of Howell can include Howells, Howellsen, Howellson, Howel, and even Powell in some cases.

The 'Mc' prefix could potentially be removed entirely due to anglicisation, resulting in variations such as Howell, Howelle, or Howells.

It should be noted that not all people with these surnames may be related, as different families may have adopted similar surnames independently. Direct lineage is best determined through genealogical research.

Famous people with the name McHowell

• Michael McHowell: American actor, known for roles in ‘The West Wing’ and ‘Glee’
• Donald McHowell: British actor who has appeared in films such as ‘Harry Potter’, ‘Sherlock Holmes’ and ‘The Avengers’
• Kathy McHowell: Emmy-nominated American producer
• Angie McHowell: model and actress who has appeared in films such as ‘The Mummy’ and ‘The Aviator’
• Bill McHowell: NFL Hall of Famer
• Margaret McHowell: American stage and screen actress
• Shea McHowell: Canadian ice hockey player
• Billie McHowell: singer/songwriter and guitarist
• JC McHowell: Grammy Award winning American folk singer
• Trevor McHowell: stuntman and actor who has appeared in films such as ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ and ‘Kingsman: The Secret Service’

Other surnames

McHowen