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There are approximately 66,475 people named Howard in the UK. That makes it the 112nd most common surname overall. Out of every million people in the UK, approximately 1,052 are named Howard.

Region of origin

British Isles

Country of origin

England

Language of origin

English

Religion of origin

Christian

Classification

English
From given name or forename

Related and similar surnames

Heward
Howar
Hoard
Hord
Howardd
Howaard
Howaird
Hhoward
Howarda
Houard
Heweard
Hoeard
Hewarde
Heword
Heewarde
Houeard
Howarday
Hewourd
Hewerd
Houards
Houward
Hewards
Houerd
Heuard

The Howard surname in historical dictionaries

An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names (1857)

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. Spelman derives Howard from Hof-ward, the keeper of a hall; Vestegan, from Hold-ward, the keeper of a stronghold; Camden, from Hoch-ward, the high keeper.

Arthur, William (1857) An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. New York: Sheldon, Blakeman. Public Domain.

Patronymica Britannica (1860)

HOWARD. This noble historical name has been a sore puzzle to etymologists. See Eng. Surn. i. 133. A writer in the Quarterly Rev. vol. OIL says, the family " may be Saxon, may be Danish." They are more probablj' of Norwegian origin. Havard or Haavard was a common personal name among the Northmen. " It appears," says Laing, "to be the English name Howard, and left by them in Northumberland and East Auglia." Heimskringla. vol. i. p. 410, The seventeenth-century genealogists laboured hard to proAe a Norman origin for this illustrious race, but authentic VQcords extend back no farther than the XIII, cent., when the Howards rose into eminence in Norfolk ; (See Peerage,) though Houardus, the Essex under-tenant of Domesday may be cited on that side.

Lower, Mark A (1860) Patronymica Britannica: a dictionary of the family names of the United Kingdom. London: J.R. Smith. Public Domain.

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