Surname Howald - Meaning and Origin

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O. Howald

Howald: What does the surname Howald mean?

The last name Howald is an old German name, likely derived from the German word “Hohwald”, which means “wooded hill.” Howald was used as a term for an area that was heavily wooded. The surname is believed to have first appeared in records during the Middle Ages in the German region of Bavaria. It is thought that it may have originally been used as a name to describe a hilltop that was surrounded by dense forest, however, it is also possible that the name was adopted by people who lived near or lived on one of these wooded hills. Additionally, it is suggested that the name may have been used to denote a landholder or town leader, making it a location-specific surname from a particular area.

The Howald surname was first found in the areas of Bavaria and Thuringia. It is also found in areas of the former West Prussia, which was part of Poland. Records of the name can be found in records dating back to the 13th century. In Germany, the name is most commonly seen in the area around the cities of Frankfurt am Main, Darmstadt, and Mainz. The surname was also adopted by immigrants to other countries, particularly the United States, where it is still seen today.

The Howald surname is an old German name that is linked to a particular geographic area. Its original use was likely to describe a person who lived near or on a wooded hill. This name has been preserved over the centuries and can still be found in areas of Germany and around the world.

Howald: Where does the name Howald come from?

The last name Howald is common in Germany, particularly among individuals of Germanic and Scandinavian descent. It is also found amongst people of Dutch, French, and Irish descent, though it is far less frequently used among these populations than within Germany. The name is most common in the western and southern parts of Germany, including the states of North Rhine-Westphalia, Thuringia, Bavaria, Hesse, and Rhineland Palatinate.

Within these regions, many families with the name Howald have lived for centuries. Records indicate that many of these families were in existence prior to the start of the Thirty Years' War, which began in 1618. This suggests that both the name and the families using it have a long history in Germany.

Howald is also found in various other European countries, including France, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, and Finland. According to the genealogy website Origins.net, the name is most common in Canada today. It is the preferred spelling of the name in Canada, though you may see it spelled slightly differently in other countries.

Overall, the name Howald is most commonly today found in Germany and North America (particularly Canada). It is a name of Germanic and Scandinavian origin which has likely been in use for more than 400 years.

Variations of the surname Howald

The surname Howald has many variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin. These include Hoald, Hohld, Howaldt, Howlatt, Howlett, Houald, Houalds, Hauld, and HAwld.

The oldest recorded spelling of Howald is in the German language. The earliest record is found in the 11th century and comes from UnterSallstedt and Rangensteing, which are two towns in Germany. This surname is of Old German origin and is derived from the personal name Hughhold.

The spelling of the surname also varies, depending on which language is used. For example, the same name is spelt Houdals in Dutch, Haual in Scandinavian, Howaldts in Swiss, Howlatt in English, and Houalds in French.

This surname is common in Europe, particularly in Germany and the Netherlands. It is also known in the United States, particularly in Pennsylvania and Ohio, as many of the original settlers of these areas were of German descent.

Howald is also a common Jewish surname. It is believed to be the biblical Hebrew howal in origin, which means "remain". It is believed that the Jewish population adopted this name after it was adopted by many Christian families of German descent.

To summarise, the variants, spellings, and surnames of the same origin for the surname Howald include: Hoald, Hohld, Howaldt, Howlatt, Howlett, Houald, Houalds, Hauld, HAwld, Houdals, Haual, Howaldts, and Houalds. This surname is believed to be of Old German origin and is common in Europe, particularly Germany and the Netherlands, and the United States, particularly Pennsylvania and Ohio. The Jewish population is believed to have adopted the surname after it was adopted by many Christian families.

Famous people with the name Howald

• Brendan Howald: a British singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist.
• Erwin Howald: an American racecar driver who raced in the Indianapolis 500 from 1951 to 1963.
• Barbara Howald: an American actress best known for her role in the television series Knots Landing.
• Geoff Howald: a retired American soccer player who was part of the 1987-88 premier division championship team.
• Paul Howald: an American conservationist, professor and writer.
• Linton Howald: a former Major League Baseball player.
• Leonard Howald: an American soldier, lawyer and politician who served as a U.S. Congressman.
• Kenneth Howald: an American medical doctor and early leader in the physical therapy profession.
• Marvin Howald: an American photographer and filmmaker, best known for his work as a National Geographic photographer.
• Julie Howald: a Swiss writer, journalist and literary critic.

Other surnames

Howaldt