People With Last Name Howard

The surname Howard is predominantly of English origin, with its roots tracing back to multiple sources. It is believed to have derived from the Gaelic names Ó hOghartaigh and Ó hIomhair. A significant theory suggests that it evolved from the French personal names Huard and Houard, which were introduced to England following the Norman Conquest of 1066. These names are linked to a Germanic origin, akin to Old High German terms like *Hugihard, meaning "heart-brave," or *Hoh-ward, translating to "high defender" or "chief guardian." Additionally, the name may have connections to the Anglo-Scandinavian name Haward, derived from Hávarðr, which combines "high" and "guardian." In rare instances, Howard might originate from the Old English term for "ewe herd." The surname first appeared in public records in Cambridgeshire in 1221, and over time, it has developed various spellings.

The last name Howard is widely recognized across the United States, holding rank #75 in Census records. More than 264826 people share this last name — around 90 per 100,000.

Our database contains over 401800 people with the last name Howard. This surname is most commonly found in Texas, Florida, Georgia. We have over 225 unique first names combined with the last name Howard in our records. The most frequent first names associated with this surname are James, Michael, John.