Howel

Howel is a personal name of Welsh origin that is also encountered as a surname. It is an alternate spelling of Hywel, the Welsh form of a name that has appeared in English and Welsh records since the Middle Ages. In Welsh, the name Hywel is generally associated with notions of prominence or distinction, though the exact etymology is a matter of scholarly debate. The spelling Howel appears in medieval manuscripts and legal documents as one of several renderings of Hywel, alongside forms such as Howell and Howells.

In modern usage, Howel remains relatively uncommon as both a given name and a surname. The more widespread Anglophone forms are Howell (used as a given name and a surname) and Howells (primarily a surname). When Howel is found today, it often reflects historical family ties to Wales or to ancestors who bore one of the more common Welsh variants. In genealogical records, Howel can appear as a variant spelling in periods when orthography varied widely across regions and languages.

As with related names, Howel is connected to Hywel, and to later Anglicized forms such as Howell and Howells. The name is most frequently associated with Welsh heritage, and its usage today tends toward historical or genealogical contexts rather than common modern adoption.