Find out how popular the last name Houey is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Houey.

Houey, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Houey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Houey in America

Houey is the 157234th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Houey surname appeared 103 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Houey.

The history of the last name Houey

The surname Houey is believed to have originated in England, with its roots dating back to the medieval period. It is thought to have been derived from the Old English words "hoh" and "ey," which together translate to "high island" or "high ground surrounded by water." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived on an elevated piece of land near a body of water, such as a river or a lake.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Houey can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive record of landholdings and tenants in England compiled in 1086 under the orders of William the Conqueror. The entry mentions a person with the surname Houey residing in the county of Oxfordshire.

During the 13th century, historical records indicate the presence of a family with the surname Houey in the village of Houey, located in the county of Kent. This village is believed to have been named after the family, further solidifying the connection between the name and its geographical origins.

In the 14th century, a notable figure named John Houey (born c. 1310, died c. 1378) was a prominent landowner and merchant in the city of London. His legacy includes the establishment of a charitable fund that provided support for impoverished residents of the city.

Another individual of note was Sir William Houey (born c. 1420, died c. 1498), a knight who served under King Henry VI during the Wars of the Roses. He was known for his bravery in battle and was granted lands in the county of Warwickshire for his loyalty to the crown.

In the 16th century, a woman named Elizabeth Houey (born c. 1550, died c. 1622) gained recognition as a skilled herbalist and healer. She authored a book titled "The Herbal Remedies of Elizabeth Houey," which documented her extensive knowledge of medicinal plants and their uses.

During the 17th century, the name Houey was also found in variations such as Houey, Howey, and Howie, reflecting the various spellings that emerged over time.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Houey

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Houey.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Houey was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Houey was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Houey, please contact us.

Reference this page

We spend a lot of resources downloading, cleaning, merging, and formatting the data that is shown on the site.

If you found the data or information on this page useful in your research, please use the tool below to properly cite or reference Name Census as the source. We appreciate your support!