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

Howes, 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 Howes surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Howes in America

Howes is the 5125th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Howes surname appeared 6,828 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Howes.

We can also compare 2010 data for Howes to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Howes

The surname "Howes" originates from England and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "hoh," meaning "heel" or "ridge of land." The name likely referred to someone who lived on or near a ridge or hill.

The earliest recorded instance of the name appears in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1273, where it is spelled "Howe." Over time, variations such as "Howes," "Hows," and "Hough" emerged. The name is also closely related to the place name "Howe," which refers to various locations across England.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, there are several entries for places with the name "Howe," including villages in Lincolnshire, Norfolk, and Suffolk. These entries suggest that the surname may have originated from individuals who lived in or near these locations.

One of the earliest recorded individuals with the surname "Howes" was John Howes, born around 1470 in Somerset, England. He was a prominent merchant and landowner in the area.

Another notable figure was Sir Edward Howes (1572-1645), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Shropshire. He played a significant role in the English Civil War, supporting the Parliamentarian cause against King Charles I.

In the 17th century, Thomas Howes (1608-1678) was a successful merchant and shipowner in London. He was involved in the transatlantic trade and helped establish one of the first English settlements in Barbados.

During the American Revolutionary War, Howes Beach in Massachusetts was named after Joseph Howes (1726-1803), a Patriot who fought in the Battle of Bunker Hill.

In the literary world, Mary Howes (1799-1888) was a prominent English writer and poet known for her works on religious and moral themes.

These are just a few examples of individuals throughout history who bore the surname "Howes." The name has a rich history spanning centuries and has been carried by people from various walks of life, including merchants, politicians, soldiers, and writers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Howes

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

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 Howes 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.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Howes has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

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 Howes was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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