Surname Howdesheld - Meaning and Origin

Howdesheld: What does the surname Howdesheld mean?

The last name Howdesheld is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is believed to be derived from the Old English term “hōd” which means “solstice” and “scield” which means “protection.” Combined, these two terms indicate a surname that culturally represents the end-of-year solstice period. This period of time was extremely important to many ancient societies, as traditionally the midwinter solstice marked the darkest day in the solar year as well as the sun’s reemergence from its hibernation. As such, the Howdesheld surname has always been associated with protection and hope for the future.

In modern times, the Howdesheld name is still commonly found in the United Kingdom. It is often found as an Anglicized version of “Hödskilde,” a Scandinavian surname bearing the same meaning and importance. Interestingly, some of the earliest bearers of this surname settled in what is now Canada during the late 17th and 18th centuries. Over the years, the Howdeshelds have made many significant contributions to their respective communities, from assisting with the development of community infrastructure to providing spiritual guidance to many worshippers. Today, Howdeshelds continue to lead meaningful, productive lives and spread the name’s message of hope and protection throughout the world.

Howdesheld: Where does the name Howdesheld come from?

The surname Howdesheld is an uncommon last name today, with very few people using it. As a matter of fact, it is so uncommon and uncommonly spelled that it is often hard to find accurate records or statistics on its use.

Based on records maintained by the U.S. Census Bureau, Howdesheld is a rare name that is not widely used outside of the United States. According to the US Census Bureau, in the past 90 years, fewer than 50 people in the United States have had the last name Howdesheld.

The surname Howdesheld seems to originate from the German town of Howdesheld, located near Koblenz in the Rhineland-Palatinate region. It is likely that the people who moved to the United States from Germany brought the name with them.

Since the US Census records begin in 1930, it is hard to know exactly where or when the surname was first used in the United States. According to an Ancestry.com search, the earliest use of the Howdesheld surname in the United States is 1853, when a woman named Rebecca Howdesheld emigrated from Germany.

Today, it appears that the Howdesheld surname is not widely used and is unlikely to become more popular in the near future. For those who do bear the name, it serves as a reminder of their ancestral German roots.

Variations of the surname Howdesheld

Howdesheld is a surname of English origin. It has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. The most common variants of Howdesheld include Howdeshell, Hodeshell, Hodesheld, Hodshill, Hodshall, Hodschell, Howdeshel, Howdeshelle, Howdshall, and Huddeshell. The etymology of the name is likely derived from the Old English word “hoh” meaning “mound,” and “helde,” which refers to a clearing or pasture. This suggests that Howdesheld was likely originally a topographical name for someone living on a hill or mound.

The surname is also found in other countries and is spelled slightly differently. Variants found in the United States and Canada include Howdishal, Howdeshal, Howdshal, Hougdishal, and Howdishall. This version of the name is likely derived from the Old English “hoh” and the Middle English “dyshall,” which refers to a meadow or pasture.

The surname Howdesheld also appears in some Scottish records, spelled as Howdishall, Hodishal, Howdishal, Hodushill, and Hawdishill. This variant is likely derived from the Scots language word “hud” meaning “the hollow of a hill,” and “shall,” which refers to a meadow.

Other spellings and surnames of the same origin include: Hawdsheld, Haudshell, Hawdishill, Hawshill, Housholl, Howdeswill, Houdshell, Howdesheal, Houdsheld, and Haushell. These variants are likely derived from various variants of the Old English “hoh” and a combination of different Middle English words.

Famous people with the name Howdesheld

• Tyler Howdeshell: Cross country skier who competed at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia
• Mack Howdeshell: Professional triathlete from St. Louis, Missouri, who won the 2014 Ironman 70.3 North American Championships in Lake Placid
• Alex Howdeshell: Professional cyclist, part of Team Joker, who won the 2017 Tour of Britain
• Dean Howdeshell: Former professional basketball player, who played for the Boston Celtics from 2001 to 2005
• Eric Howdeshell: Documentary filmmaker and director, who won Best Documentary at both the 2014 and 2017 Sundance Film Festivals
• Sydney Howdeshell: Singer-songwriter who has released three albums, and was included on the 2019 Billboard “Next Big Sound” Chart
• Justin Howdeshell: Former NFL cornerback who played for the Baltimore Ravens from 1995 to 1999, winning Super Bowl XXXV with the team
• Sean Howdeshell: Professional snowboarder, who won the 2016 U.S. Freestyle Snowboarding Championship
• Colby Howdeshell: Emmy-nominated television producer and creator of the FX show “American Horror Story”
• Nathan Howdeshell: NASA/JPL engineer and spacecraft designer who is a part of the team working on the Mars 2020 mission

Other surnames

HowdeshellHowdeshelt