Surname Howdeshell - Meaning and Origin
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Howdeshell: What does the surname Howdeshell mean?
The last name Howdeshell is of Anglo-Saxon origin, meaning "son of the man from the halt-stead" (where "halt-stead" refers to an isolated farm or homestead). The name is derived from the Old English "halt" ("to be still, to halt, to wait") and "stede" ("place, stead, spot, location"). This name originates from a location where the family's original ancestor lived, usually signifying a place of an isolated settlement or an area where hunting was particularly good.
During the Middle Ages, most people in England used a single name, but as the population began to increase, so did the need for a more specific way to identify families. The adoption of hereditary surnames was one of the most significant demographic shifts of the period, and one of the most common types of surname was the patronymic, which derived from a father's given name. Thus, the last name Howdeshell indicates that an ancestor of that family originally lived in or near a place called a "halt-stead".
Another interpretation of the name Howdeshell is related to hunting. In old English, "halt" also means "whelps". In medieval England, hunting of small animals, such as rabbits, was an activity most people would engage in. As such, the name Howdeshell could have originally been used to indicate someone who frequently hunted in a specific location, usually a 'halt-stead'.
The surname Howdeshell can still be found in the British Isles, although it is more often found in the US. Individuals bearing the Howdeshell surname are of Anglo-Saxon descent, and would have likely had ancestors who grew up in England during the medieval era.
Order DNA origin analysisHowdeshell: Where does the name Howdeshell come from?
The Howdeshell surname is found in the United States today, as the name is likely derived from the German word ‘Hudisels’. The surname first came to the United States in the 1700s, when a handful of Howdeshell families began to settle in what would become Pennsylvania. Since that time, their descendants have been found throughout the country, particularly in the Midwest and Plains states.
The largest cluster of Howdeshells is found in Pennsylvania. Here, the name is associated with Pittsburgh and Butler County, as well as a number of small communities scattered throughout the state. In addition, there is a concentration of Howdeshells in Virginia, mainly in the Richmond and Tidewater regions. Howdeshells are also found in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Missouri, Nebraska, Kansas, Wyoming, and Montana.
In terms of locations outside the United States, Howdeshells may be found in Germany, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom. The Howdeshell surname is relatively rare in comparison to other common American surnames, but there is a significant concentration of the Howdeshell family name in the United States today, primarily in the Midwest and Plains states.
Variations of the surname Howdeshell
The surname Howdeshell is a patronymic surname, created from the given name ‘Howd’. It is derived from the medieval English name Hugh and is derived from the Germanic elements hūd, mean ’heart’ and the suffix -helm, meaning ‘helmet’. The meaning of the name is thus ‘protective spirit’. It is a popular surname in England but also widely found in other parts of the world.
The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for Howdeshell are Howdshell, Howdeshell, Howdsell, Hoddshell, Hoddeshell, Hodsell, Huddsell, Hudshell, Hudshel, Hudsell, Hudselle, Hodshel and Hodeshell.
Surnames that share the same origin as Howdeshell include Hudle, Hudeson, Hude, Hudon, Hughson, Huff, Huggins, Hugh, Hutson, Hutt, Hodson, Haiti, Hoops, Howlett, Hoode, Holdsworth, Holden, Hole, Holley, and Holes.
The surnames which share the same origin as Howdeshell are largely English but can be found among countries colonised and settled by English-speaking people, such as the United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
Famous people with the name Howdeshell
- Kasey Howdeshell, former professional snowboarder
- Craig Howdeshell, associate professor of biology at Lees-McRae College
- Ryan Howdeshell, American football player
- Jeff Howdeshell, jazz musician
- Lindsey Howdeshell, bassist for alternative rock band Charley Orlando
- Myles Howdeshell, professional ice hockey player
- Travis Howdeshell, American screenwriter and filmmaker
- Amber Howdeshell, American track and field athlete
- Autumn Howdeshell, former Olympic diver
- Joseph Howdeshell, retired American soccer player