Howze
A surname usually treated as a spelling variant of House, referring to someone who lived near or worked in a house or household.
The #9,907 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 94,620 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Howze is generally understood as a variant spelling of the English surname House, from Middle English house, meaning a dwelling or household. In surname use, it likely began as a topographic or occupational name for someone associated with a house, estate, or household rather than as a direct reference to an ordinary residence. The spelling with -z- reflects later regional or phonetic variation rather than a separate root.
History
The name is most common in English-speaking countries, especially the United States, where variant spellings became fixed in records over time. Like many surnames with flexible early spellings, Howze likely branched off from House and related forms through local pronunciation and clerical spelling. It is also seen in African American family lines, as with many surnames inherited after emancipation and later standardized in official documents.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Because the spelling is uncommon, Howze is one of those surnames that can look unrelated at first glance but usually belongs to the larger House/Howes surname family.