Powell
A Welsh surname meaning “son of Howell,” later also influenced by the old Welsh name Pwyll.
The #101 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 1,373 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Powell is mainly a Welsh patronymic formed from ap Howell, meaning “son of Howell.” In Welsh naming practice, the prefix ap (“son of”) often fused with the following name, producing spellings like Powell. Some older writers also connected Powell with the ancient Welsh personal name Pwyll, but the ap Howell explanation is the standard one.
History
The surname became common as Welsh hereditary surnames were fixed relatively late, especially from the 16th century onward. Historical sources also note families of Powell in Wales and neighboring border counties descending from medieval Welsh lineages. The name spread widely in England and later in the English-speaking world through Welsh migration.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Welsh surnames often formed by dropping the ap and blending it into the next name, which is why ap Howell could become Powell.
From the historical record
“POWEL i (Celt.) I the Welsh Ap-HoweliJ, - POWELL J Son of Howel(l : v. Howel. John ap-Kowell.jr-Charter-Rolls. Trahern ap-Howel (a Welsh hostage in Chester Castle). — ' Chesh. Chmhrlns.' Accts., a.d. 1320. 2 for the old Welsh pers. name Pwyll = ' Forward ; Wary [Wel. pwylt]”
— Surnames of the United Kingdom: a concise etymological dictionary (2 vols in 1)Notable people named Powell
- Colin Powell (1937–2021)
- C. F. Powell (1903–1969)
- Asafa Powell (b. 1982)
Sourced from Wikidata; linked to their Wikipedia page.