Howard is a common English

surname In some cultures, a surname, family name, or last name is the portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family, tribe or community. Practices vary by culture. The family name may be placed at either the start of a person's full name ...

. One source for this surname is with the Gaelic names Ó hOghartaigh and Ó hIomhair. Other origins also exist. The dominant theory pertains to the

French French (french: français(e), link=no) may refer to: * Something of, from, or related to France ** French language, which originated in France, and its various dialects and accents ** French people, a nation and ethnic group identified with Franc ...

personal name A personal name, or full name, in onomastic terminology also known as prosoponym (from Ancient Greek πρόσωπον / ''prósōpon'' - person, and ὄνομα / ''onoma'' - name), is the set of names by which an individual person is known ...

s '' Huard'' and ''

Houard Houard is a French surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Clodomir Houard (1873–1943), French botanist and entomologist * Marie-Claire Houard, Belgian civil servant See also * Howard Howard is an English-language given name origi ...

'' adapted after the Norman Conquest of 1066. It is from a Germanic source similar to Old High German ''*Hugihard'' "heart-brave," or ''*Hoh-ward'', literally "high defender; chief guardian." Also probably in some cases a confusion with cognate

Anglo-Scandinavian Anglo-Scandinavian is an academic term referring to the hybridisation between Norse and Anglo-Saxon cultures in Britain during the early medieval period. It remains a term and concept often used by historians and archaeologists, and in linguisti ...

personal name ''Haward'' from ''Hávarðr'', which means ''ha(r)'' "high" (or ''hǫð'' "battle") and element ''varðr'', meaning "guardian", and sometimes also with unrelated Hayward. In some rare cases from Old English ''eowu hierde'' "ewe herd." In

Anglo-Norman Anglo-Norman may refer to: *Anglo-Normans, the medieval ruling class in England following the Norman conquest of 1066 *Anglo-Norman language **Anglo-Norman literature *Anglo-Norman England, or Norman England, the period in English history from 1066 ...

the French digramm ''-ou-'' was often rendered as ''-ow-'' such as ''couard'' → ''coward'', ''tour'' → ''tower'', ''flour'' (western variant form of ''fleur'') → ''flower'', etc (two last examples with

svarabakhti In phonology, epenthesis (; Greek ) means the addition of one or more sounds to a word, especially in the beginning syllable ('' prothesis'') or in the ending syllable (''paragoge'') or in-between two syllabic sounds in a word. The word ''epenth ...

, typical of the Anglo-Norman language). The first public record of the surname is dated 1221 in Cambridgeshire. There are several variant surname spellings. People with the surname Howard include:

Disambiguation pages

* Alan Howard (disambiguation), various people *

Anna Howard (disambiguation) Anna Howard may refer to: *Anna Howard (cinematographer) *Anna Howard Shaw, suffragette See also *Anne Howard (disambiguation) Anne Howard or Ann Howard may refer to: * Anne of York, Lady Howard (1475–1511), English princess; daughter of Edward ...

, various people * Anne, or Ann, Howard (disambiguation), various people * Arthur Howard (disambiguation), various people * Ben Howard (disambiguation), various people * Charles Howard (disambiguation), various people * Chris Howard (disambiguation), various people * Daniel Howard (disambiguation), various people * David Howard (disambiguation), various people * Donald Howard (disambiguation), various people *

Edward Howard (disambiguation) Edward Howard or Ed Howard may refer to: Politicians * Edward Howard (died 1620), Member of Parliament for Reigate *Edward Howard, 1st Baron Howard of Escrick (died 1675), British nobleman and parliamentarian *Edward L. Howard (1926–2011), Penn ...

, various people * Elizabeth Howard (disambiguation), various people *

Frank Howard (disambiguation) Frank Howard or Frankie Howard may refer to: Journalism *Frank Key Howard (1826–1872), American newspaper editor * Frank Howard (columnist) (1931–2008), Canadian journalist Politics *Frank Geere Howard (1861–1935), British politician, membe ...

, various people * George Howard (disambiguation), various people * Jack Howard (disambiguation), various people * James Howard (disambiguation), various people * Jane Howard (disambiguation), various people *

John Howard (disambiguation) John Howard (born 1939) was Prime Minister of Australia from 1996 to 2007. John Howard may also refer to: Other politicians *John Howard (died 1437) (1366–1437), MP for Essex, Cambridgeshire and Suffolk * John Howard (MP for Faversham) (1863– ...

, various people * Ken Howard (disambiguation), various people * Leslie Howard (disambiguation), various people * Mark Howard (disambiguation), various people * Mary Howard (disambiguation), various people * Matthew Howard (disambiguation), various people *

Michael Howard (disambiguation) Michael Howard, Baron Howard of Lympne (born 1941) is a British politician. Michael Howard may also refer to: Arts and entertainment * Michael Howard (comedian) (1916–1988), British actor and comedian * Michael Howard (musician) (1922–2002), ...

, various people * Paul Howard (disambiguation), various people * Philip Howard (disambiguation), various people *

Randy Howard (disambiguation) Randy Howard may refer to: * Randy Howard (country singer) (1950–2015), American singer, songwriter, guitarist, publisher and producer * Randy Howard (fiddler) (1960–1999), American bluegrass, country and old time fiddler {{hndis, Howard ...

Aristocracy and royalty

* Members of the English aristocratic Howard family * Catherine Howard, fifth wife of Henry VIII of England

Arts and music

* Alan Howard (actor) (1937–2015), British actor * Howard Ashman (May 17, 1950 – March 14, 1991) was an American playwright, lyricist and stage director. * Arliss Howard (born 1954), American actor, writer, director *

Barbara Howard (artist) Helen Barbara Howard (March 10, 1926 – December 7, 2002) was a Canadian painter, wood-engraver, draughtsperson, bookbinder and designer who produced work consistently throughout her life, from her graduation in 1951 from the Ontario Colle ...

(1926–2002), Canadian artist and wood-engraver *

Billy Howard Billy Howard is a British comedy impressionist, who appeared on the ITV series ''Who Do You Do?'', in the early 1970s, alongside other impressionists such as Faith Brown. Howard was born in Edgware, London, England. He commenced his musical care ...

, English comedian *

Bryce Dallas Howard Bryce Dallas Howard (born March 2, 1981) is an American actress and director. Howard was born in Los Angeles and attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts, initially leaving in 2002 to take roles on Broadway but officially graduati ...

(born 1981), American actress, daughter of Ron Howard *

Cecil de Blaquiere Howard Cecil de Blaquiere Howard, sometimes Cecil Howard, (April 2, 1888 – September 5, 1956), born in Clifton, Welland County, Ontario, Canada (today Niagara Falls) was an American painter and sculptor. The sculptor devoted his work to the presentat ...

(1888–1956), American sculptor * Charlton Howard (born 2003), Australian rapper, singer, and songwriter, known professionally as the Kid Laroi *

Clayton Howard Clayton Howard (8 July 1934 – 24 October 2017) was a British make-up artist. He was born Francis Herbert Fish on 8 July 1934, in a working-class family in Liverpool, the son of James Fish and Ada Fish née Atkinson. He would later take the sur ...

(1934–2017), British make-up artist * Clint Howard (born 1959), American actor, brother of Ron *

Constance Howard (actress) Constance Howard (October 4, 1906 in Omaha, Nebraska – December 7, 1980 in San Diego County, California) was an American silent film actress of the late 1920s and early 1930s. Filmography *'' Splendor'' (1935) (uncredited) as Dinner Gue ...

(1906–1980), American actress *

Constance Howard (artist) Constance Mildred Howard, later Constance Parker, (8 December 1910 – 2 July 2000) was an English textile artist and embroiderer who had a profound impact on the development and teaching of those subjects in Britain. The Constance Howard Gallery ...

(1910–2000), British textile artist * Curly Howard (1903–1952), American actor, member of the ''Three Stooges'' *

Deborah Howard Deborah Janet Howard, (born 1946) is a British art historian and academic. Her principal research interests are the art and architecture of Venice and the Veneto; the relationship between Italy and the Eastern Mediterranean, and music and archit ...

(born 1946), British art historian, architectural historian, and academic * Dominic Howard (born 1977), English drummer *

Emily Howard Emily Howard (born 1979) is a British composer whose work is best known for its inventive connections with mathematical shapes and processes. Early life Howard was born in Liverpool, England. After completing a degree in mathematics and comp ...

(born 1979) British composer and chess player *

Frank Ernest Howard Frank Ernest Howard (1888, Headington, Oxfordshire – 1934, Oxford) was an English architect who worked exclusively in the area of ecclesiastical furnishings and fittings. He was a pupil of Sir Ninian Comper and carried out much of his work ...

, English architect, generally known as F.E. Howard *

Gertrude Howard Gertrude Howard (October 13, 1892 – September 30, 1934) was an American actress of the silent and early sound film eras. Biography Born in 1892, Howard performed in the chorus of ''The Wife Hunters'' (1911) on Broadway. She broke into films ...

(1892–1934), American actress * Henry Howard (1769-1847), British artist * Jan Howard (1929–2020), American country music singer-songwriter *

Jason Howard ''Jason Howard'' is an American comic book artist known for such comics as ''Trees (comics), Trees'' with Warren Ellis and ''The Astounding Wolf-Man'' with Robert Kirkman. References External links

* * Living people American comics art ...

, American comics artist *

Maurice Howard Maurice Howard (b. 16 June 1948) is a British art historian, and was Professor of History of Art at the University of Sussex until his retirement in 2016. Howard has a bachelor's degree in history from Christ's College, Cambridge, followed by MA ...

, British art historian * Miki Howard (born 1960), American jazz singer * Moe Howard (1897–1975), American actor, member of the ''Three Stooges'' * Rance Howard (1928–2017), American actor * Ron Howard (born 1954), American actor and film director * Russell Howard (born 1980), English comedian *

Shawn Michael Howard Shawn Michael Howard (born July 31, 1969) is an American film, television and theater actor. Howard was born in Newark, New Jersey, the son of Olivia C. and Frank Howard, Jr., brother of Brad Howard and Tyrone Scott Howard. Father of Elijah Howard ...

(born 1969), American actor * Shemp Howard (1895–1955), American actor, member of the ''Three Stooges'' *

Sophie Howard Sophie Howard (born 24 February 1983) is a former glamour model from Southport, England. She appeared regularly on ''Page 3'' and in List of men's magazines#Lad mags, men's magazines such as ''Maxim (magazine), Maxim'', ''Nuts (magazine), Nu ...

(born 1983), British model * Terrence Howard (born 1969), American actor * Traylor Howard (born 1966), American actress * Trevor Howard, (1913–1987), English actor

Literature and journalism

Blanche Willis Howard Blanche Willis Howard (July 20, 1847 – October 7, 1898) (married name: Blanche Willis Howard von Teuffel) was an American writer whose novels developed out of the genre of Sentimentalism to Realism to the New Woman. Her first novel, ''One Summe ...

(1847–1898), American author * Elizabeth Jane Howard (1923–2014), English novelist *

Gorges Edmond Howard Gorges Edmond Howard (1715–1786) was a miscellaneous Irish writer. He wrote on the law and created literary works. Biography Gorges Edmond Howard was the son of Captain Francis Howard (of dragoons) and Elizabeth (born Jackson). He was born in ...

(1715–1786) Irish legal and literary writer * Jane Howard, (1935–1996), journalist known for her work at ''Life'' magazine * J. J. Howard (born 1972), American author *

Keble Howard Keble Howard was the pen name of John Keble Bell (8 June 1875 – 29 March 1928). He was an English writer and journalist, who wrote a large number of novels, short stories, sketches and plays, mainly light comic pieces, often depicting subur ...

(1875–1928), English comic author * Madeline Howard (born 1949), American fantasy author

Military

* Benjamin Howard (Missouri politician) U.S. military officer *

Curtis W. Howard This is a list of Navy Cross recipients for actions of valor carried out during World War II, awarded by the United States Department of the Navy. World War II was a global military conflict, the joining of what had initially been two separate ...

(1917–1942), U.S. Navy officer and Navy Cross recipient * Hugh W. Howard, U.S. Navy admiral * John Howard (1912–1999), British Army officer who led the glider-born operation that opened D-Day in 1944 * John Martin Howard (1917-1942), U.S. Navy officer * Michelle J. Howard (born 1960), American Navy admiral *

Oliver O. Howard Oliver Otis Howard (November 8, 1830 – October 26, 1909) was a career United States Army officer and a Union general in the Civil War. As a brigade commander in the Army of the Potomac, Howard lost his right arm while leading his men against ...

(1830–1909), General in the U.S. Civil War

Politics and law

* Asher Howard (1877-1945), American lawyer and politician * Benjamin Chew Howard American politician *

Carlos Howard Carlos Howard (1738 - ?) was an Irish-born military officer who served as Governor of West Florida (in Pensacola), between 1792 and 1793. Prior to that appointment, he served as secretary and general administrative assistant to the East Florida G ...

, Governor of West Florida *

Daniel Edward Howard Daniel Edward Howard (4 August 1861 – 9 July 1935) was the 16th president of Liberia, serving from 1912 to 1920. Howard was elected president in 1911 and assumed office on 1 January 1912. With the outbreak of World War I, he attempted t ...

(1861–1935), president of Liberia * Edgar Howard (1858–1951), American politician *

Grace Schneiders-Howard Grace Schneiders-Howard (16 September 1869 – 4 February 1968) was a Surinamese social worker and politician. Initially beginning her career in civil service as an agent for immigrant workers, she later worked in the Hygiene Department to develop ...

(1869–1968), Surinamese social worker and politician * Henry Howard, American politician * Jerry Thomas Howard (born 1936), American politician *

Julia C. Howard Julia Craven Howard (born August 20, 1944) is a Republican member of the North Carolina General Assembly representing the state's seventy-seventh House district, including constituents in Forsyth and Davie counties. She is a realtor from Mocks ...

, American politician *

Karlton Howard Karlton Howard is an American politician from the Georgia Democratic Party who serves as a member of the Georgia House of Representatives representing District 129. Howard is a minister of religion. Howard ran in special election to replace his ...

, American politician *

Marilyn Howard Marilyn Lenore Howard (April 18, 1939July 13, 2020) was an American politician from Idaho who served as the 23rd Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction from 1999 to 2007. She is the most recent member of the Democratic Party to have held sta ...

(1939–2020), American educator and politician *

Michael Howard Michael Howard, Baron Howard of Lympne (born Michael Hecht; 7 July 1941) is a British politician who served as Leader of the Conservative Party and Leader of the Opposition from November 2003 to December 2005. He previously held cabinet posi ...

(formerly Hecht) (born 1941), British Conservative politician *

Milford W. Howard Milford Wriarson Howard (December 18, 1862 – December 28, 1937) was a United States Representative from Alabama. Howard was first elected to the House of Representatives as a Populist in 1894, defeating incumbent William H. Denson. He w ...

(1862–1937), American politician * Perry Wilbon Howard (1877–1961), Republican attorney and African American civil rights activist from Mississippi *

Raymond Howard (politician) Raymond Howard (born March 13, 1935) is an American politician who served in the Missouri Senate and the Missouri House of Representatives The Missouri House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the Missouri General Assembly. It has 163 m ...

, American politician, Missouri senator *

T. R. M. Howard Theodore Roosevelt Mason Howard (March 4, 1908 – May 1, 1976) was an American civil rights leader, fraternal organization leader, entrepreneur and surgeon. He was a mentor to activists such as Medgar Evers, Charles Evers, Fannie Lou Hamer, ...

(1908–1976), Afro American civil rights leader * Vernon Edgar Howard, (1937–1998), American politician * William Jordan Howard (1799–1862), Mayor of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania * William Lorenzo Howard (1921–1994), Mayor of Monroe, Louisiana; partner of Howard Brothers Discount Stores

Sciences and mathematics

Henry Eliot Howard Henry Eliot Howard (13 November 1873 – 26 December 1940) was an English amateur ornithologist, noted for being one of the first to describe territoriality behaviours in birds in a detailed manner. His ideas on territoriality were influential ...

(1873–1940), English amateur ornithologist *

Harvey J. Howard Harvey James Howard (1880–1956) was an American ophthalmologist. He was notable for: * Serving as head of the Ophthalmology Department at the University Medical School, Canton Christian College in China between 1910 and 1915. * Inventing the H ...

(1880–1956), American ophthalmologist * Luke Howard (1772–1864), British chemist and meteorologist * Leland Ossian Howard (1857–1950), American entomologist * William Alvin Howard (born 1926), American mathematician

Sports

Barbara Howard Barbara Howard may refer to: * Barbara Howard, Countess of Suffolk (1622–1681), English courtier * Barbara Howard (athlete) (1920–2017), Canadian sprinter * Barbara Howard (artist) (1926–2002), Canadian painter, wood engraver, draughtsperson, ...

(1920–2017), Canadian sprinter *

Billy Howard (gridiron football) Billy Howard Sr. (July 17, 1950 – February 13, 2005) was an American football defensive lineman who played three seasons with the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Lions in the second round of the 1974 ...

(1950–2005), American football player *

Bug Howard Johnathan "Bug" Howard (born November 28, 1994) is an American football tight end for the Philadelphia Stars of the United States Football League (USFL). He played college football at North Carolina. Early years Howard, who was given the nickn ...

(born 1994), American football player * Chaunte Howard (born 1984), American high jumper *

Desmond Howard Desmond Kevin Howard (born May 15, 1970) is an American former football wide receiver who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 11 seasons. He played college football at Michigan, where he won the Heisman Trophy as a senior. Howard w ...

(born 1970), American football player * Dwight Howard (born 1985), American basketball player * Elston Howard (1929–1980), American baseball player *

Frank Howard (American football) Frank J. Howard (March 25, 1909 – January 26, 1996) was an American college football player and coach. He played college football for Alabama. After a career-ending injury, Howard joined the staff at Clemson College and became head coach in 1 ...

(1909–1996), American college football player and coach *

Frank Howard (Australian footballer) Francis Joseph Howard (1 August 1923 – 24 August 2007) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Richmond in the Victorian Football League The Victorian Football League (VFL) is an Australian rules football league in Australia ...

(1923–2007), Australian rules footballer * Frank Howard (baseball) (1936–2023), American outfielder, coach and manager in Major League Baseball *

Frankie Howard (footballer) Francis Henry Howard (30 January 1931 – 11 October 2007) was an English professional footballer who scored 26 goals from 200 Football League appearances playing at outside left for Brighton & Hove Albion. Life and career Howard was born in ...

(1931–2007), English association football player *

George Howard (footballer) George Howard (born 8 October 1996) is an English-born Australian professional footballer who plays as a striker. Club career George Howard moved to Australia with his family aged 1 or 15 from England where he had participated in the Sheffield ...

, Australian footballer *

Harvey Howard Harvey Howard is an English former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. A Great Britain and England international representative , he played club football in England for Widnes, Leeds, Bradford Bulls and Wiga ...

, British rugby league footballer *

Isaac Howard Isaac Howard (born March 30, 2004) is an American collegiate ice hockey left wing for Minnesota Duluth of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). He was drafted 31st overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. ...

(born 2004), American ice hockey player * Jay Howard (born 1981), British race car driver *

Jett Howard Jett Howard (born September 14, 2003) is an American professional basketball player for the Orlando Magic of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He plays the point guard and shooting guard positions for college and the NBA. He played 20 ...

(born 2003), American basketball player * Jimmy Howard (born 1984), American ice hockey goaltender *

Jordan Howard Jordan Reginald Howard (born November 2, 1994) is an American football running back who is a free agent. He played college football at UAB and Indiana. High school career Howard played high school football at Gardendale High School in Gardenda ...

(born 1994), American football player *

Josh Howard Joshua Jay Howard (born April 28, 1980) is an American basketball coach and former professional player who is the head coach of the UNT Dallas Trailblazers men's basketball team. He played college basketball for the Wake Forest Demon Deacons. H ...

(born 1980), American basketball player * Juwan Howard (born 1973), American basketball player * Malcolm Howard (rower), Canadian rower *

Marcus Howard Marcus Howard (born October 10, 1985) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive end in the National Football League (NFL) and Canadian Football League (CFL). He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the fifth ro ...

(born 1985), American football player *

Mark Howard (footballer, born January 1986) Mark James Howard (born 29 January 1986) is an English football coach and former player. He works as an assistant coach for American club Oklahoma City Energy, for whom he played for a season before retiring from playing. Career Born in Salford ...

, English former footballer and manager *

Mark Howard (footballer, born September 1986) Mark Stephen Howard (born 21 September 1986) is an English professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Wrexham. Born in Southwark, London, Howard was part of Arsenal's youth team, but having failed to make the step up to the senior ...

, English footballer * Markus Howard (born 1999), American basketball player *

Matt Howard Matt Howard (born January 23, 1989) is an American former professional basketball player who last played for Hapoel Tel Aviv of the Israeli Premier League. Previously, he played college basketball with the Butler Bulldogs. He helped lead the ...

(born 1989), American basketball player * Matt Howard (baseball) (born 1967), American baseball player *

O. J. Howard O'Terrius Jabari "O. J." Howard (born November 18, 1994) is an American football tight end for the Houston Texans of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Alabama, and was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the fi ...

(born 1994), American football player *

Pat Howard (footballer) Patrick Howard (born 7 October 1947) is an English former professional footballer who played as a central defender. Howard made more than 500 appearances in the Football League for Barnsley, Newcastle United, Arsenal, Birmingham City and Bury, ...

(born 1947), English footballer * Pat Howard (born 1973), Australia rugby team head coach *

Red Howard Albert Franklin "Red" Howard (November 23, 1900 – May 29, 1973) was an American football guard who played two seasons in the National Football League, with the Brooklyn Lions and New York Giants. He was also a member of the Brooklyn Horsemen o ...

(1900–1973), American football player *

Rhyne Howard Rhyne Howard (born April 29, 2000) is an American professional basketball player for the Atlanta Dream of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). She played college basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats. She graduated from Bradley Cen ...

(born 2000), American basketball player *

Ryan Howard Ryan James Howard (born November 19, 1979), nicknamed "the Big Piece", is an American former professional baseball first baseman. Howard spent his entire Major League Baseball (MLB) career playing for the Philadelphia Phillies, from to . He is ...

(born 1979), American baseball player *

Sam Howard Sam James Howard (born March 5, 1993) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Colorado Rockies and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Amateur career Howard attended C ...

(born 1993), American baseball player *

(born 1993), Scottish footballer *

Spencer Howard Spencer Lee Howard (born July 28, 1996) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Texas Rangers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for the Philadelphia Phillies. Howard was born in San Luis Obispo and raise ...

(born 1996), American professional baseball player * Tim Howard (born 1979), American soccer player * Tim Howard (field hockey) (born 1996), Australian field hockey player *

Travin Howard Travin Howard (born May 10, 1996) is an American football linebacker who is a free agent. He played college football at TCU. Early years Howard was born in Longview, Texas, where he became a star at Longview High School. Playing safety, he e ...

(born 1996), American football player * Tytus Howard (born 1996), American football player *

Xavien Howard Xavien Howard (born July 4, 1993) is an American football cornerback for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Baylor and was drafted in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Dolphins. E ...

(born 1993), American football player

Other

* Ada Howard (1829–1907), first president of Wellesley College * Alan Howard (hedge fund manager) (born September 1963), British hedge fund manager * Bezaleel Howard (1753–1837), American Congregationalist minister * Ebenezer Howard (1850–1928), British urban planner and founder of the garden city movement *

Peggy Chew Howard Peggy Chew Howard (December 16, 1760 – May 29, 1824) was the First Lady of the 5th Governor of Maryland, John Eager Howard. Early life Margaret "Peggy" Oswald Chew was born on December 16, 1760 at Cliveden, the Chew family estate, in Germant ...

(1760–1824), First Lady of Maryland

References

{{Surname, Howard English-language surnames