Howells

The surname Howell is traditionally considered to be of Welsh origin of which ancestral roots can be traced back to 11th and 12th century. First found in Monmouthshire where they were seated from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D. It is most often thought the name is derived as the Anglicized version from the personal name Hywel 'Eminent', popular since the Middle Ages in honor of the great 10th century, law-giving Welsh king.[1] The name is also thought to mean "son of Hoel" and thus of baptismal derivation.[2] In some cases it is thought to have derived from an English place name in Lincolnshire from the old English name Huna or hun = bear cub + well = spring, stream. Howl and Howel are variations; patronymic forms include Howels, Howells, Powell and Bowell.

Origins of this Howell family are not yet known, nor is the actual immigrant. Recent YDNA tests[3] from a known descendent of the family indicate that these Howells are most likely relatives of some of the Howells who had settled on Long Island in the early 1600's. Perhaps those of the well known Edward Howell family, who emigrated from Buckinghamshire, England in the early 1600's.

This branch of the Howell family in America is descended from David and Keziah (Pierson) Howell of New Jersey, the oldest known Howell in this particular family. The earliest occurrence of our David Howell is in 1800 at the time of his marriage to Keziah Pierson, in Chester, Morris County, New Jersey. Both David and Keziah were from Morris county, New Jersey. He from Chester[4] township and she from Roxbury township.[5] Although it is reasonable to believe David would have been related to others of the many Howell families in the Morris county, New Jersey area at the time, no links have yet to be established.

After they married, David, Keziah and their family lived on land that came to her from her grandfather Joseph Pierson's estate in the Upper Berkshire Valley, Jefferson township, Morris County, New Jersey.[6] These 25 acres bordered the Union Turnpike to the west and the Rockaway River to the east, not too far north of where the Berkshire Valley Road crosses the Union Turnpike in the village of Berkshire Valley.[7] [8] More information on the Jefferson Township Howell Homestead here.

After David died in 1818, Keziah and the children apparently remained on the land until about 1828 when they sold the last of the property and most of the family moved away, at least Clarinda and her family staying. Children Joseph, David and Abram were living in New York state and it was thought that Keziah lived with them at various times. She died at home while living with her son David William Howell on Sacket Road in Bergen, Genesee County, New York.