The English surname of Howard comes from the Old Germanic name of ‘hugihard,’ which refers to one strong of heart, someone very brave. Another Germanic form was ‘howart’ which meant high chief or chief warden. There is ‘hof-ward, which means the keeper of a hall such as a noble watchman.

Another methods to spell Howard are Heward, Huard, Haward, Hayward and Howie.

In England around London and then Yorkshire and Cheshire counties, many with the Howard name live. Scotland has several counties in the southern end with the Howard surname.

Within the United States the states of Alabama, Georgia, Texas, California, Ohio, Kentucky, Missouri, Massachusetts, Illinois and Ohio have the highest populations with the Howard surname.

Famous: Bryce Dallas Howard (actress), Dwight Howard (professional basketball player), Curly Howard (actor, comic), Oliver O. Howard (Civil War Union general), Terrence Howard (actor), Leslie Howard (English actor), Charles Howard (19th century photographer), George E. Howard (18th century Irish literary writer) and Frank Howard (19th century artist).