Powell History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Powell

What does the name Powell mean?

The Welsh surname Powell comes from the personal name Hoel or Howell, which were both derived from the Old Welsh name Houel. The surname Powell features the distinctive Welsh patronymic prefix “ap-“. The original form of the name was ap-Hoel or ap-Howell, but the prefixes have been assimilated into the surname over the course of time.

Early Origins of the Powell family

The surname Powell was first found in Breconshire (Welsh: Sir Frycheiniog), a traditional county in southern Wales, which takes its name from the Welsh kingdom of Brycheiniog (5th-10th centuries), where the name “are descended from Philip ap Howell, whose pedigree is traced to Edwin ap Grono, Lord of Tegaingl, founder of the XIII noble tribe of North Wales and Powys.” 1 However other records claim the name came from the Welsh King Hywel Dda”the Good” ap Cadell (c.880- c.950), son of Cadell ap Rhodri, in turn a son of Rhodri the Great.