Powell Coat of Arms, Family Crest and Powell Family History

Powell Family History

The ancient origin of the name Powell was found in the irishsurnames.com archives. Powell is a baptismal name of great antiquity. It stems from the name 'Ap Howell' meaning ' son of Howell'. Variants include Powel, Powles, Bowell, Howell, Howel, Howels and Howells. This family descend from The Welsh Chieftain Coel Hen Gotebauc, 'the old protector', who ruled in Britain under the Romans in the year 400. This name is of Welsh Descent spreading to England, Ireland and Scotland in early times, and is found in many mediaeval manuscripts throughout the above countries. Examples of such are a Henry Powel, London, who was recorded in the 'Hundred Rolls', England, in the year 1273 and a Roger ap Howell, alias Powell, who was named in a lawsuit in the year 1563. A Hyllar Howell, County Somerset, was recorded in 'Kirby's Quest', in the reign of Edward III. In Ireland the name is found in small numbers throughout the four provinces and is sometimes a synonym of the name Guilfoyle.The Powell family crest (or coat of arms) came into existence many centuries ago. The process of creating these coats of arms began as early as the eleventh century although a form of Proto-Heraldry may have existed in some countries prior to this, including Ireland. The new more formalized art of Heraldry made it possible for families and even individual family members to have their very own family crest, coat of arms, including Powell descendants.