This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Howden family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Howden Family History

Howden Surname Meaning

Scottish: habitational name from Howden (Midlothian Dumfriesshire). Scottish: variant of Haldane. English (Yorkshire and Lincolnshire): habitational name from any of several places called Howden such as those in East Yorkshire, Durham, Northumberland and Yorkshire.

The East Yorkshire placename derives from Old English hēafod ‘head, top, headland’, later replaced by Old Norse hǫfuth ‘head, headland’ + Old English denu ‘valley’. Many of the other placenames derive from Old English hol ‘hole, hollow’ + denu.

Americanized form of Norwegian Hovden.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Howden family from?

You can see how Howden families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Howden family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Howden families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 586 Howden families living in Yorkshire. This was about 45% of all the recorded Howden's in United Kingdom. Yorkshire had the highest population of Howden families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Howden surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Howden ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, General Labourer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Howden. 10% of Howden men worked as a General Labourer and 75% of Howden women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Howden were Builders Labourer and Housewife.

View Census Data for Howden | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • General Labourer
    10%
  • Railway Clerk
    7%
  • Farm Labourer
    7%
  • Builders Labourer
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    75%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    3%
  • Incapacitated
    2%
  • Housewife
    2%

What Howden family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 44,000 census records available for the last name Howden. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Howden census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Howden

Passenger Lists

There are 5,000 immigration records available for the last name Howden. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Howden immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 3,000 military records available for the last name Howden. For the veterans among your Howden ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Howden military records

You've only scratched the surface of Howden family history

Discover More

What is the average Howden lifespan?

Between 1943 and 2004, in the United States, Howden life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1958, and highest in 1998. The average life expectancy for Howden in 1943 was 41, and 80 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Howden

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Howden ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Howden family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial