Dictionary of Medieval Names
from European Sources
☙

Hywel m. Old Breton ho, Middle Welsh hy 'pleasing, good' + an uncertain element.

The name of a 5th-6th C Breton saint, a 9th C Welsh king, a 10th C Brittonic king, two 10th C Welsh kings, two 11th C Welsh kings, and a 12th C Welsh prince.

Howel(l) is an English form.

England
Latin
● 1397 Howel (nom) StDav-1 p. 24
Early Modern English
● 1557 Howell RegSASel p. 2; 1557/8 Howell ibid. p. 2; 1558 Howell ibid. p. 2; 1558/9 Howell ibid. p. 4; 1559 Howell ibid. p. 4; 1560 Howell ibid. p. 5; 1560/1 Howell ibid. p. 7; 1578/9 Howell RegBath p. 4; 1579 Howell BEmar-vol2 p. 129; 1583 Howell RegBath p. 5; 1584 Howell SurMus p. 193, Howill StAnthonlin p. 31
Wales
Latin
● 1143x1151 Heuel (nom) Pryce-1st no. 1; 1185xc1208 Hoel (gen) ibid. no. 4, Howel (gen) ibid. no. 4; 1198 Howel (gen) ibid. no. 5, Howeli (gen) ibid. no. 8; 1206 Hewel (nom) ibid. no. 9; 1208 Howel (gen) ibid. no. 6, Howell (gen) ibid. no. 6; 1216xc1226 Hewel (gen) ibid. no. 16; 1247 Howellus (nom) ArchCambIII p. 228; 1360 Howel (nom) ibid. p. 166; 1452 Howel (nom) ibid. p. 71, Howell (nom) ibid. p. 71; 1453 Howell (nom) ibid. p. 69; 1454 Howell (nom) ibid. p. 70; 1455 Howell (nom) ibid. p. 72; 1456 Howel (nom) ibid. p. 259, Howell (nom) ibid. p. 258; 1457 Howell (nom) ibid. p. 259; 1497 Howell (nom) ibid. p. 66
◑ 1452 Hwlkyn (nom) ArchCambIII p. 71; 1455 Hwlkyn (nom) ibid. p. 258
Early Modern English
● 1574 Howell RegLlantrithyd p. 61; 1593 Howell ibid. p. 34
Cite as: S.L. Uckelman. "Hywel". In S.L. Uckelman, ed. The Dictionary of Medieval Names from European Sources, Edition 2023, no. 1. http://dmnes.org/2023/1/name/Hywel.