The Powell Coat of Arms and Name Meaning
Discover the meaning of Powell, its origins in Wales, and the story behind a Powell family crest.
Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Powell coat of arms for you.
Origin of the Powell name
Powell is a Welsh patronymic from ap Hywel, "son of Hywel", a personal name often explained as "eminent" or "conspicuous". The p of ap merged with the name, as in Price and Pritchard. Hywel Dda, the tenth-century lawgiver, made the name famous. Powell is common in south Wales, the Marches and the United States.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Powell name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Powell name in Wales. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, England and Australia; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
Get your full Powell family history
The complete Powell pack goes much further: documented origins, early records and family spread, plus a hand-checked coat of arms.
Powell name FAQ
What does the Powell name mean?
Son of Hywel ("eminent"). Common variants include Howell, Powel, Hywel.
Where does the Powell surname come from?
It originates in Wales, and is also found in the United States, England and Australia.
Is there a Powell coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Powell crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Powell coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.