Howland Name Study

Profile managers: Anonymous Howland [send private message] and One Name Studies WikiTree [send private message]

How to Participate

Please contact the Study's coordinator Anonymous Howland or post a comment at the foot of the page. If you have any questions, just ask. Thanks!

Goals

This is a One Name Study to collect together in one place everything about one surname and the variants of that name. The hope is that other Howland researchers like you will join our study to help make it a valuable reference point for people studying lines that cross or intersect.

Task List

What You Can Do

1. Work cooperatively together with other Howland profile managers to create the best Howland tree possible.
2. Search out original rather than derivative documentation and add sources to Howland profiles.
3. Write comprehensive, well-sourced biographies for Howland profiles.
4. Check for duplicates and request merges.
5. If you are a male with the Howland surname or a variant and have not already, please consider testing your Y-DNA through the Howland Family TreeDNA project (link below), so we can all have a better understanding of our heritage and possibly make new discoveries.

Howland Name Study

Search people or pages on the list in Howland Name Study.

Howland Surname Meaning

• Probably Hoyland: three places in Yorkshire are so called. — Patronymica Britannica (1860) by Mark Antony Lower.

• From O 'Hualaghain, or Oh-Uallachain, 'Hualagan’s Descendant'. 'Donnell G'Hualaghain, Archbishop of Munster', a.d. 1182. In Ireland this name has been Anglicised Nolan and Holland. It is now very uncommon in the Isle of Man. — Manx Names (1890) by Arthur William Moore.

• (Scandinavian) Dweller at the How- Land [v. How, and + Old Norse land]. — Surnames of the United Kingdom (1912) by Henry Harrison.

• (English) Dweller at, or near, a hillock. — Dictionary of American Family Names (1956) by Elsdon Coles Smith.

• English: variant of Holland 1. Americanized form of Norwegian Hovland. — Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press.

• Irish: reduced Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó hÓileáin, a variant of Ó hAoláin, from a form of Faolán (with loss of the initial F-), a personal name representing a diminutive of faol ‘wolf’. Compare Whelan. English and Scottish: habitational name from Holland, a division of Lincolnshire, or any of the eight villages in various parts of England so called, from Old English hoh ‘ridge’ + land ‘land’. The Scottish name may also be from places called Holland in Orkney, Houlland in Shetland, Hollandbush in Stirlingshire, and Holland-Hirst in the parish of Kirkintilloch. English, German, Jewish (Ashkenazic), Danish, and Dutch: regional name from Holland, a province of the Netherlands. — Dictionary of American Family Names ©2013, Oxford University Press.

Howland DNA Studies

If you are a male with the Howland surname or a variant and have not already, please consider testing your Y-DNA through the Howland Family TreeDNA project (link below), so we can all have a better understanding of our heritage and possibly make new discoveries.

Haplogroup and SNP (single nucleotide polymorphism) on Y Haplotree

The haplogroup is defined by the most recently known mutation in a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP). A polymorphism is a variation of a segment of DNA involving a single nucleotide. These mutations are less frequent, making them useful for looking further back in a lineage.

Y-DNA is passed strictly from father to son undiluted through many generations. Thus, it can be used for genealogy of distant ancestors. While the Y-DNA is relatively stable, there are occasional mutations, which create branches in the human haplotree. These branches are defined by specific single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from which the branch takes its name.

Howlands of Wye, Charing, Eastling, Teynham, and Newnham

The haplotree branch leading to this SNP is quite deep in the hierarchy:

• Charing, Kent, England: R-M269 >> R-L151 > R-U106 > R-Z2265 > R-Z381 > R-Z301 > R-L48 > R-Z9 > R-Z30 > R-Z2 > R-Z7 > R-Z8 > R-Z1 > R-Z344 > R-Z6 > R-A96 > R-S10415 > R-A9701 > R-A9703.^[1]

Earliest known ancestor: James² (John¹) Howland of Charing (1764 - 1847).

• Teynham, Kent, England: R-M269 >> R-L151 > R-U106 > R-Z2265 > R-Z381 > R-Z301 > R-L48 > R-Z9 > R-Z30 > R-Z2 > R-Z7 > R-Z8 > R-Z1 > R-Z344 > R-Z6 > R-A96 > R-S10415 > R-A9701 > R-A9703 > 9 private variants.

Most recent common ancestor: James William⁴ (Thomas³, James², John¹) Howland of Teynham (1828 - 1912).

• Newnham, Kent, England: R-M269 >> R-L151 > R-U106 > R-Z2265 > R-Z381 > R-Z301 > R-L48 > R-Z9 > R-Z30 > R-Z2 > R-Z7 > R-Z8 > R-Z1 > R-Z344 > R-Z6 > R-A96 > R-S10415 > R-A9701 > R-A9703 > 9 private variants.

Most recent common ancestor: Frederick⁵ (James William⁴, Thomas³, James², John¹ Howland) Baker of Newnham (1850 - 1934).

Howlands of Fenstanton

The haplotree branch leading to this SNP is quite deep in the hierarchy:

• Fenstanton, Huntingdonshire, England: R-M269 >> R-L151 > R-U106 > R-Z2265 > R-Z381 > R-Z301 > R-L48 > R-Z9 > R-Z30 > R-Z2 > R-Z7 > R-Z8 > R-Z1 > R-Z344 > R-Z6 > R-A96 > R-S10415 > R-A9701 > R-A9703 > R-A9708.^[2]

Earliest known ancestor: Henry Howland of Fenstanton (abt. 1564 - 1635).

• Fenstanton, Huntingdonshire, England: R-M269 >> R-L151 > R-U106 > R-Z2265 > R-Z381 > R-Z301 > R-L48 > R-Z9 > R-Z30 > R-Z2 > R-Z7 > R-Z8 > R-Z1 > R-Z344 > R-Z6 > R-A96 > R-S10415 > R-A9701 > R-A9703 > R-A9708 > R-FT62874.

Most recent common ancestor: Arthur Howland (abt. 1590 - 1675).

• Plymouth Colony, America: R-M269 >> R-L151 > R-U106 > R-Z2265 > R-Z381 > R-Z301 > R-L48 > R-Z9 > R-Z30 > R-Z2 > R-Z7 > R-Z8 > R-Z1 > R-Z344 > R-Z6 > R-A96 > R-S10415 > R-A9701 > R-A9703 > R-A9708 > R-FT62874.

Most recent common ancestor: Samuel⁵ (Thomas⁴, Arthur³, Arthur², Henry¹) Howland (1711 - bef. 1797).

• Fenstanton, Huntingdonshire, England: R-M269 >> R-L151 > R-U106 > R-Z2265 > R-Z381 > R-Z301 > R-L48 > R-Z9 > R-Z30 > R-Z2 > R-Z7 > R-Z8 > R-Z1 > R-Z344 > R-Z6 > R-A96 > R-S10415 > R-A9701 > R-A9703 > R-A9708.

Most recent common ancestor: John Howland of the Mayflower (abt. 1592 - 1673).

• Plymouth Colony, America: R-M269 >> R-L151 > R-U106 > R-Z2265 > R-Z381 > R-Z301 > R-L48 > R-Z9 > R-Z30 > R-Z2 > R-Z7 > R-Z8 > R-Z1 > R-Z344 > R-Z6 > R-A96 > R-S10415 > R-A9701 > R-A9703 > R-A9708 > 2 private variants (A9705 and Z18598).

Most recent common ancestor: John, Jr³ (John², Henry¹) Howland (1627 - aft. 1699).

• Plymouth Colony, America: R-M269 >> R-L151 > R-U106 > R-Z2265 > R-Z381 > R-Z301 > R-L48 > R-Z9 > R-Z30 > R-Z2 > R-Z7 > R-Z8 > R-Z1 > R-Z344 > R-Z6 > R-A96 > R-S10415 > R-A9701 > R-A9703 > R-A9708 > 4 private variants (13599901 and 12315744).

Most recent common ancestor: Jabez³, (John², Henry¹) Howland (1644 - 1712).

• Fenstanton, Huntingdonshire, England: R-M269 >> R-L151 > R-U106 > R-Z2265 > R-Z381 > R-Z301 > R-L48 > R-Z9 > R-Z30 > R-Z2 > R-Z7 > R-Z8 > R-Z1 > R-Z344 > R-Z6 > R-A96 > R-S10415 > R-A9701 > R-A9703 > R-A9708 > R-FGC58211.

Most recent common ancestor: Henry Howland, Jr (abt. 1600 - 1671).

• Plymouth Colony, America: R-M269 >> R-L151 > R-U106 > R-Z2265 > R-Z381 > R-Z301 > R-L48 > R-Z9 > R-Z30 > R-Z2 > R-Z7 > R-Z8 > R-Z1 > R-Z344 > R-Z6 > R-A96 > R-S10415 > R-A9701 > R-A9703 > R-A9708 > R-FGC58211.

Most recent common ancestor: Nathaniel⁴ (Zoeth³, Henry², Henry¹) Howland (1657 - 1723).

New haplotree branches can be identified when a sufficient number of test results are available. The rate of growth of the haplotree is now quite high and we can expect smaller twigs beyond the current terminal SNP, R-A9703.

Scientific Details

R-A9703 has these 11 Y chromosome mutations which are shared by seven DNA tested Howland patrilineal descendants in this haplogroup. They show a paternal lineage of father-son relationships that have accumulated mutations over time.^[3]

The FamilyTreeDNA Time to Most Recent Common Ancestor (TMRCA) estimate (Beta) is calculated based on SNP and STR test results from many present-day DNA testers. The uncertainty in the molecular clock and other factors is represented in this probability plot, which shows the most likely time when the common ancestor was born amongst the other statistical possibilities.

1600 CE, this date is an estimate based on genetic information only. With a 95% probability, the most recent common ancestor of all members of haplogroup R-A9703 was born between the years 1384 and 1731 CE. The most likely estimate is 1584 CE, rounded to 1600 CE.^[4]

Howlands of Isle of Man

The haplotree branch leading to this SNP is quite deep in the hierarchy:

• Isle of Man: R-M269 >> R-L151 > R-P312 > R-Z290 > R-L21 > R-DF13 > R-DF21 > R-FGC3213 > R-ZZ1_1 > R-S3058 > R-S424 > R-CTS2187 > R-FGC3215 > R-ZZ23 > R-Y12464 > R-ZZ25 > R-Z17998 > R-Y82369 > R-Y105832.

Earliest known ancestor: Hugh Howland (1825 - 1892).

New haplotree branches can be identified when a sufficient number of test results are available. The rate of growth of the haplotree is now quite high and we can expect smaller twigs beyond the current terminal SNP, R-Y105832.

Howlands of North Carolina

The haplotree branch leading to this SNP is quite deep in the hierarchy:

• Carteret County, North Carolina: R-M269 >> R-L151 > R-P312 > R-ZZ11 > R-DF27 > R-ZZ12_1 > R-FGC78762 > R-BY1058 > R-BY1717 > R-L881 > R-FT13035 > R-A7385 > R-BY32636.

Most recent common ancestor: Benjamin Tucker Howland (1778 - 1862).

New haplotree branches can be identified when a sufficient number of test results are available. The rate of growth of the haplotree is now quite high and we can expect smaller twigs beyond the current terminal SNP, R-BY32636.

STR (short tandem repeat) Results

• Howland DNA Project - Y-DNA Colorized Chart. Family TreeDNA.

Arthur Howland: one STR mutation in the 1-37 STR panel (from FTDNA): DYS464a=16, and one STR mutation in the 600+ STR panel (from FTDNA): FTY1094=16.

John Howland: one STR mutation in the 600+ STR panel (from FTDNA): FTY1094=17.

Henry Howland, Jr: two STR mutations in the 68-111 STR panel (from FTDNA): DYS485=14 and DYS505=11, and one STR mutation in the 600+ STR panel (from FTDNA): FTY1094=16.

More information on Howland DNA

• Howland DNA project. Family TreeDNA.

• Mayflower - Official Project of General Society of Mayflower Descendants (GSMD). Family TreeDNA.

• R U106 (R1b-U106) Y-DNA Haplogroup. Family TreeDNA.

• Howland (Y-DNA). Mayflower DNA.

Migration

Howland Settlers in America in the 17th Century

• John Howland (abt. 1592 - 1673) who came over on the Mayflower in 1620.
• Henry Howland (abt. 1600 - 1671) who landed in Massachusetts about 1632/3.^[5]
• Arthur Howland (abt. 1590 - 1675) who showed up in Duxbury, Massachusetts, by 6 August 1640, when he is referenced in the notebook of Boston attorney Thomas Lechford.^[6]

Howland Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

• Ms. Elenor Howland, United Empire Loyalist. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784.^[7]

Howland Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

• Edward Howland, aged 29, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1854 aboard the ship Royal Charlie.^[8]

Notable people with the surname Howland

• Alfred Cornelius Howland (1838 - 1909), American painter
• Ben Howland (born 1957), American college basketball coach
• Benjamin Howland (1755 - 1821), a United States Senator from Rhode Island
• Beth Howland (1941 - 2015), American stage and television actress
• Chris Howland (1928 - 2013), British radio and television presenter
• Christopher Howland (1936 - 2010), English cricketer
• David Howland (born 1986), Northern Irish footballer
• Edna Howland (1886 - 1964), American vaudeville artist
• Edwin Howland (1838 - 1876), American architect
• Eliza Howland (1826 - 1917), American author and the wife of Union Army officer Joseph Howland
• Esther Allen Howland (1828 - 1904), an artist and businesswoman
• Esther Allen Howland (1801 - 1860), American cookbook author
• Fred Howland (1864 - 1953), Vermont attorney, businessman, and Republican politician
• Gardiner Greene Howland (1787 - 1851), a prominent American businessman
• Jason Howland, American composer (1971)
• Jobyna Howland (1880 - 1936), an American stage and screen actress
• John Howland (abt. 1592 - 1673), a Mayflower passenger and early settler in the United States
• John Howland (1873 - 1926), an American pediatrician
• Joseph Howland (1834 - 1886), an American Civil War veteran who later served as New York State Treasurer
• Leonard Paul Howland (1865 - 1942), an American lawyer and politician
• Meredith Howland (1833 - 1912), American soldier and society man
• Olin Ross Howland (1886 - 1959), an American film and theatre actor
• Oliver Aiken Howland (1847 - 1905), a Toronto lawyer and political figure in the 19th century
• Richard Howland (1540 - 1600), an English churchman and academic, and bishop of Peterborough
• Robert Leslie Howland (1905 - 1986), an English track and field athlete
• Russell Howland (1908 - 1995), American music educator
• Samuel Shaw Howland (1790 - 1853), a prominent American businessman
• William Howland (musician) (1871 - 1945), American operatic bass, voice teacher, composer, conductor and university administrator
• William Bailey Howland (1849 - 1917), editor of Outlook
• William Goldwin Carrington Howland (1915 - 1994), a lawyer, judge, and Chief Justice of Ontario
• William Holmes Howland (1844 - 1893), mayor of Toronto from 1886 to 1887
• William Pearce Howland (1811 - 1907), second Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, from 1868 to 1873

Howland Place Names

• Howland, Maine
• Howland, Missouri
• Howland Township, Trumbull County, Ohio
• Howland Island, an uninhabited coral island that is an unorganized territory of the United States
• Howland Hook Marine Terminal, a container port facility on Staten Island, New York City, United States

Books Written by Howland’s

• S. A. Howland, Steamboat Disasters and Railroad Accidents in the United States (1840).
• Esther Allen Howland, The American Economical Housekeeper and Family Receipt Book (1850).
• Henry J. Howland, The Heart of the Commonwealth, Or, Worcester As it Is; Being a Correct Guide to All the Publis Buildings and Institutions, (etc.) (1856).
• George Howland, A Practical Grammar of the English Language, Comprising Analysis and Synthesis (1867).
• Albert Franklyn Howland, A Brief Genealogical and Biographical History of Arthur, Henry, and John Howland and Their Descendants of the United States and Canada (1885) and A History of The Town of Acushnet, Bristol County, State of Massachusetts (1907).
• William Henry Howland, The Quakeress Spy : A Romance of 1780 (1883).
• Eliza Newton (Woolsey) Howland, Letters of a Family During the War for the Union 1861-1865 (1899).
• Legrand Howland, Jacques of Bruges, (1904).
• Harold Jacobs Howland, Theodore Roosevelt and His Times: A Chronicle of the Progressive Movement (1921).
• Charles Roscoe Howland, Military History of the World War (1932) and A Brief Genealogical and Biographical Record of Charles Roscoe Howland, Brothers, and Forebears (1946).
• William Howland, Howlands in America (1939).
• Ethan Howland, The Lobster War (2001).
• Jacob Howland, The Republic: the Odyssey of Philosophy (2004).
• Douglas Howland. The State of Sovereignty: Territories, Laws, Populations (2009).
• Leila Howland, Nantucket Blue (2014).

Resources

• A Brief Genealogical and Biographical History of Arthur, Henry, and John Howland and Their Descendants of the United States and Canada (1885).

• The Howland Homestead (1911 -1913).

• The Howland Quarterly (1936 - current).

• The Howlands in America (1939).

• A Brief Genealogical and Biographical Record of Charles Roscoe Howland, Brothers, and Forebears (1946).

• John Howland of the Mayflower. Vol. I. The First Five Generations: Documented Descendants Through His First Child Desire Howland and Her Husband Captain John Gorham (1990).

• John Howland of the Mayflower. Vol. II. The First Five Generations: Documented Descendants Through His Second Child John Howland and His Wife, Mary Lee (1993).

• John Howland of the Mayflower. Vol. III. The First Five Generations: Documented Descendants Through His Third Child Hope Howland, Wife of John Chipman (2008, 2011).

• John Howland of the Mayflower. Vol. IV. The First Five Generations: Documented Descendants Through His Fourth Child Elizabeth Howland, Wife of Ephraim Hicks and Captain John Dickinson (2008).

Sources

1. ↑ Family TreeDNA. Ancestral Path.
2. ↑ Family TreeDNA. Ancestral Path.
3. ↑ Family TreeDNA. The R-A9703 Story.
4. ↑ Family TreeDNA. Scientific Details.
5. ↑ Robert Charles Anderson, "Henry Howland", in The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England 1620-1633, Vol II, Boston, New England Historic Genealogical Society 1995 p. 1016 - 1022.
6. ↑ Thomas Lechford, Edward Hale (ed.), Note-Book Kept by Thomas Lechford, Esq., Lawyer, in Boston, Massachusetts Bay, from June 27, 1638, to July 29, 1641 (Cambridge, 1885), 297-299.
7. ↑ Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.)
8. ↑ South Australian Register Thursday 25th May 1854. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Royal Charlie 1854. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/royalcharlie1854.shtml.