| Origin | |
|---|---|
| Meaning | "hollow" |
| Region of origin | Scotland |
| Other names | |
| Variant form(s) | Howey |
Howie is a Scottish locational surname derived from a medieval estate in Ayrshire, southwest Scotland. While its ancient name is known as "The lands of How", its exact location is lost to time. The word "How", predating written history, appears to originate from the ancient Kingdom of Strathclyde as a locational description of a "hollow" (deep valley). The alternative spelling of Howie is Howey. The oldest public record of the surname dates to 1526 in the town of Brechin.[1] People with the surname or its variant include: