Powell
/ˈpaʊəl/noun
A Welsh surname derived from the patronymic phrase meaning “son of Hywel.”
Did you know?Powell originated when the Welsh patronymic phrase ap Hywel was reanalyzed as a single surname, turning “ap” into the initial P.
Etymological Timeline
Early Medieval Wales
Welsh
Hywel
“A personal name traditionally interpreted as “eminent” or “prominent,” though its deeper origin is uncertain.”
Medieval Welsh
Welsh
ap Hywel
““Son of Hywel”; ap was the Welsh patronymic word meaning “son of.””
12th–15th Century
Welsh-English
Powel / Powel
“A surname formed as ap Hywel was shortened and reanalyzed, with the final sound of ap becoming the initial P.”
16th Century
English
Powell
“An established anglicized spelling of the Welsh patronymic surname.”
Modern English
English
Powell
“A surname inherited from the Welsh phrase ap Hywel, commonly pronounced “POW-əl.””