Pronunciation: [pˈa͡ʊɛl] (IPA) 
The name 'Powell' is spelled with the sounds of the English language phonetically represented as /paʊəl/. The first sound is a combination of the 'p' and 'a' sounds as in 'pal', followed by the 'ou' sound as in 'out'. The final sound is the soft 'l' as in 'little'. The spelling of this name originated in England and is a popular family name there and in many other English speaking countries.
Powell is a proper noun primarily used as a surname but can occasionally be seen as a given name. It originated from the Middle English name "Pawel" or "Pawl," which was derived from the Hebrew name "Paul" meaning "small" or "humble." In terms of its etymology, "Powell" is a variation of the name "Paul," and it has Norman-French and Latin origins.
As a surname, Powell refers to an individual or a family who bears this name. It is commonly found in Wales and England, particularly within Welsh communities. The surname Powell signifies an individual's association or descent from a person named "Powell."
Being a reasonably common surname, the name Powell has spread to various countries, particularly those influenced by Welsh and English heritage. Several notable individuals throughout history have carried the surname Powell, further contributing to its recognition and significance.
As a given name, Powell is less frequently used but can still be encountered. As a first name, individuals named Powell are often considered to possess qualities like humility and simplicity, attributed to the name's original meaning. In this context, Powell acts as both a given name and a surname, emphasizing an individual's connection to the Powell family or heritage.
Overall, Powell is a name that holds historical and cultural significance, denoting someone's link to the Powell ancestral lineage while also emphasizing their personal traits.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The etymology of the surname "Powell" originates from medieval Wales. It is derived from the Welsh personal name "Hywel" or "Howel", which means "eminent" or "renowned". Over time, the name changed and evolved into "ap Hywel", meaning "son of Hywel". The prefix "ap" meaning "son of" eventually fused with the name "Hywel" to create the surname "Powell". In Welsh, "ap" later became "ab" and eventually disappeared. The name "Powell" has since been used as a surname in Wales and among Welsh descendants worldwide.
