Family name origins & meanings
- English : variant of Holland 1.
- Americanized form of Norwegian Hovland.
- Howland was the name of three Quaker brothers, original settlers in Marshfield, MA. They were from Huntingdonshire, England. The eldest, John Howland (c.1593–1672) was a passenger on the Mayflower, servant to Gov. John Carver, who died in the first winter at Plymouth Colony.