House Surname Meaning & Origin
What the House last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.
Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the House coat of arms for you.
Meaning and origin of the House last name
Meaning of the House last name: of the house. The House surname first described someone who lived or worked at an important house, such as a religious house or a manor, and often meant a servant of that household. The last name is most at home in the West Country of England. A curious detail of this family name meaning: in America, many German families called Haus simply translated their name into House.
Arms associated with the House name
In England younger sons added small heraldic marks to their father's coat of arms, so relatives named House could each carry a slightly different shield.
Get your full House family history
This is only a glimpse of the House story. The full House history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted House coat of arms. Get the full House report.
House name FAQ
What does the House name mean?
Of the house. Common variants include Howse, Hows.
Where does the House surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Australia and Canada.
Is there a House coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized House coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.
Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford).