William Powell 1502

Notes for William POWELL:

A story I found (online) as the Van Gundy Family Tree, states the name was originally Howell. It is believed this William Powell changed the spelling of the name. It is told he moved from Castle Medoc to Suffolk, England. He took over a manor in which he named Howelton. This line of Howel's (Powell's) descend from Hywel Dda (Howel the Good), king of Wales in the 900s, who lived on a fortified hilltop outside the present town of Crickhowell. This manor, called 'Nant Eos' is situated in Wales, near Aberystwyth. Nant Eos means 'spring or brook of the Nightingale.' In the early days the estate covered some 30, 000 acres, over the years some went to pay debts. The Powells certainly enjoyed life to the full and lived up to their position. The Powells of Nant Eos, County Cardigan, Wales, are descended from Philip ap Howell. Three Powell brothers of Nant Eos left Wales in 1606 with Capt. John Smith."

It may be that actress Katherine Hepburn was related to this Powell family. Her grandmother being of a distinguished Powell family.