Howie is a Scottish locational surname derived from a medieval estate in Scotland's southwest county of Ayrshire. While its ancient name is known as "The lands of How", its exact location is lost to time. The word "How", predating written history, appears to originate from the ancient Kingdom of Strathclyde as a locational description of a "hollow" (deep valley). The alternate spelling of Howie is "Howey". The oldest public record of the surname dates to 1526 in the town of Brechin. People with the surname or its variant include:
Al Howie (1945–2016), Canadian athleteArchibald Howie (born 1934), British physicistForbes Howie (1920–2000), Scottish businessmanGeorge Howie (1899–1979), American racecar driverGillian Howie, British philosopherGordon Howie (born 1949), American politicianHugh Howie (1924–1958), Scottish footballerJames Howie (1878–1963), Scottish footballerJohn Howie (biographer) (1735–1793), Scottish biographerJohn Howie (businessman) (1833–1895), Scottish businessmanJohn Mackintosh Howie (1936–2011), Scottish mathematicianRobert Howie (born 1929), Canadian politicianRobert Howie (businessman) (1846–1927), Scottish businessmanThomas D. Howie (1908–1944), American army officerThomas W. Howie (1856–1927), Scottish businessmanWilliam Howie, Baron Howie of Troon (born 1924), British politicianHoweyBenjamin Franklin Howey (1828–1895), American politicianHugh Howey (born 1975), American authorKate Howey (born 1973), British judokaLee Howey (born 1969), English footballerPeter Howey (born 1958), English footballerSteve Howey (actor) (born 1977), American actorSteve Howey (footballer) (born 1971), English footballer