Howell of Wales Tartan Collection
Howell of Wales Tartan Collection
Celebrate the Howell name with a Welsh family tartan — from Hywel, the name of the king who gave Wales her laws and is remembered as Hywel the Good.
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About the Howell of Wales Tartan
The Howell of Wales tartan belongs to the series of modern Welsh family setts designed in the late 1990s by Sheila Daniel at the Cambrian Woollen Mill in Powys, in collaboration with the Wales Tartan Centres.
Welsh tartan is a recent tradition rather than an old one, and these designs are not drawn from medieval clan records; they were made to give Welsh families a cloth of their own in the way that Scottish families have long had. The phrase "of Wales" marks the design series, not a territorial claim.
Howell Tartan Pattern and Colours
The Welsh family setts are distinctive in their construction, often using odd thread counts and differing warp and weft. This collection draws on deep greens with darker lines and a warm accent — the green of the Welsh hills and the valleys of the south.
The Howell Name
Howell comes from the Welsh personal name Hywel, and no bearer of it is better remembered than Hywel Dda — Hywel the Good — who died about 950. He brought much of Wales under one rule and, above all, is credited with gathering the customs of the country into a single body of law, the Cyfraith Hywel, which remained in force in Wales for centuries.
Those laws were remarkable for their age, notably in the standing they gave to women in matters of property and marriage, and they are still studied today as one of the great achievements of medieval Welsh civilisation. From the personal name came the surnames Howell, Howells, Powell — from ap Hywel — and Hywel, borne across Wales and by Welsh families worldwide.
Who Is This Collection For?
This collection is made for those of the Howell, Howells and Hywel name, Powell kin, families with Welsh roots and anyone who wants a tartan that names a Welsh family.
- ✓ Howell and Howells family
- ✓ Powell and ap Hywel kin
- ✓ Welsh roots at home and abroad
- ✓ St David's Day and Eisteddfod wear
- ✓ Welsh ancestry gifts
- ✓ Deep green tartan style
How to Wear Howell Tartan
Howell tartan works well across caps, shirts, hoodies, scarves, ties, jackets, blankets and keepsake gifts. Its green palette is easy to pair for St David's Day, weddings, family gatherings and everyday wear.
Howell of Wales Tartan FAQ
Quick answers about the Howell Welsh tartan, its origins and who may wear it.
Is the Howell tartan ancient?
No — it is a modern Welsh family tartan from the late 1990s, designed at the Cambrian Woollen Mill in Powys.
What does the name Howell mean?
It comes from the Welsh personal name Hywel, understood as eminent or conspicuous.
Who was Hywel Dda?
Hywel the Good, who died about 950 — the ruler credited with gathering the customs of Wales into a single body of law.
Is Powell the same name?
Powell comes from ap Hywel, son of Hywel — the same root, with the Welsh ap run together with the name.
Why does the name say "of Wales"?
It identifies the design series the tartan belongs to, not any claim of ownership.
Who can wear the Howell tartan?
Anyone of the Howell, Howells or Hywel name, or with a Welsh family connection.
Wear the Howell of Wales Tartan
Discover Howell tartan clothing, accessories and gifts — the green of the Welsh hills, for the name of Hywel the Good.
View Howell Tartan Clothing