The surname Powell is of patronymic origin being a contraction of the Welsh name ap Howell meaning " son of Howell." The Welsh personal name Howell means "eminent." The surname Powell is first found in Breconshire, Wales where the family held an ancestral seat. Earliest records date to the 9th Century when Welsh King Hywel Dda "The Good" ap Cadell, grandson of Rhodri the Great is recorded. The surname Powell is the 91st most popular name in the United States.  Find family crest rings with the Powell crest on it.                                                                                                                                          POWELL FAMILY CREST RING                                                                                             .