English actor of stage and screen (1893-1943)
"Howard, the celebrated English actor of stage and screen who lived from 1893 to 1943, is remembered for his iconic roles in early cinema."
Queen of England as the fifth wife of Henry VIII who was accused of adultery and executed (1520-1542)
"Howard is a surname that does not refer to Anne Boleyn, the Queen of England who was the fifth wife of Henry VIII."
A patronymic surname, from given names.
"Many people named Howard carry a family name that originated as a patronymic derived from their ancestors' given names."
The medieval personal name Howard comes from the Old Norse words hár, meaning "high," and varðr, meaning "guard." It entered English as a direct borrowing that combined these elements to create the sense of "high guard" or "watchman."