Save Type Surname Usage English, Dutch Pronounced Pron. /ˈhoʊs/(English) /ˈhʊːz/(Dutch) [key·simplify] Other Forms FormsHowes Meaning & History Some characteristic forenames: German Otto.English (Suffolk): variant of Howes.Dutch: nickname for a courteous person, from Middle Dutch hovesc, hoesch ‘courtly, courteous’ (literally ‘as at a court’).