Source: An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names With an Essay on their Derivation and Import (1857).

Also used as a surname with a phonetically pronounced Welsh variant, Hywel (He{r}-well)From Houl, the sun; Greek, ??, Euhill, high, exalted shown as possible explanations that I consider possible but stronger maybe are:
Haul (Hah-ill) is the Welsh for Sun.
Halen (Hah-len) is the Welsh for salt, an important economic commodity throughout the ages. The many Hellwegs of Germany are all "salt routes".
Ôl (with a long O sound ) is Welsh for Mark or track

Contributed by Howell Williams on 2010-01-14 12:17:24