Powell (surname)

Powell is a traditional Welsh surname said to mean "Son of the Servant of St. Paul,". The Welsh term "ap" means "son of", hence Ap Hywel was eventually spelled as Powell.

Nineteenth Century persons

• Baden Powell (mathematician) (1796 – 1860), English mathematician; father of Robert Baden-Powell; long-time Chair of Geometry at University of Oxford
• John Wesley Powell (1834 – 1902), American soldier, geologist, and explorer of the American West

Twentieth Century persons

• Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. (1908 – 1972), the first African American to become a powerful figure in the United States Congress
• Anthony Powell (1905 – 2000), English novelist
• Arthur William Baden Powell (1901 – 1987), New Zealand malacologist and paleontologist
• Cozy Powell (1947 – 1998), English Drummer, for such bands like Black Sabbath, Rainbow, Whitesnake
• Dick Powell (1904 – 1963), American singer, actor, producer, and director
• Dilys Powell (1901 – 1995), British journalist, author, film critic
• Enoch Powell (1912 – 1998), British politician
• Lewis Franklin Powell, Jr. (1907 – 1998), Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States
• Mel Powell (1923 – 1998), American jazz pianist and composer
• Michael Powell (director) (1905 – 1990), British film director
• Philip Powell (architect) (1921 – 2003), British architect
• Robert Baden-Powell, 1st Baron Baden-Powell (1857 – 1941), British Army lieutenant-general; founder of the world Scouting Movement
• William Powell (1892 – 1984), American actor

Living people

• Adam Clayton Powell III (born 1946), American university professor (University of Southern California)
• Adam Clayton Powell IV (politician) (born 1962), American politician
• Adam Clayton Powell IV (engineer) (born 1970), American university professor (MIT)
• Asafa Powell (born 1982), Jamaican athlete
• Billy Powell (born 1952), keyboardist of American band Lynyrd Skynyrd
• Charles Powell (born 1941), Advisor to Prime Ministers Margaret Thatcher and John Major.
• Colin Powell (born 1937), former United States Secretary of State and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
• Cynthia Lennon née Powell, the first wife of John Lennon
• Dina Powell (born 1974), Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs in the United States
• Don Powell Drummer with English Rock band Slade
• Felix Powell, British song writer best known for "Pack Up Your Troubles in Your Old Kit Bag and Smile, Smile, Smile", once described as "the most optimistic song ever written"
• Hope Powell (born 1966), coach of the England women's national football team
• Jane Powell (born 1929), American singer, entertainer, actor
• John Powell, American film score composer
• Josh Powell, a basketball player for the Golden State Warriors
• Jonathan Powell (chief of staff to Tony Blair) (born 1956), Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Tony Blair.
• Katrina Powell (born 1972), Australian field hockey player
• Lisa Powell (born 1970), Australian field hockey forward
• Michael Powell (politician) (born 1963), American politician
• Michael Powell (lacrosse) (aka Mikey Powell), American lacrosse player.
• Mike Powell (athletics) (born 1963), American track and field athlete
• Robert Powell (born 1944), British television and film actor
• Tom Powell (born 1985), Duke of Newbury

Fictional character

• Herb Powell, half-brother of Homer Simpson on the American animated television series The Simpsons