Powell is a Welsh surname. It is a patronymic form of the Welsh name Hywel (later Anglicized as Howell), with the prefix ap meaning "son of", together forming ap Hywel, or "son of Hywel". It is an uncommon name among those of Welsh ancestry. It originates in a dynasty of kings in Wales, and Brittany in the 9th and 10th century, and three Welsh royal houses of that time onwards. The House of Tudor, one of the Royal houses of England, also descended from them. Deceased Adam Clayton Powell, Sr. (1865–1953), minister of the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, New York Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. (1908–1972), minister and politician, first African American to become a powerful figure in the United States Congress Alfred Hoare Powell (1865–1960) English Arts and Crafts architect, pottery decorator and artist Anthony Powell (1905–2000), English novelist Art Powell (wide receiver) (1937–2015), American football player, brother of Charlie Powell Arthur William Baden Powell (1901–1987), New Zealand malacologist and paleontologist Baden Powell (mathematician) (1796–1860), English mathematician; father of Robert Baden-Powell Bill Powell (1916–2009), American golf course designer Billy Powell (1952–2009), keyboardist of the American band Lynyrd Skynyrd Brian Powell (baseball player) (1973–2009), American baseball player Bud Powell (1924–1966), American jazz pianist and composer Caroline Amelia Powell (1852–1935), Irish-born American engraver and illustrator Cecil Frank Powell (1903–1969), British physicist and Nobel laureate in physics Charles Powell (disambiguation), several people Charlie Powell (1932–2014), American football player, brother of Art Powell Colin Powell (1937–2021), United States Secretary of State, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Cozy Powell (1947–1998), English drummer for the bands Black Sabbath, Rainbow, and Whitesnake Cynthia Lennon née Powell (1939–2015), British first wife of John Lennon Dawn Powell (1896–1965), American writer of satirical novels and stories Dick Powell (1904–1963), American singer, actor, producer, and director Dilys Powell (1901–1995), British journalist, author, and film critic E. Alexander Powell (1879–1957), American war correspondent and author Eileen Louisa Powell (1913–1997), Australian trade unionist and women's activist Eleanor Powell (1912–1982), American actress and dancer Elkan Harrison Powell (1888–1966), American publisher Enoch Powell (1912–1998), British politician Ernest Powell (1861–1928), English cricketer Felix Powell (1878–1942), Welsh songwriter Francis Powell (priest) (1909–1998), dean of Belize Sir Francis Powell, 1st Baronet (1827–1911), English politician Frank Powell (1877–?), Canadian stage and silent film actor, screenwriter, and director Frank Powell (footballer), English football manager Frank John Powell (1891–1971), British Liberal Party politician and magistrate Foster Powell (1734–1793)