I know that this is from a long time ago, but there was at least one Howard family from the Southport area who went to Canada.
A Nathan Howard married a Mary Isherwood ( b. c 1840/ 50s), and they went to Canada in the later years of the 19th C, to either Toronto or Montreal. I believe they had a largish family. There were some Isherwoods, related, in-laws, I think, who also went out, and also stayed, and certainly there was some correspondence shortly after WW2 from a Mrs George Isherwood in Toronto to relatives in the Southport area. Some relatives went out to visit, and later came back to England.
The Isherwoods from Southport came from at least two distinct families and there is often confusion. There are two William Isherwoods about the same age, one is connected with railways, one is a carter, and they are not really related, although both families originated in Bolton area of lancs in previous generations.
"Howard" is a very long established Southport name. Enquiries to the Southport family history society online should provide helpful information.