Yes.
'Howl' is from Medieval English 'houlen' which seems related to similar words in many Germanic and Scandinavian languages, and ultimately to Latin 'ululare' (as in ululate) and Greek 'υλαν'. It's thought the word is an imitation of the sound. I like this from Caxton
"The dogges herd the voys of the wulf wherefore they beganne to barke and to howle."
But owl is also from the same root. Old English had 'ule' and 'ulula', evidently from the Latin word. So owls do howl.
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No connection with Ooh la la!
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The school magazine of the Manchester Grammar School (no, I'm not an Old Boy) is Ulula, a reference to the school crest of an owl holding in its beak a banner saying 'DOM'. This was apparently a side-splittingly hilarious pun in the 16th century on the name of the founder, Hugh Oldham (owl + dom, geddit?)
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Here's a fine bit of herald-speak
...an owl holding in its beak and scroll argent inscribed D.O.M. in letters sable and supporting in its dexter claw a pastoral staff or.
For the full effect see
http://www.ngw.nl/heraldrywiki/index.php?title=Manchester_Grammar_School