NameCensus.

UK surname

Rowberry

A habitational surname indicating someone from a place with rowan trees.

In the 1881 census there were 227 people recorded with the Rowberry surname, ranking it #11,858 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 647, ranked #8,204, up from #11,858 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lugwardine, Wolverhampton and Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Herefordshire, Worcester and Wyre Forest.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rowberry is 691 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 185.0%.

1881 census count

227

Ranked #11,858

Modern count

647

2016, ranked #8,204

Peak year

2000

691 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rowberry had 227 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,858 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 647 in 2016, ranked #8,204.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 476 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Rowberry surname distribution map

The map shows where the Rowberry surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Rowberry surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rowberry over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 145 #13,223
1861 historical 140 #16,169
1881 historical 227 #11,858
1891 historical 310 #10,812
1901 historical 449 #8,717
1911 historical 476 #8,124
1997 modern 647 #7,677
1998 modern 663 #7,791
1999 modern 672 #7,748
2000 modern 691 #7,557
2001 modern 670 #7,616
2002 modern 683 #7,656
2003 modern 660 #7,739
2004 modern 656 #7,780
2005 modern 651 #7,767
2006 modern 655 #7,756
2007 modern 651 #7,857
2008 modern 659 #7,830
2009 modern 675 #7,861
2010 modern 674 #8,014
2011 modern 640 #8,257
2012 modern 633 #8,242
2013 modern 632 #8,391
2014 modern 637 #8,390
2015 modern 640 #8,290
2016 modern 647 #8,204

Geography

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Where Rowberrys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lugwardine, Wolverhampton, Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick, St Peter and Leigh. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Herefordshire, Worcester and Wyre Forest. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Lugwardine Herefordshire
2 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
3 Worcester St John Bedwardine, Kenswick Worcestershire
4 St Peter Herefordshire
5 Leigh Worcestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Herefordshire 008 Herefordshire, County of
2 Worcester 001 Worcester
3 Wyre Forest 001 Wyre Forest
4 Worcester 005 Worcester
5 Worcester 010 Worcester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rowberry

These lists show first names that appear often with the Rowberry surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rowberry

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Rowberry, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Rowberry surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Rowberry household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Rowberry is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Rowberry is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rowberry falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rowberry is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Rowberry, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Rowberry

The surname Rowberry is of English origin and is believed to have originated in the county of Shropshire, England, during the medieval period. The name is derived from the Old English words "rowbarwe" or "rohbarwe," which referred to a rough or overgrown area of land with brambles and shrubs.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Roubar." This entry suggests that the name was likely used as a topographic surname, referring to someone who lived in or near a rough, overgrown area.

In the 13th century, the name appears in various spellings, such as "Rouburi," "Roubury," and "Rowbery," reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling common during that time. These variations eventually led to the modern spelling of "Rowberry."

Notable individuals with the surname Rowberry include John Rowberry (1545-1612), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Shropshire in the late 16th century. Another prominent figure was William Rowberry (1677-1736), a British military officer and colonial administrator who served as the Governor of the Province of Maryland from 1733 to 1736.

In the 18th century, the name appears in several parish records and historical documents, such as the baptismal records of St. Mary's Church in Shropshire, where several Rowberry families are recorded. This suggests that the name was well-established in the region during this period.

Moving into the 19th century, one notable individual was James Rowberry (1821-1895), a British engineer and inventor who patented several improvements to steam engines and other mechanical devices. Additionally, Henry Rowberry (1848-1922) was a prominent English cricketer who played for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club in the late 19th century.

Another significant figure was Charles Rowberry (1877-1954), a British artist and illustrator known for his landscape paintings and illustrations for books and magazines. His works were highly regarded and are now part of several museum collections.

While the name Rowberry is not as common as some other English surnames, it has a rich history rooted in the medieval period and has been associated with notable individuals across various fields throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rowberry families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rowberry surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Worcestershire leads with 90 Rowberrys recorded in 1881 and an index of 31.13x.

County Total Index
Worcestershire 90 31.13x
Herefordshire 60 66.09x
Warwickshire 20 3.58x
Staffordshire 19 2.54x
Glamorgan 9 2.33x
Middlesex 6 0.27x
Yorkshire 6 0.27x
Monmouthshire 5 3.12x
Gloucestershire 2 0.46x
Lancashire 2 0.08x
Shropshire 2 1.05x
Cheshire 1 0.20x
Devon 1 0.22x
Essex 1 0.23x
Hampshire 1 0.22x
Northamptonshire 1 0.48x
Sussex 1 0.27x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Aston in Warwickshire leads with 17 Rowberrys recorded in 1881 and an index of 11.06x.

Place Total Index
Aston 17 11.06x
Amblecote 9 422.54x
Claines 9 113.35x
Hereford St Owen 9 300.00x
Hereford St Peter 9 370.37x
Newland 8 4705.88x
Wolverhampton 8 13.92x
Fownhope 7 886.08x
Halesowen 7 275.59x
Hereford All Sts 7 168.27x
Stone 7 1489.36x
Welland 7 1060.61x
Aberdare 6 22.67x
Holy Trinity 6 11.37x
Shelsley Kings 6 2727.27x
Grimley 5 925.93x
Lugwardine 5 877.19x
Worcester St John 5 144.93x
Chaddesley Corbett 4 370.37x
Cradley 4 300.75x
Doddenham 4 2105.26x
Hereford St Nicholas 4 322.58x
St Woollos 4 22.40x
Stoke Edith 4 1904.76x
Coyty Lower 3 120.00x
Sunbury 3 112.78x
Worcester Blockhouse 3 188.68x
Worcester St Peter 3 54.84x
Birmingham 2 1.07x
Great Malvern 2 33.17x
Great Wyrley 2 246.91x
Hanley Castle 2 115.61x
Hereford St John 2 192.31x
Leigh 2 56.98x
Leintwardine 2 217.39x
Much Woolton 2 56.02x
Stourbridge 2 26.88x
Upton 2 2857.14x
Worcester St Clement 2 108.70x
Worcester St Martin 2 51.28x
Worcester St Michael 2 606.06x
Yarkhill 2 588.24x
Acton Beauchamp 1 666.67x
Bengeworth 1 100.00x
Brampton Bryan 1 312.50x
Bransford 1 500.00x
Cheltenham 1 2.99x
Devonport 1 18.87x
Edgbaston 1 5.78x
Hartford 1 90.09x
Holdfast Queenshill 1 714.29x
Holmer 1 61.35x
Kensington London 1 0.81x
Kimbolton 1 212.77x
Lamberhurst 1 106.38x
Ledbury 1 32.05x
Northampton St Sepulchre 1 9.44x
Portsmouth 1 9.57x
Severn Stoke 1 188.68x
St George Hanover 1 3.46x
St Marylebone London 1 0.85x
Stanford On Teme 1 833.33x
Tenbury 1 63.29x
Trevethin 1 6.61x
Upton Bishop 1 188.68x
Upton On Severn 1 52.91x
Walthamstow 1 6.36x
Westbury On Trym 1 6.80x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Rowberry surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Elizabeth 15
Mary 15
Sarah 9
Alice 5
Eliza 5
Emma 5
Ellen 4
Jane 4
Annie 3
Fanny 3
Hannah 3
Harriet 3
Louisa 3
Ada 2
Ann 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Emily 2
Harriett 2
Henrietta 2
Margaret 2
Rose 2
Agness 1
Arabella 1
Caroline 1
Diana 1
Edith 1
Esther 1
Florence 1
Gertrude 1
Hariett 1
Kate 1
Laura 1
Lenora 1
Lucy 1
Mabel 1
Martha 1
Maryann 1
Norah 1
Pheobe 1
Rosa 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Rowberry surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 15
William 14
George 13
James 10
Charles 5
Henry 5
Joseph 5
Richard 5
Alfred 4
Thomas 4
Stephen 3
Walter 3
Albert 2
Edwin 2
Harvey 2
Herbert 2
Leonard 2
Phillip 2
Allen 1
Arthur 1
Chas.Henry 1
Daniel 1
Edward 1
Emanuel 1
Frank 1
Frederick 1
Harry 1
Saml. 1
Samuel 1
Thos. 1
Willm. 1
Wm. 1
Wm.Joseph 1

FAQ

Rowberry surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rowberry surname in 1881?

In 1881, 227 people were recorded with the Rowberry surname. That placed it at #11,858 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rowberry surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 647 in 2016. That gives Rowberry a modern rank of #8,204.

What does the Rowberry surname mean?

A habitational surname indicating someone from a place with rowan trees.

What does the Rowberry map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Rowberry bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.