NameCensus.

UK surname

Rowbottom

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "row of cottages in a valley".

In the 1881 census there were 1,792 people recorded with the Rowbottom surname, ranking it #2,423 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,477, ranked #4,169, down from #2,423 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Glossop, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard and Mottram-in-Longdendale. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Holland, Kingston upon Hull and Kirklees.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rowbottom is 2,030 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 17.6%.

1881 census count

1,792

Ranked #2,423

Modern count

1,477

2016, ranked #4,169

Peak year

1901

2,030 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rowbottom had 1,792 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,423 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,477 in 2016, ranked #4,169.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,030 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Rowbottom surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rowbottom surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rowbottom 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 982 #2,843
1861 historical 1,074 #2,623
1881 historical 1,792 #2,423
1891 historical 1,878 #2,453
1901 historical 2,030 #2,638
1911 historical 1,923 #2,577
1997 modern 1,564 #3,777
1998 modern 1,602 #3,837
1999 modern 1,607 #3,855
2000 modern 1,619 #3,808
2001 modern 1,575 #3,834
2002 modern 1,569 #3,927
2003 modern 1,493 #4,017
2004 modern 1,499 #3,999
2005 modern 1,471 #4,023
2006 modern 1,478 #4,022
2007 modern 1,473 #4,063
2008 modern 1,464 #4,105
2009 modern 1,528 #4,049
2010 modern 1,544 #4,099
2011 modern 1,548 #4,035
2012 modern 1,497 #4,096
2013 modern 1,522 #4,107
2014 modern 1,514 #4,148
2015 modern 1,494 #4,154
2016 modern 1,477 #4,169

Geography

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Where Rowbottoms are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Glossop, Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard, Mottram-in-Longdendale, Manchester and Kingswinford. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Holland, Kingston upon Hull, Kirklees, East Riding of Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire. 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 Glossop Derbyshire
2 Lenton, Radford, Papplewick, Nuthall, Greasley, Brewhouse Yard Nottinghamshire
3 Mottram-in-Longdendale Lancashire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Kingswinford Worcestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Holland 001 South Holland
2 Kingston upon Hull 008 Kingston upon Hull, City of
3 Kirklees 053 Kirklees
4 East Riding of Yorkshire 039 East Riding of Yorkshire
5 North Lincolnshire 011 North Lincolnshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rowbottom

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rowbottom

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Rowbottom, 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 Rowbottom surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Rowbottom 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, Rowbottom 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

Rowbottom is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rowbottom falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rowbottom 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 Rowbottom, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Rowbottom

The surname Rowbottom originated in the northern English counties of Yorkshire and Lancashire during the late medieval period. The name is derived from the Old English words "ruh" meaning rough or shaggy, and "botm" meaning a valley or depression in the landscape. Thus, the name likely referred to someone who lived in or near a rough, rugged valley.

The earliest known recording of the name was in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Returns of 1379, where one Adam de Rowbotham was listed. Similar early spellings include Rowbothom, Rowbottome, and Rughbotham, reflecting the regional dialects and inconsistent spelling practices of the era.

In the 16th century, the Rowbottom name appeared in various Lancashire parish records, suggesting the family had spread across the Pennine hills separating Yorkshire and Lancashire. Notable Rowbottoms from this time include William Rowbottom, who was listed in the Wills at Chester in 1592.

By the 17th century, the name had further diversified in spelling, with variants like Rubotham and Rughbotham appearing in different records. One John Rowbotham was listed in the Lancashire Wills of 1696.

The 18th century saw the Rowbottom name spread further afield, with instances found in various parts of northern England. A notable figure was James Rowbottom (1730-1805), a successful merchant and landowner from Oldham, Lancashire.

In the 19th century, the industrial revolution saw many Rowbottoms relocate to the growing cities and towns of the region, particularly in the textile manufacturing areas. One notable individual was Sir John Rowbottom (1837-1904), a successful businessman and philanthropist from Rochdale, who was knighted for his services to industry and local government.

Other notable Rowbottoms throughout history include the English cricketer John Rowbottom (1872-1946), who played for Yorkshire and England in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, and the British architect Walter Rowbottom (1889-1963), who designed several notable buildings in the early 20th century.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rowbottom families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rowbottom 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. Yorkshire leads with 455 Rowbottoms recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.64x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 455 2.64x
Lancashire 418 2.02x
Cheshire 265 6.89x
Derbyshire 234 8.58x
Lincolnshire 106 3.81x
Staffordshire 51 0.87x
Middlesex 46 0.26x
Nottinghamshire 44 1.87x
Warwickshire 38 0.87x
Leicestershire 30 1.55x
Hertfordshire 22 1.83x
Durham 12 0.23x
Surrey 11 0.13x
Midlothian 8 0.34x
Hampshire 7 0.20x
Northumberland 7 0.27x
Worcestershire 7 0.31x
Cambridgeshire 6 0.54x
Norfolk 5 0.19x
Kent 3 0.05x
Shropshire 3 0.20x
Anglesey 1 0.32x
Inverness-shire 1 0.19x
Northamptonshire 1 0.06x
Royal Navy 1 0.48x
Suffolk 1 0.05x
Westmorland 1 0.26x
Wiltshire 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Glossop Dale in Derbyshire leads with 112 Rowbottoms recorded in 1881 and an index of 87.73x.

Place Total Index
Glossop Dale 112 87.73x
Hyde 52 45.85x
Newton In Ashton Under 43 113.37x
Ashton Under Lyne 41 9.08x
Oldham 41 6.15x
Ludworth 36 280.37x
Upholland 34 128.40x
Knottingley 27 89.02x
Manchester 25 2.69x
Walsall Foreign 25 8.23x
Hulme 24 5.56x
Salford 23 3.78x
Armthorpe 20 854.70x
Crompton 20 33.99x
Marple 20 75.79x
Brightside Bierlow 19 5.61x
Glanford Brigg 19 191.15x
Islington London 19 1.13x
Nether Hallam 19 8.14x
Birmingham 18 1.23x
Dukinfield 18 10.13x
Mellor 18 242.92x
Sheffield 17 3.09x
Wigan 17 5.89x
Beighton 16 129.55x
Wales 16 117.39x
Openshaw 15 15.50x
Ashby De La Zouch 14 31.28x
Denton 14 30.57x
Halifax 14 5.53x
Handsworth 14 30.70x
Nottingham St Mary 14 2.31x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 13 8.09x
Kingswinford 13 6.09x
Pendleton In Salford 13 5.28x
South Crosland 13 71.55x
Tintwistle 13 63.29x
Huddersfield 12 4.77x
Rawmarsh 12 19.69x
Almondbury 11 13.18x
Chorlton On Medlock 11 3.35x
Disley Stanley 11 55.58x
Holy Trinity 11 2.65x
Hoyland Nether 11 25.99x
Kirkheaton 11 39.31x
Manningham 11 5.17x
Tranmere 11 7.79x
Hepworth 10 143.47x
Marsden In Huddersfield 10 244.50x
North South Anston 10 132.45x
Westleigh 10 21.31x
Wombwell 10 19.88x
Baxterley 9 418.60x
Broughton 9 115.38x
Poulton Cum Seacombe 9 20.36x
Thurstonland 9 150.75x
Walton On Hill 9 8.04x
Aldenham 8 73.26x
Aston 8 0.66x
Barnsley 8 4.49x
Bury 8 3.39x
Doncaster 8 6.35x
Kensington London 8 0.83x
Kingstonupon Hull 8 57.85x
Offerton 8 377.36x
Sculcoates 8 2.92x
South Leith 8 3.05x
Wakefield 8 6.04x
Widnes 8 5.37x
Bradford 7 1.68x
Cornsay 7 50.18x
Gainsborough 7 10.66x
Leeds 7 0.72x
Longbenton 7 6.38x
Romiley 7 64.58x
Scarborough 7 4.46x
Stevenage 7 37.61x
Stoke Upon Trent 7 1.12x
Waddingham 7 164.32x
Wooldale 7 23.92x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 121
Sarah 84
Elizabeth 62
Ann 42
Hannah 38
Jane 31
Martha 31
Alice 26
Annie 24
Emma 22
Eliza 20
Ellen 19
Maria 17
Clara 16
Harriet 15
Florence 12
Anne 10
Lucy 10
Margaret 10
Charlotte 9
Louisa 8
Sophia 8
Agnes 7
Bertha 7
Edith 7
Emily 7
Fanny 7
Isabella 7
Kate 7
Betty 6
Catherine 6
Elizth. 6
Esther 6
Matilda 6
Nancy 6
Ruth 6
Susannah 6
Amelia 5
Frances 5
Gertrude 5
Minnie 5
Ada 4
Amy 4
Betsy 4
Eleanor 4
Helen 4
Rachel 4
Rose 4
Susan 4
Lydia 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 140
William 89
James 76
Thomas 60
George 58
Joseph 46
Samuel 27
Charles 25
Henry 23
Arthur 19
Edward 16
Richard 14
Robert 12
Albert 11
Alfred 10
Herbert 10
Edwin 9
Frank 8
Tom 8
Walter 8
Fred 7
Harry 7
Isaac 7
Joshua 7
Wm. 7
Wright 7
Benjamin 6
David 6
Sam 5
Edmund 4
Ernest 4
Francis 4
Frederick 4
Moses 4
Peter 4
Allen 3
Geo. 3
Hiram 3
Jno. 3
Ralph 3
Thos. 3
Wilfred 3
Abraham 2
Allan 2
Arnold 2
Hugh 2
Jos. 2
Josiah 2
Matthew 2
Percy 2

FAQ

Rowbottom surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rowbottom surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,792 people were recorded with the Rowbottom surname. That placed it at #2,423 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rowbottom surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,477 in 2016. That gives Rowbottom a modern rank of #4,169.

What does the Rowbottom surname mean?

A locational surname derived from a place name meaning "row of cottages in a valley".

What does the Rowbottom map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Rowbottom 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.