NameCensus.

UK surname

Rowbury

A habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "rough or rowdy borough".

In the 1881 census there were 60 people recorded with the Rowbury surname, ranking it #25,133 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 85, ranked #32,637, down from #25,133 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Teignbridge, Waltham Forest and Birmingham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rowbury is 119 in 2008. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 41.7%.

1881 census count

60

Ranked #25,133

Modern count

85

2016, ranked #32,637

Peak year

2008

119 bearers

Map years

2

1998 to 2006

Key insights

  • Rowbury had 60 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #25,133 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 85 in 2016, ranked #32,637.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 80 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Spacious Rural Living.

Rowbury surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rowbury surname density by area, 2006 modern.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Rowbury 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 48 #24,615
1861 historical 80 #23,566
1881 historical 60 #25,133
1891 historical 67 #28,424
1901 historical 63 #27,134
1911 historical 66 #26,249
1997 modern 116 #24,688
1998 modern 118 #25,041
1999 modern 117 #25,362
2000 modern 113 #25,843
2001 modern 111 #25,767
2002 modern 115 #25,749
2003 modern 110 #26,220
2004 modern 109 #26,607
2005 modern 104 #27,369
2006 modern 109 #26,872
2007 modern 117 #26,066
2008 modern 119 #26,067
2009 modern 114 #27,363
2010 modern 115 #27,874
2011 modern 106 #29,157
2012 modern 103 #29,733
2013 modern 101 #30,591
2014 modern 92 #32,132
2015 modern 85 #32,693
2016 modern 85 #32,637

Geography

Back to top

Where Rowburys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Teignbridge, Waltham Forest, Birmingham, Chiltern and Hastings. 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 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Teignbridge 011 Teignbridge
2 Waltham Forest 007 Waltham Forest
3 Birmingham 044 Birmingham
4 Chiltern 002 Chiltern
5 Hastings 009 Hastings

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Rowbury

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Rowbury

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Rowbury, 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

Retired Professionals

Group

Spacious Rural Living

Nationally, the Rowbury surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Spacious Rural Living, within Retired Professionals. This does not mean every Rowbury household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These predominantly ageing households typically have no resident dependent children. Most are owner-occupiers and live in detached houses in low density residential developments (although renting is more common than in the rest of the Supergroup). White ethnicity predominates. Residents are typically beyond retirement age but those still in work have managerial, professional or skilled trade occupations. White ethnicity and Christian religious affiliation predominate. Neighbourhoods are located throughout rural UK.

Wider pattern

Typically married but no longer with resident dependent children, these well-educated households either remain working in their managerial, professional, administrative or other skilled occupations, or are retired from them – the modal individual age is beyond normal retirement age. Underoccupied detached and semi-detached properties predominate, and unpaid care is more prevalent than reported disability. The prevalence of this Supergroup outside most urban conurbations indicates that rural lifestyles prevail, typically sustained by using two or more cars per household.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Rowbury is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Rowbury is most concentrated in decile 10 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rowbury falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rowbury is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Rowbury

The surname Rowbury is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, specifically in the counties of Wiltshire and Somerset. It is derived from the Old English words "row," meaning a row or line, and "burgh," meaning a fortified town or borough. Therefore, the name likely referred to someone who lived near a row of houses or a settlement arranged in a linear fashion.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Cartulary of Muchelney Abbey, a medieval manuscript from Somerset, where a person named Rodbertus de Roweburi is mentioned in the late 12th century. This early spelling variation suggests the name's long-standing association with the region.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in the Feet of Fines for Somerset, a legal record of land transactions, where a William de Rowebur' was documented. This indicates that the name was well-established in the area during that time.

While the surname does not appear in the Domesday Book, which was compiled in 1086, there are references to place names that may have influenced the development of the surname, such as Rowbarton in Somerset and Rowborough in Wiltshire.

Notable individuals with the surname Rowbury throughout history include:

1. John Rowbury (c. 1540-1610), an English clergyman and author who served as the rector of Halford, Warwickshire. 2. Richard Rowbury (1648-1722), a British merchant and politician who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1706. 3. Mary Rowbury (1773-1851), an English writer and philanthropist known for her work in promoting education and social reform. 4. James Rowbury (1825-1892), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal College of Surgeons. 5. Roberta Rowbury (1907-1998), an American painter and artist known for her vibrant landscapes and still-life paintings.

While the surname Rowbury is not among the most common in England, it has a rich history rooted in the medieval period and has been associated with various notable individuals throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Rowbury families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rowbury 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. Essex leads with 16 Rowburys recorded in 1881 and an index of 13.85x.

County Total Index
Essex 16 13.85x
Herefordshire 14 58.36x
Middlesex 13 2.22x
Worcestershire 9 11.78x
Lincolnshire 3 3.21x
Glamorgan 1 0.98x
Lancashire 1 0.14x
Staffordshire 1 0.51x
Warwickshire 1 0.68x
Wiltshire 1 1.93x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Barking in Essex leads with 9 Rowburys recorded in 1881 and an index of 266.27x.

Place Total Index
Barking 9 266.27x
Canon Pyon 9 6428.57x
Romford 6 327.87x
Hackney London 5 15.24x
Ratcliffe London 5 154.80x
Wellington 5 4166.67x
Lindridge 4 2105.26x
Goxhill 3 1304.35x
Redditch 2 129.03x
Suckley 2 1538.46x
Aberdare 1 14.31x
Aston 1 2.46x
Chelsea London 1 5.67x
Devizes St James 1 144.93x
Great Malvern 1 62.89x
Kensington London 1 3.07x
Kingswinford 1 13.95x
St Michael Cornhill 1 2000.00x
West Ham 1 3.92x
Withington 1 44.64x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 9
Annie 2
Charlotte 2
Eliza 2
Jane 2
Ada 1
Agness 1
Ann 1
Anna 1
Caroline 1
Eliz. 1
Elizabeth 1
Emily 1
Hannah 1
Johanna 1
Julia 1
L. 1
Lizzie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 5
George 4
James 3
John 3
Stephen 3
Arthur 2
Henry 2
Alfred 1
Charles 1
Charls 1
Herbert 1
Joseph 1
Laurie 1
Thomas 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Rowbury surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rowbury surname in 1881?

In 1881, 60 people were recorded with the Rowbury surname. That placed it at #25,133 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rowbury surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 85 in 2016. That gives Rowbury a modern rank of #32,637.

What does the Rowbury surname mean?

A habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "rough or rowdy borough".

What does the Rowbury map show?

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