NameCensus.

UK surname

Rowden

Derived from a place name meaning "rough valley" in Old English, referring to someone who lived in such a location.

In the 1881 census there were 708 people recorded with the Rowden surname, ranking it #5,131 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,045, ranked #5,584, down from #5,131 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), London parishes and Seasalter. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Canterbury, South Hams and Taunton Deane.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rowden is 1,108 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 47.6%.

1881 census count

708

Ranked #5,131

Modern count

1,045

2016, ranked #5,584

Peak year

1911

1,108 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rowden had 708 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,131 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,045 in 2016, ranked #5,584.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,108 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Rowden surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rowden surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rowden 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 497 #5,031
1861 historical 545 #4,820
1881 historical 708 #5,131
1891 historical 849 #4,814
1901 historical 892 #5,181
1911 historical 1,108 #4,185
1997 modern 1,039 #5,323
1998 modern 1,041 #5,480
1999 modern 1,079 #5,364
2000 modern 1,030 #5,554
2001 modern 1,005 #5,559
2002 modern 1,005 #5,662
2003 modern 987 #5,651
2004 modern 993 #5,634
2005 modern 942 #5,819
2006 modern 968 #5,701
2007 modern 967 #5,766
2008 modern 970 #5,783
2009 modern 989 #5,814
2010 modern 1,012 #5,840
2011 modern 1,031 #5,678
2012 modern 1,058 #5,458
2013 modern 1,058 #5,558
2014 modern 1,060 #5,588
2015 modern 1,058 #5,543
2016 modern 1,045 #5,584

Geography

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Where Rowdens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), London parishes, Seasalter and Holton, North Cheriton, Maperton. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Canterbury, South Hams, Taunton Deane and Middlesbrough. 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 Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) Devon
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Seasalter Kent
5 Holton, North Cheriton, Maperton Somerset

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Canterbury 008 Canterbury
2 South Hams 004 South Hams
3 Canterbury 007 Canterbury
4 Taunton Deane 007 Taunton Deane
5 Middlesbrough 007 Middlesbrough

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rowden

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rowden

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Rowden 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

Rowden is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rowden falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Rowden

The surname Rowden originates from England and dates back to the late 12th century. It is derived from the Old English words 'ruh' meaning rough and 'dun' meaning hill or down, indicating a person who lived near a rough or uncultivated hill. The earliest known spelling of the name was 'de Rowedune' recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire in 1195.

One of the earliest recorded references to the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is mentioned as a place name in the county of Sussex. The village of Rowden, located in the parish of Ringmer, likely took its name from the same Old English origins.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various forms such as 'de Rowedone' and 'Rowedun', reflecting the local dialect and spelling variations of the time. The first recorded instance of the modern spelling 'Rowden' dates back to 1327 in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire.

Among the notable individuals bearing this surname was Sir William Rowden (1460-1518), a prominent landowner and member of the gentry in Shropshire. He served as Sheriff of Shropshire in 1498 and was knighted by King Henry VIII in 1513.

Another notable figure was John Rowden (1562-1637), an English clergyman and author who served as the vicar of Orford in Suffolk. He published several religious works, including 'A Treatise on the Resolution' in 1620.

In the 17th century, Thomas Rowden (1629-1696) was a prominent merchant and philanthropist in London. He donated generously to various charitable causes and helped establish the Rowden Almshouses in Hackney, which provided housing for the poor.

The surname also has connections to the American colonies, with Richard Rowden (1670-1744) being one of the earliest settlers in Virginia. He established a plantation in Westmoreland County and his descendants played an active role in the American Revolutionary War.

During the 19th century, Joseph Rowden (1810-1892) was a respected British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including the Royal Albert Hall and the Natural History Museum.

These are just a few examples of notable individuals who have borne the surname Rowden throughout history, demonstrating its longstanding presence and significance across various fields and regions.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rowden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rowden 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. Kent leads with 130 Rowdens recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.43x.

County Total Index
Kent 130 5.43x
Middlesex 130 1.85x
Devon 110 7.53x
Hampshire 57 3.96x
Surrey 53 1.55x
Somerset 44 3.90x
Wiltshire 32 5.16x
Glamorgan 25 2.05x
Yorkshire 19 0.27x
Dunbartonshire 15 7.96x
Lancashire 13 0.16x
Sussex 10 0.85x
Channel Islands 9 4.33x
Essex 8 0.58x
Durham 7 0.34x
Northamptonshire 7 1.06x
Gloucestershire 6 0.44x
Worcestershire 6 0.66x
Dorset 5 1.09x
Cornwall 4 0.50x
Midlothian 4 0.43x
Berkshire 3 0.57x
Hertfordshire 3 0.62x
Perthshire 3 0.95x
Shropshire 3 0.50x
Suffolk 3 0.35x
Cheshire 2 0.13x
Nairnshire 2 9.34x
Royal Navy 2 2.39x
Kirkcudbrightshire 1 0.98x
Lincolnshire 1 0.09x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.11x
Staffordshire 1 0.04x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Whitstable in Kent leads with 90 Rowdens recorded in 1881 and an index of 766.61x.

Place Total Index
Whitstable 90 766.61x
Bow 23 1173.47x
Kensington London 21 5.39x
Seasalter 18 596.03x
Tiverton 17 67.59x
Shoreditch London 16 5.26x
St Marylebone London 16 4.27x
Kirkintilloch 15 58.59x
Exeter St Sidwell 12 35.89x
Lambeth 12 1.96x
Bedminster 11 10.37x
Holton 10 2439.02x
St Pancras London 10 1.77x
Bethnal Green London 9 2.95x
Chiswick 9 23.49x
Newton Nottage 9 268.66x
St George Hanover 9 9.83x
Fawley 8 175.44x
Steeple Langford 8 634.92x
Aberdare 7 8.35x
Axminster 7 102.34x
Clanaborough 7 3684.21x
Exeter St Thomas The 7 47.04x
Hastings St Leonards 7 40.28x
Hound 7 71.72x
Salisbury St Martin 7 108.36x
Berry Pomeroy 6 247.93x
Bishopwearmouth 6 3.35x
Charleton 6 454.55x
Chipping Ongar 6 252.10x
Ellingham 6 882.35x
Hammersmith London 6 3.47x
Kingston On Thames 6 7.31x
Normanby In 6 32.29x
Oxted 6 145.99x
Winwick In Oundle 6 833.33x
Alverstoke 5 9.61x
Bristol St George 5 7.86x
Dibden 5 413.22x
East Woodhay 5 136.24x
Egham 5 23.83x
Frome 5 18.52x
Horsington 5 277.78x
Islington London 5 0.74x
Kirkdale 5 3.57x
Midsomer Norton 5 46.99x
Newington 5 1.93x
Paddington London 5 1.94x
Sandford 5 140.06x
West Derby 5 2.05x
Westminster St James 5 6.93x
Beckenham 4 12.79x
Bromsgrove 4 12.97x
Cardiff St Mary 4 5.95x
Clerkenwell London 4 2.42x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 4 1.06x
Kingsclere 4 60.88x
Millbrook 4 11.05x
Portsea 4 1.42x
Snydale 4 277.78x
St Austell 4 14.74x
St Luke London 4 3.56x
Stanton Fitzwarren 4 869.57x
Stoke Newington London 4 7.32x
Tythegston Higher 4 107.82x
Upavon 4 344.83x
Bletchingley 3 67.26x
Bulford 3 361.45x
Camberwell 3 0.67x
Chapel Allerton 3 28.85x
Cheddar 3 52.82x
Edgmond 3 44.98x
Herne 3 28.33x
Lewisham 3 2.35x
Penge 3 6.70x
Richmond 3 6.26x
Rochester St Margaret 3 11.89x
St Anne 3 80.86x
Streatham 3 5.76x
Wandsworth 3 4.44x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 47
William 43
James 34
Thomas 25
George 20
Henry 16
Charles 13
Alfred 12
Harry 7
Richard 7
Albert 6
Frederick 6
Ernest 5
Herbert 5
Robert 5
Edward 4
Percy 4
Samuel 4
Arthur 3
Francis 3
Fredk. 3
Frederic 2
Hubert 2
Joseph 2
Tom 2
W. 2
Walter 2
Alfd. 1
Allen 1
Charlie 1
Chas.H. 1
Christopher 1
Daniel 1
David 1
Escort 1
Frank 1
Frdk. 1
Fred. 1
Geo.J. 1
Harold 1
Jane 1
Jerry 1
Jesse 1
Lewis 1
Libert 1
Louis 1
Lucy 1
Mary 1
Meredith 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Rowden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rowden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 708 people were recorded with the Rowden surname. That placed it at #5,131 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rowden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,045 in 2016. That gives Rowden a modern rank of #5,584.

What does the Rowden surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "rough valley" in Old English, referring to someone who lived in such a location.

What does the Rowden map show?

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