UK surname
A surname possibly derived from a place name or an old English surname referring to someone who lived at a rye hill or down.
In the 1881 census there were 132 people recorded with the Rowdon surname, ranking it #16,744 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 78, ranked #33,171, down from #16,744 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Cheshunt St Mary, Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) and Tormoham with Torquay. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rowdon is 171 in 1901. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 40.9%.
1881 census count
132
Ranked #16,744
Modern count
78
2016, ranked #33,171
Peak year
1901
171 bearers
Map years
6
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Rowdon surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Rowdon surname density by area, 1881 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 123 | #14,886 |
| 1861 | historical | 120 | #18,255 |
| 1881 | historical | 132 | #16,744 |
| 1891 | historical | 165 | #17,143 |
| 1901 | historical | 171 | #16,689 |
| 1911 | historical | 164 | #16,879 |
| 1997 | modern | 86 | #28,876 |
| 1998 | modern | 95 | #28,303 |
| 1999 | modern | 95 | #28,465 |
| 2000 | modern | 92 | #28,832 |
| 2001 | modern | 88 | #29,056 |
| 2002 | modern | 83 | #30,070 |
| 2003 | modern | 87 | #29,615 |
| 2004 | modern | 86 | #30,019 |
| 2005 | modern | 87 | #29,966 |
| 2006 | modern | 89 | #30,027 |
| 2007 | modern | 90 | #30,228 |
| 2008 | modern | 86 | #31,114 |
| 2009 | modern | 87 | #31,489 |
| 2010 | modern | 91 | #31,497 |
| 2011 | modern | 89 | #31,659 |
| 2012 | modern | 88 | #32,064 |
| 2013 | modern | 82 | #32,903 |
| 2014 | modern | 82 | #32,992 |
| 2015 | modern | 78 | #33,210 |
| 2016 | modern | 78 | #33,171 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Cheshunt St Mary, Exeter St David (including Castle Yard), Tormoham with Torquay and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cheshunt St Mary | Middlesex (Exclusive Of London Districts) |
| 2 | Exeter St David (including Castle Yard) | Devon |
| 3 | Tormoham with Torquay | Devon |
| 4 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 5 | London parishes | London 3 |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Rowdon surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Rowdon, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Rowdon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Rowdon household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Rowdon is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rowdon is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Rowdon, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Rowdon is believed to have originated in England, with its earliest known records dating back to the late 16th century. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "row" and "dun," which together mean "ridge hill" or "hillside." This suggests that the name may have initially referred to someone who lived on or near a prominent ridge or hillside.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Rowdon surname can be found in the parish records of Gloucestershire, where a Thomas Rowdon was listed in 1596. The county of Gloucestershire is located in the southwest of England, and it is possible that the name originated in this region or nearby areas.
In the 17th century, the surname appears to have spread to other parts of England, with records showing individuals bearing the name in counties such as Somerset and Wiltshire. During this period, variations in spelling, such as "Rowdun" and "Rowden," were also common.
A notable early bearer of the Rowdon surname was John Rowdon, who was born in 1642 in Somerset. He was a prominent landowner and served as a member of the local parish council. Another individual of note was William Rowdon (1725-1798), a businessman and philanthropist from Gloucestershire who funded the construction of several schools and churches in his local community.
In the 19th century, the Rowdon surname continued to be found in various parts of England, with some families migrating to other parts of the British Isles and beyond. One such individual was Robert Rowdon (1818-1892), who was born in Gloucestershire but later emigrated to Australia, where he became a successful farmer and landowner.
Another notable bearer of the Rowdon surname was Thomas Rowdon (1857-1933), a British architect who was responsible for designing several notable buildings in London, including the Old Vic Theatre and the Royal Masonic Hospital.
Throughout its history, the Rowdon surname has been associated with various professions and walks of life, from landowners and businessmen to architects and farmers. While its origins can be traced back to the hills and ridges of southwestern England, the name has since spread far beyond its initial geographic roots.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rowdon surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Devon leads with 41 Rowdons recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.74x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Devon | 41 | 14.74x |
| Middlesex | 19 | 1.42x |
| Surrey | 16 | 2.46x |
| Durham | 13 | 3.27x |
| Yorkshire | 9 | 0.68x |
| Hertfordshire | 8 | 8.69x |
| Glamorgan | 6 | 2.58x |
| Berkshire | 5 | 4.99x |
| Channel Islands | 5 | 12.63x |
| Kent | 4 | 0.88x |
| Gloucestershire | 3 | 1.14x |
| Shropshire | 3 | 2.60x |
| Denbighshire | 1 | 1.98x |
| Flintshire | 1 | 2.78x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.22x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.44x |
| Wiltshire | 1 | 0.85x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Battersea in Surrey leads with 10 Rowdons recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.34x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Battersea | 10 | 20.34x |
| Cheshunt | 8 | 248.45x |
| Brampton Bierlow | 7 | 411.76x |
| Gateshead | 7 | 23.52x |
| Tormoham | 7 | 59.47x |
| Berry Pomeroy | 6 | 1304.35x |
| Clase | 6 | 69.36x |
| Exeter St David | 6 | 252.10x |
| Hartlepool | 6 | 106.19x |
| Kensington London | 6 | 8.08x |
| Lambeth | 6 | 5.15x |
| Mile End Old Town | 5 | 23.71x |
| Newton Abbot St Mary | 5 | 214.59x |
| St Marylebone London | 5 | 7.01x |
| St Peter Port | 5 | 68.31x |
| Crediton | 4 | 151.52x |
| Exeter Allhallows On The | 4 | 869.57x |
| Newbury | 4 | 124.61x |
| Berrington | 3 | 666.67x |
| Dittisham | 3 | 1111.11x |
| Erith | 3 | 66.82x |
| Mamhead | 3 | 3333.33x |
| Westbury On Trym | 3 | 33.78x |
| St Luke London | 2 | 9.33x |
| Bow | 1 | 270.27x |
| Burton | 1 | 303.03x |
| Calne | 1 | 41.15x |
| Colebrooke | 1 | 312.50x |
| Exminster | 1 | 100.00x |
| Handsworth | 1 | 28.57x |
| Hastings St Mary | 1 | 17.83x |
| Lee | 1 | 15.11x |
| Lichfield Close | 1 | 909.09x |
| Mold | 1 | 30.67x |
| St George Hanover | 1 | 5.73x |
| Sunninghill | 1 | 71.94x |
| Whiston | 1 | 156.25x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Rowdon surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Mary | 9 |
| Elizabeth | 7 |
| Ann | 4 |
| Emily | 4 |
| Jane | 4 |
| Sarah | 4 |
| Alice | 3 |
| Esther | 3 |
| Barbara | 2 |
| Charlotte | 2 |
| Eliza | 2 |
| Emma | 2 |
| Isabella | 2 |
| Lucy | 2 |
| Ada | 1 |
| Anna | 1 |
| Annie | 1 |
| Beatrice | 1 |
| Caroline | 1 |
| Edith | 1 |
| Ellen | 1 |
| Florence | 1 |
| Grace | 1 |
| Helen | 1 |
| Hester | 1 |
| Kate | 1 |
| Lilian | 1 |
| Louisa | 1 |
| Margarete | 1 |
| Martha | 1 |
| Matilda | 1 |
| Minnie | 1 |
| Olive | 1 |
| Priscilla | 1 |
| Ruth | 1 |
| Selina | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Rowdon surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Rowdon households.
FAQ
In 1881, 132 people were recorded with the Rowdon surname. That placed it at #16,744 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 78 in 2016. That gives Rowdon a modern rank of #33,171.
A surname possibly derived from a place name or an old English surname referring to someone who lived at a rye hill or down.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Rowdon bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.