UK surname

Rowe

An English topographic surname referring to someone who lived near a hedgerow or in a row of houses.

In the 1881 census there were 16,888 people recorded with the Rowe surname, ranking it #229 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 23,742, ranked #248, down from #229 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Camborne. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rowe is 24,413 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 40.6%.

1881 census count

16,888

Ranked #229

Modern count

23,742

2016, ranked #248

Peak year

1999

24,413 bearers

Map years

1851 to 2016

Key insights

• Rowe had 16,888 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #229 surname in that year.
• The latest modern count shown here is 23,742 in 2016, ranked #248.
• Within the historical census years, the highest count was 23,176 in 1911.
• The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Map

Rowe surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rowe surname density by area, 1881 census.

Year

Loading map

Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Rowe 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	10,850	#229
1861	historical	10,523	#242
1881	historical	16,888	#229
1891	historical	17,975	#218
1901	historical	21,190	#222
1911	historical	23,176	#184
1997	modern	23,395	#242
1998	modern	24,234	#243
1999	modern	24,413	#243
2000	modern	24,353	#241
2001	modern	23,738	#241
2002	modern	24,238	#242
2003	modern	23,669	#241
2004	modern	23,470	#244
2005	modern	23,081	#243
2006	modern	22,991	#244
2007	modern	23,197	#245
2008	modern	23,336	#245
2009	modern	24,038	#241
2010	modern	24,381	#245
2011	modern	23,990	#245
2012	modern	23,446	#246
2013	modern	24,100	#243
2014	modern	24,193	#248
2015	modern	23,853	#248
2016	modern	23,742	#248

Geography

Where Rowes are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Camborne and St Just. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall. 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	Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff	Gloucestershire
2	London parishes	London 1
3	London parishes	London 3
4	Camborne	Cornwall
5	St Just	Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank	Area	District
1	Cornwall 024	Cornwall
2	Cornwall 039	Cornwall
3	Cornwall 027	Cornwall
4	Cornwall 036	Cornwall
5	Cornwall 014	Cornwall

Forenames

First names often paired with Rowe

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

Historical female names

Mary Elizabeth Sarah Jane Annie Ann Ellen Eliza Alice Emma

Historical male names

William John George James Thomas Charles Richard Joseph Henry Edward

Recent female names

Susan Margaret Sarah Elizabeth Patricia Helen Nicola Emma Mary Karen

Recent male names

David John Michael Christopher Andrew Mark James Peter Stephen Paul

Modern profile

Neighbourhood profile for Rowe

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

Rowe 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.

Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rowe falls in decile 4 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.

More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Rowe 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.

Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate: White - British

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

Origin

Meaning and origin of Rowe

The surname Rowe originates from England, with its roots traced back to the late 11th century. It is derived from the Old English word "row," meaning a row or line of houses or buildings. This suggests that the name was initially given to someone who lived in a row of dwellings or along a particular street.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Rowe can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Rowa." This comprehensive survey, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides valuable insights into the distribution and prevalence of surnames across various regions of England.

During the Middle Ages, the name Rowe was particularly common in the counties of Oxfordshire, Worcestershire, and Gloucestershire. Records from this period often feature variations in spelling, such as Rowe, Roe, Roo, and Roo. These variations were common due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions at the time.

One notable bearer of the name Rowe was Sir Thomas Rowe (1492-1570), a prominent English judge and Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another distinguished figure was Owen Rowe (1618-1686), an English Puritan minister and author who played a significant role in the religious and political landscape of the 17th century.

In the 18th century, the name Rowe gained further prominence with the playwright and poet Nicholas Rowe (1674-1718). His most notable works include the tragedies "The Fair Penitent" and "Jane Shore," as well as translations of Lucan's "Pharsalia" and plays by Sophocles.

Another influential figure bearing the surname Rowe was John Rowe (1764-1832), an English Nonconformist minister and author. He was a prominent figure in the Wesleyan Methodist movement and wrote extensively on theological topics.

The Rowe surname also found its way across the Atlantic, with notable bearers in the United States, such as Thomas Rowe (1786-1838), a prominent lawyer and judge from Virginia who served as a United States Representative and Senator.

These examples illustrate the long and rich history of the surname Rowe, which has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including legal professionals, religious leaders, writers, and politicians. The name's origins can be traced back to the early days of England, and its evolution over the centuries reflects the changing linguistic and cultural landscape of the regions where it was prevalent.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

FAQ

Rowe surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rowe surname in 1881?

In 1881, 16,888 people were recorded with the Rowe surname. That placed it at #229 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rowe surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 23,742 in 2016. That gives Rowe a modern rank of #248.

What does the Rowe surname mean?