NameCensus.

UK surname

Rowles

An English occupational surname referring to a person who lived near a rull, meaning a small stream or rivulet.

In the 1881 census there were 1,320 people recorded with the Rowles surname, ranking it #3,108 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,955, ranked #3,283, down from #3,108 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Stroud, Whaddon, Longney, Brookthorpe, Harescombe, Haresfield, Standish, Moreton Valence, Saul, Fret. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Torfaen, Forest of Dean and North Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rowles is 2,097 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 48.1%.

1881 census count

1,320

Ranked #3,108

Modern count

1,955

2016, ranked #3,283

Peak year

1998

2,097 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rowles had 1,320 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,108 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,955 in 2016, ranked #3,283.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,878 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Rowles surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rowles surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rowles 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 814 #3,301
1861 historical 868 #3,195
1881 historical 1,320 #3,108
1891 historical 1,495 #2,947
1901 historical 1,730 #2,997
1911 historical 1,878 #2,632
1997 modern 1,961 #3,102
1998 modern 2,097 #3,041
1999 modern 2,095 #3,070
2000 modern 2,055 #3,100
2001 modern 2,001 #3,114
2002 modern 2,047 #3,118
2003 modern 1,990 #3,130
2004 modern 1,988 #3,132
2005 modern 1,929 #3,179
2006 modern 1,937 #3,184
2007 modern 1,929 #3,212
2008 modern 1,941 #3,217
2009 modern 1,977 #3,239
2010 modern 2,026 #3,242
2011 modern 2,031 #3,201
2012 modern 1,941 #3,266
2013 modern 1,957 #3,302
2014 modern 1,959 #3,313
2015 modern 1,941 #3,314
2016 modern 1,955 #3,283

Geography

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Where Rowles' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Stroud, Whaddon, Longney, Brookthorpe, Harescombe, Haresfield, Standish, Moreton Valence, Saul, Fret, Cardiff St John and St Mary and Witney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Torfaen, Forest of Dean and North Somerset. 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 3
3 Stroud, Whaddon, Longney, Brookthorpe, Harescombe, Haresfield, Standish, Moreton Valence, Saul, Fret Gloucestershire
4 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire
5 Witney Oxfordshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Torfaen 005 Torfaen
2 Torfaen 002 Torfaen
3 Torfaen 003 Torfaen
4 Forest of Dean 009 Forest of Dean
5 North Somerset 004 North Somerset

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rowles

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rowles

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Rowles is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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 concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Rowles is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rowles 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 Rowles is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Rowles

The surname Rowles originated in England during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "rowel," which referred to a small spiked wheel used to control horses. This suggests that the name may have originally been an occupational surname for someone who worked with horses, perhaps a farrier or a stable hand.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Rowles dates back to the 13th century in Warwickshire, England. In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a record of landowners and taxpayers, the name is listed as "Rowel." This spelling variation indicates the name's connection to the Old English term.

During the 14th century, the name appears in various records across different counties in England. In the Subsidy Rolls of 1332, there is an entry for a "Roger Rowel" in Oxfordshire. Additionally, in the Poll Tax Returns of 1379, a "John Rowles" is listed in Yorkshire.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Rowles was William Rowles, who was born in Staffordshire, England, in the late 15th century. He was a renowned scholar and theologian, serving as a fellow at Magdalen College, Oxford.

In the 16th century, the Rowles family established themselves in Gloucestershire, where they owned land and properties. A notable member of this branch was Sir Samuel Rowles (1577-1628), a Member of Parliament and High Sheriff of Gloucestershire.

The Rowles name also has connections to place names in England. In the village of Rowley Regis, Staffordshire, the name is believed to have evolved from the Old English words "row" and "leah," meaning a clearing in a row or line of trees.

Other notable individuals with the surname Rowles include Sir William Rowles (1617-1688), an English lawyer and politician who served as Solicitor-General during the reign of Charles II, and John Rowles (1936-2018), a renowned New Zealand singer and actor.

Throughout its history, the Rowles surname has been associated with various occupations, from scholars and politicians to artists and skilled tradesmen, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of its bearers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rowles families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rowles 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. Gloucestershire leads with 226 Rowles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.94x.

County Total Index
Gloucestershire 226 8.94x
Oxfordshire 163 20.48x
Middlesex 153 1.19x
Lancashire 113 0.74x
Somerset 92 4.44x
Surrey 82 1.31x
Berkshire 52 5.38x
Cheshire 45 1.58x
Glamorgan 44 1.96x
Wiltshire 39 3.42x
Worcestershire 35 2.08x
Yorkshire 35 0.27x
Bedfordshire 34 5.10x
Kent 28 0.64x
Northamptonshire 21 1.73x
Monmouthshire 20 2.15x
Warwickshire 20 0.62x
Leicestershire 16 1.12x
Staffordshire 12 0.28x
Devon 10 0.37x
Cornwall 9 0.62x
Hampshire 9 0.34x
Shropshire 9 0.81x
Buckinghamshire 6 0.77x
Cumberland 6 0.54x
Derbyshire 6 0.30x
Durham 5 0.13x
Hertfordshire 5 0.56x
Lincolnshire 5 0.24x
Cambridgeshire 3 0.37x
Huntingdonshire 3 1.17x
Norfolk 3 0.15x
Sussex 3 0.14x
Dorset 2 0.24x
Midlothian 2 0.12x
Suffolk 2 0.13x
Essex 1 0.04x
Herefordshire 1 0.19x
Westmorland 1 0.35x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bisley in Gloucestershire leads with 43 Rowles' recorded in 1881 and an index of 187.77x.

Place Total Index
Bisley 43 187.77x
Witney 37 277.99x
Clifton 30 23.48x
Lymm 20 96.71x
Tottington Lower End 20 27.53x
Twickenham 20 36.20x
Weston On Green 20 1250.00x
Hailey 19 339.89x
Bedminster 18 9.24x
Oxford St Ebbe 18 76.86x
Saul 18 684.41x
Batley 17 14.01x
Birmingham 16 1.48x
Westbury On Severn 16 159.84x
Cardiff St Mary 15 12.14x
Wootton Bassett 15 151.36x
Abbots Leigh 14 869.57x
Little Bolton 14 7.12x
Heston 13 30.37x
Wandsworth 13 10.48x
Banbury 12 75.28x
Baydon 12 909.09x
Cheltenham 12 6.15x
Isleworth 12 20.95x
Portbury 12 346.82x
Runcorn 12 18.30x
Great Barford 11 316.09x
Houghton Middleton 11 1028.04x
Bromsgrove 10 17.66x
Charlton Kings 10 57.18x
Chertsey 10 24.65x
Colmworth 10 584.80x
Easton In Gordano 10 119.76x
Frampton On Severn 10 234.74x
Hackney London 10 1.38x
Minchinhampton 10 49.65x
Newbury 10 32.28x
Peterborough 10 11.40x
Portishead 10 64.85x
Cogan 9 270.27x
Kingston On Thames 9 5.97x
Manchester 9 1.31x
Penarth 9 41.04x
St Marylebone London 9 1.31x
Streatham 9 9.41x
Wembdon 9 146.58x
Barton Upon Irwell 8 6.95x
Camberwell 8 0.97x
Combe 8 334.73x
Egham 8 20.75x
Luton 8 6.93x
Oxford St Thomas 8 21.54x
Sharnford 8 396.04x
St Gilesin Fields 8 106.52x
Standground 8 137.93x
Trevethin 8 9.09x
Woolston With 8 360.36x
Aldworth 7 583.33x
Ashton Under Lyne 7 2.09x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 7 2.94x
Claines 7 15.16x
Clerkenwell London 7 2.30x
Dewsbury 7 5.35x
Easton 7 760.87x
Finstock Fawler 7 264.15x
Kensington London 7 0.98x
Portsea 7 1.35x
Shoreditch London 7 1.25x
St Ives 7 24.52x
Axminster 6 47.69x
Bury 6 3.44x
Elmley Castle 6 365.85x
Gloucester Barton St 6 40.51x
Hensingham 6 66.23x
Maidstone 6 4.58x
Rawdon 6 39.89x
St Woollos 6 5.77x
Swindon 6 6.79x
Uxbridge 6 40.76x
Yoxall 6 104.53x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 74
Elizabeth 61
Sarah 47
Alice 27
Annie 25
Martha 25
Eliza 24
Jane 24
Emily 21
Ellen 18
Emma 17
Caroline 14
Ann 13
Hannah 11
Kate 11
Charlotte 10
Edith 10
Maria 10
Amelia 9
Fanny 9
Florence 9
Harriet 9
Louisa 7
Ada 6
Clara 6
Esther 5
Gertrude 5
Harriett 5
Minnie 5
Catherine 4
Frances 4
Lucy 4
Lydia 4
Margaret 4
Rose 4
Sophia 4
Agnes 3
Anne 3
Elizth. 3
Ethel 3
Laura 3
Lilly 3
Mabel 3
Rebecca 3
Rosa 3
Susannah 3
Alicia 2
Celia 2
Matilda 2
Maud 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 81
John 61
George 53
Thomas 47
Henry 33
James 29
Charles 25
Joseph 21
Edward 18
Robert 16
Alfred 14
Richard 14
Albert 12
Frederick 12
Arthur 11
Walter 11
Edwin 10
Ernest 9
Harry 8
Samuel 7
Francis 6
Daniel 5
Wm. 5
Frederic 4
Fredrick 4
Ambrose 3
Benjamin 3
Frank 3
Fred 3
Herbert 3
Isaac 3
Job 3
Matthew 3
Oliver 3
Sidney 3
Sydney 3
Amos 2
Bertie 2
Caleb 2
Chas. 2
Claude 2
Edwd. 2
Elvin 2
Frances 2
Jno. 2
Martin 2
Peter 2
Willie 2
Willm. 2
Wm.D. 1

FAQ

Rowles surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rowles surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,320 people were recorded with the Rowles surname. That placed it at #3,108 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rowles surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,955 in 2016. That gives Rowles a modern rank of #3,283.

What does the Rowles surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a person who lived near a rull, meaning a small stream or rivulet.

What does the Rowles map show?

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