NameCensus.

UK surname

Rowlinson

A habitational surname referring to someone from a place named Rowlinson.

In the 1881 census there were 938 people recorded with the Rowlinson surname, ranking it #4,107 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,318, ranked #4,552, down from #4,107 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Stockport, Withersfield and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Staffordshire Moorlands, Stockport and St Edmundsbury.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rowlinson is 1,561 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 40.5%.

1881 census count

938

Ranked #4,107

Modern count

1,318

2016, ranked #4,552

Peak year

1911

1,561 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rowlinson had 938 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,107 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,318 in 2016, ranked #4,552.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,561 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Rowlinson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rowlinson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rowlinson 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 900 #3,058
1861 historical 888 #3,120
1881 historical 938 #4,107
1891 historical 1,231 #3,505
1901 historical 1,251 #3,956
1911 historical 1,561 #3,107
1997 modern 1,279 #4,460
1998 modern 1,322 #4,492
1999 modern 1,354 #4,429
2000 modern 1,372 #4,367
2001 modern 1,323 #4,424
2002 modern 1,372 #4,359
2003 modern 1,346 #4,360
2004 modern 1,330 #4,407
2005 modern 1,296 #4,440
2006 modern 1,292 #4,469
2007 modern 1,303 #4,477
2008 modern 1,304 #4,496
2009 modern 1,349 #4,464
2010 modern 1,384 #4,445
2011 modern 1,365 #4,445
2012 modern 1,304 #4,562
2013 modern 1,353 #4,491
2014 modern 1,351 #4,522
2015 modern 1,341 #4,510
2016 modern 1,318 #4,552

Geography

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Where Rowlinsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Stockport, Withersfield, London parishes, Manchester and Cheadle. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Staffordshire Moorlands, Stockport, St Edmundsbury and Lancaster. 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 Stockport Cheshire
2 Withersfield Suffolk
3 London parishes London 3
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Cheadle Cheshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Staffordshire Moorlands 010 Staffordshire Moorlands
2 Stockport 004 Stockport
3 St Edmundsbury 011 St Edmundsbury
4 Staffordshire Moorlands 011 Staffordshire Moorlands
5 Lancaster 003 Lancaster

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rowlinson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rowlinson

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

Rowlinson is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rowlinson 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 Rowlinson 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 Rowlinson, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Rowlinson

The surname Rowlinson originated in England and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English words "row" meaning "rough" and "lin" meaning "hill" or "ridge." The name was likely given to someone who lived near a rough or rugged hill.

Rowlinson is a locational surname, which means it was originally derived from a place name. The earliest known record of the name is in the Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire from 1332, where it appears as "Rowyndson." This suggests that the name may have originated in the area of Lancashire.

In the 16th century, the name was spelled in various ways, including Rowlinson, Rawlinson, Rollinson, and Rowlandson. These variations reflect the difficulties in standardizing spelling during that time period.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1379, which mention a John Rowlinson. Another early record is the Will of Thomas Rowlinson from Saddleworth, Yorkshire, dated 1541.

The name Rowlinson has also been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest was Sir Thomas Rowlinson (1572-1638), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1634.

Another prominent figure was William Rowlinson (1585-1629), a Puritan minister who was one of the founders of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in America.

In the 18th century, Thomas Rowlinson (1714-1787) was a renowned English clockmaker who worked in London and invented several improvements to clocks and watches.

In the field of literature, William Rowlinson (1854-1905) was an English poet and playwright known for his works inspired by the Lancashire countryside.

More recently, Sir Jonathan Rowlinson (1936-2018) was a British civil servant and diplomat who served as the Governor of Bermuda from 1992 to 1997.

These are just a few examples of the many individuals who have carried the Rowlinson surname throughout history, originating from its roots in the rugged hills of England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rowlinson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rowlinson 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. Lancashire leads with 261 Rowlinsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.41x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 261 2.41x
Cheshire 174 8.65x
Cambridgeshire 136 23.57x
Suffolk 58 5.23x
Staffordshire 57 1.85x
Warwickshire 40 1.74x
Surrey 37 0.83x
Middlesex 29 0.32x
Westmorland 26 12.99x
Shropshire 19 2.41x
Yorkshire 19 0.21x
Kent 14 0.45x
Essex 13 0.72x
Durham 10 0.37x
Lincolnshire 9 0.62x
Hertfordshire 6 0.96x
Gloucestershire 5 0.28x
Hampshire 5 0.27x
Derbyshire 4 0.28x
Devon 4 0.21x
Bedfordshire 2 0.42x
Caernarfonshire 2 0.54x
Northamptonshire 1 0.12x
Royal Navy 1 0.92x
Somerset 1 0.07x
Sussex 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Pampisford in Cambridgeshire leads with 41 Rowlinsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 3761.47x.

Place Total Index
Pampisford 41 3761.47x
Aston 34 5.37x
Withersfield 33 1843.58x
Silverdale 23 1503.27x
Castle Camps 22 794.22x
Lymm 22 150.48x
Sawston 22 394.97x
Warrington 20 15.61x
Wharton 20 182.65x
Cheadle 19 49.47x
Lambeth 18 2.27x
Ramshorn 18 5806.45x
Stapleford 18 1028.57x
Salford 17 5.35x
Kendal 16 43.66x
Broughton In Salford 15 15.17x
Castleton 14 12.97x
Farley 14 945.95x
Runcorn 14 30.19x
Shrewsbury St Julian 13 66.77x
Haverhill 12 121.70x
Heaton Norris 12 19.50x
Manchester 12 2.47x
St Pancras London 12 1.64x
Camberwell 11 1.89x
Hempstead 11 558.38x
Islington London 11 1.25x
Moss Side 11 19.34x
Pendleton In Salford 11 8.54x
Stockport Etchells 11 256.41x
St Andrewthe Less 10 15.17x
Didsbury 9 62.67x
Liverpool 9 1.37x
St Swithin Lincoln 9 39.30x
Warley 9 34.50x
Duxford 8 331.95x
Great Shelford 8 264.03x
Handforth 8 347.83x
Timperley 8 114.45x
Aston By Budworth 7 496.45x
Bootle Cum Linacre 7 8.15x
Brandon Byshottles 7 20.61x
Dalton In Furness 7 16.77x
Rostherne 7 588.24x
Wolstanton 7 7.49x
Bollington In 6 33.52x
Carnforth 6 101.01x
Deptford St Paul 6 2.50x
Hulme 6 2.66x
Knutsford Nether 6 49.34x
Newmarket St Mary 6 70.42x
Shrewsbury St Mary 6 19.32x
Turton 6 33.90x
Aldingham 5 138.50x
Applethwaite 5 83.75x
Ashton Under Lyne 5 2.12x
Barton Upon Irwell 5 6.14x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 5 2.97x
Chorlton On Medlock 5 2.91x
Great Bolton 5 3.49x
Margate St John Baptist 5 8.78x
Pilkington 5 12.17x
Pownall Fee 5 55.56x
Sawbridgeworth 5 52.58x
Sutton In Macclesfield 5 23.96x
Wadworth 5 280.90x
Bermondsey 4 1.47x
Birmingham 4 0.52x
Dunham Massey 4 64.94x
Hammersmith London 4 1.78x
Handsworth 4 5.28x
Kirkdale 4 2.20x
Plymouth St Andrew 4 2.74x
Sale 4 16.21x
Toxteth Park 4 1.09x
Wednesbury 4 5.20x
Wolverhampton 4 1.69x
Gawsworth 3 163.93x
Halton 3 131.00x
Lower Allithwaite 3 115.83x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 56
John 45
Thomas 43
James 31
George 26
Joseph 18
Charles 16
Henry 13
Richard 13
Samuel 12
Arthur 11
Robert 11
Albert 10
Walter 10
Frank 9
Frederick 9
Alfred 8
Edward 6
Herbert 6
Thos. 6
Enoch 5
Harry 5
Peter 5
Isaac 4
Amos 3
Benjamin 3
Ernest 3
Jas. 3
Jesse 3
Richd. 3
Christopher 2
David 2
Francis 2
Geo. 2
Jonathan 2
Philip 2
Ralph 2
Stanley 2
Stephen 2
Sylvanus 2
Ted 2
Willie 2
Wm. 2
Bernard 1
Bertie 1
Edmond 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Eli 1
Wm.Hy. 1

FAQ

Rowlinson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rowlinson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 938 people were recorded with the Rowlinson surname. That placed it at #4,107 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rowlinson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,318 in 2016. That gives Rowlinson a modern rank of #4,552.

What does the Rowlinson surname mean?

A habitational surname referring to someone from a place named Rowlinson.

What does the Rowlinson map show?

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