NameCensus.

UK surname

Rowsell

A surname derived from the Old English words "row" meaning rough or untidy, and "syll" meaning dwelling or shelter.

In the 1881 census there were 640 people recorded with the Rowsell surname, ranking it #5,564 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,089, ranked #5,376, up from #5,564 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes and Midsomer Norton, Paulton, Chilcompton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Devon, Winchester and Rhondda Cynon Taf.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rowsell is 1,189 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 70.2%.

1881 census count

640

Ranked #5,564

Modern count

1,089

2016, ranked #5,376

Peak year

1999

1,189 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rowsell had 640 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,564 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,089 in 2016, ranked #5,376.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,030 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Rowsell surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rowsell surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rowsell 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 491 #5,090
1861 historical 429 #5,989
1881 historical 640 #5,564
1891 historical 846 #4,826
1901 historical 953 #4,927
1911 historical 1,030 #4,449
1997 modern 1,170 #4,821
1998 modern 1,158 #5,025
1999 modern 1,189 #4,972
2000 modern 1,167 #5,019
2001 modern 1,138 #5,034
2002 modern 1,124 #5,200
2003 modern 1,116 #5,115
2004 modern 1,114 #5,134
2005 modern 1,079 #5,208
2006 modern 1,068 #5,253
2007 modern 1,066 #5,316
2008 modern 1,053 #5,413
2009 modern 1,107 #5,301
2010 modern 1,123 #5,343
2011 modern 1,119 #5,303
2012 modern 1,084 #5,353
2013 modern 1,107 #5,344
2014 modern 1,110 #5,355
2015 modern 1,102 #5,341
2016 modern 1,089 #5,376

Geography

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Where Rowsells are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Bristol City: St Mary Redcliff, London parishes, Midsomer Norton, Paulton, Chilcompton and Portsmouth, Portsea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Devon, Winchester and Rhondda Cynon Taf. 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 Midsomer Norton, Paulton, Chilcompton Somerset
5 Portsmouth, Portsea Hampshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Devon 019 East Devon
2 East Devon 020 East Devon
3 Winchester 001 Winchester
4 Rhondda Cynon Taf 022 Rhondda Cynon Taf
5 Winchester 011 Winchester

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rowsell

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rowsell

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

Rowsell 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

Rowsell falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Rowsell

The surname Rowsell originates from England and dates back to the medieval period, specifically around the 12th or 13th century. It is believed to be a locational name derived from a place called Rowsell or Rowshall, which may have been a small hamlet or village in one of the southern counties of England.

The name Rowsell is thought to be derived from the Old English words "row" or "ruh," meaning rough or rugged, and "sæl," meaning a dwelling or hall. This suggests that the original place name referred to a rough or rugged dwelling or hall, possibly indicating the terrain or the construction of the buildings in that area.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Rowsell can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it appears as "de Roweshale." This medieval document was a record of landholders and their holdings throughout England.

In the 14th century, the surname Rowsell appears in various forms, such as "Roweshale," "Roweshulle," and "Rowshulle," reflecting the variations in spelling that were common during that period.

Notably, the Rowsell surname is mentioned in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a John de Roweshale is listed as a taxpayer.

One notable individual with the surname Rowsell was Richard Rowsell, born in 1574 in Rowsell, Somerset. He was a merchant and landowner who became a prominent figure in the local community.

Another historical figure was John Rowsell, born in 1658 in Gloucestershire. He was a clergyman and author who wrote several religious texts and served as a vicar in various parishes.

In the 18th century, a family of Rowsells from Oxfordshire gained prominence. William Rowsell, born in 1710, was a successful businessman and landowner, while his son, Thomas Rowsell (1745-1827), was a respected lawyer and magistrate.

Moving into the 19th century, a notable figure was Mary Rowsell (1805-1882), a philanthropist and social reformer from Bristol. She dedicated her life to improving the living conditions of the poor and establishing charitable institutions.

Additionally, George Rowsell (1842-1918), born in Wiltshire, was a renowned architect who designed several notable buildings, including churches and public structures, throughout England.

While the surname Rowsell is not among the most common surnames, it has a rich history rooted in medieval England, with its origins likely tied to a specific location or dwelling place. Over the centuries, individuals bearing this surname have made their mark in various fields, from business and law to religion and architecture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rowsell families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rowsell 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. Somerset leads with 284 Rowsells recorded in 1881 and an index of 28.44x.

County Total Index
Somerset 284 28.44x
Middlesex 116 1.87x
Devon 47 3.64x
Kent 35 1.65x
Surrey 30 0.99x
Hampshire 26 2.04x
Worcestershire 14 1.73x
Gloucestershire 13 1.07x
Sussex 12 1.15x
Dorset 11 2.70x
Suffolk 9 1.19x
Yorkshire 9 0.15x
Staffordshire 6 0.29x
Warwickshire 6 0.38x
Essex 4 0.33x
Leicestershire 4 0.58x
Berkshire 3 0.64x
Hertfordshire 2 0.47x
Lancashire 2 0.03x
Northumberland 1 0.11x
Royal Navy 1 1.35x
Wiltshire 1 0.18x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Taunton St Mary in Somerset leads with 36 Rowsells recorded in 1881 and an index of 196.40x.

Place Total Index
Taunton St Mary 36 196.40x
Tottenham 24 24.29x
Broad Clist 15 336.32x
Portsea 15 6.02x
South Petherton 15 290.70x
Wembdon 15 508.47x
West Hatch 15 1685.39x
Dudley 13 13.20x
Lyncombe Widcombe 13 49.71x
Taunton St James 13 89.29x
Weston Super Mare 13 51.55x
Enfield 12 29.48x
Yeovil 12 59.14x
Lambeth 10 1.85x
Bickenhall 9 2368.42x
Bishops Hull 9 278.64x
Bridport 9 107.40x
Bury St Edmunds St James 9 44.60x
Stoke Under Hambdon 9 274.39x
Battersea 8 3.50x
Chard 8 66.12x
Churchstanton 8 506.33x
Deptford St Paul 8 4.90x
Hackney London 8 2.30x
Hornsey 8 10.20x
North Petherton 8 99.26x
Swell 8 2666.67x
Withycombe Rawleigh 8 118.87x
Curland 7 1750.00x
High Ham 7 294.12x
High Littleton 7 424.24x
Lee 7 22.78x
Margate St John Baptist 7 18.06x
Minster In Sheppey 7 19.96x
Otterford 7 813.95x
Paddington London 7 3.07x
Paulton 7 153.17x
Aston 6 1.39x
Chelsea London 6 3.21x
Croydon 6 3.58x
Glastonbury 6 73.62x
Hammersmith London 6 3.93x
Mile End Old Town 6 6.13x
Mudford 6 740.74x
Pinhoe 6 517.24x
Walsall Foreign 6 5.55x
Westbury On Trym 6 14.56x
Bedminster 5 5.33x
Beverley St Martin 5 48.73x
Crewkerne 5 47.13x
Hampstead London 5 5.17x
Islington London 5 0.83x
Northwood 5 27.61x
Tintinhull 5 581.40x
Westminster St John 5 6.62x
Fivehead 4 454.55x
Leicester St Margaret 4 2.38x
Midsomer Norton 4 42.51x
St Giles In Fields 4 18.69x
Twerton 4 38.84x
Wilton 4 153.85x
Camberwell 3 0.76x
Eltham 3 24.19x
Hastings St Mary In The 3 13.44x
Holdenhurst 3 9.00x
Kensington London 3 0.87x
Littleham 3 31.78x
Newington 3 1.31x
Pinner 3 55.25x
Sculcoates 3 3.08x
St Luke London 3 3.01x
Subdeanery 3 37.78x
Tilehurst 3 31.88x
Wellington 3 22.16x
West Ham 3 1.11x
Winsham 3 164.84x
Broadhembury 2 138.89x
Hatch Beauchamp 2 259.74x
Southampton All Sts 2 9.17x
Stapleton 2 8.67x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 25
Elizabeth 23
Emma 19
Sarah 14
Eliza 13
Alice 10
Jane 10
Ann 9
Ellen 8
Emily 8
Louisa 8
Annie 7
Charlotte 7
Hannah 7
Susan 7
Anna 6
Amelia 5
Caroline 5
Edith 5
Frances 5
Kate 5
Laura 5
Martha 5
Rose 5
Florence 4
Lydia 4
Mabel 4
Anne 3
Catherine 3
Fanny 3
Harriett 3
Julia 3
Lily 3
Maria 3
Rebecca 3
Clara 2
Ella 2
Lucy 2
Matilda 2
Pleasant 2
Rhoda 2
Amy 1
Beatrice 1
Elizth. 1
Emely 1
Ethel 1
Evelina 1
Josephine 1
Lavinia 1
Tessie 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 35
James 26
John 24
George 23
Henry 22
Thomas 20
Charles 16
Samuel 12
Robert 11
Frederick 10
Arthur 9
Joseph 8
Albert 7
Alfred 6
Harry 5
Walter 5
Richard 4
Benjamin 3
Chas. 3
Fred 3
Sidney 3
Wm. 3
Austin 2
Edwin 2
Eli 2
Ethelbert 2
Geo.Wm. 2
Herbert 2
Hubert 2
Philip 2
Amy 1
Aquilla 1
Auther 1
Benjn. 1
C.J. 1
Danl. 1
Edmund 1
Edward 1
Eliza 1
Ernest 1
Eustace 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Harold 1
Hy. 1
Hy.Jms. 1
Infant 1
Josiah 1
Leonard 1
Wm.V. 1

FAQ

Rowsell surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rowsell surname in 1881?

In 1881, 640 people were recorded with the Rowsell surname. That placed it at #5,564 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rowsell surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,089 in 2016. That gives Rowsell a modern rank of #5,376.

What does the Rowsell surname mean?

A surname derived from the Old English words "row" meaning rough or untidy, and "syll" meaning dwelling or shelter.

What does the Rowsell map show?

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