NameCensus.

UK surname

Rowson

A surname derived from a personal name or nickname derived from "Rowe" or "Roe".

In the 1881 census there were 1,078 people recorded with the Rowson surname, ranking it #3,678 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,855, ranked #3,422, up from #3,678 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Prestbury, Toxteth Park and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Shropshire, Blaenau Gwent and North Lincolnshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rowson is 1,929 in 2000. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 72.1%.

1881 census count

1,078

Ranked #3,678

Modern count

1,855

2016, ranked #3,422

Peak year

2000

1,929 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Rowson had 1,078 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,678 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,855 in 2016, ranked #3,422.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,682 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Rowson surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rowson surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Rowson 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 733 #3,586
1861 historical 908 #3,049
1881 historical 1,078 #3,678
1891 historical 1,365 #3,179
1901 historical 1,537 #3,351
1911 historical 1,682 #2,910
1997 modern 1,784 #3,363
1998 modern 1,878 #3,339
1999 modern 1,896 #3,327
2000 modern 1,929 #3,260
2001 modern 1,865 #3,296
2002 modern 1,905 #3,307
2003 modern 1,841 #3,330
2004 modern 1,807 #3,383
2005 modern 1,757 #3,443
2006 modern 1,759 #3,440
2007 modern 1,782 #3,440
2008 modern 1,791 #3,451
2009 modern 1,823 #3,466
2010 modern 1,860 #3,479
2011 modern 1,854 #3,444
2012 modern 1,833 #3,429
2013 modern 1,906 #3,369
2014 modern 1,908 #3,387
2015 modern 1,882 #3,391
2016 modern 1,855 #3,422

Geography

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Where Rowsons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Prestbury, Toxteth Park, Manchester, Worthen and Warrington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Shropshire, Blaenau Gwent and North Lincolnshire. 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 Prestbury Cheshire
2 Toxteth Park Lancashire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Worthen Montgomeryshire
5 Warrington Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Shropshire 030 Shropshire
2 Shropshire 026 Shropshire
3 Shropshire 035 Shropshire
4 Blaenau Gwent 005 Blaenau Gwent
5 North Lincolnshire 011 North Lincolnshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Rowson

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Rowson

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

Rowson is most concentrated in decile 6 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.

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Rowson 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 Rowson is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Rowson

The surname Rowson has its origins in England, dating back to the 12th century. It is believed to be derived from the Old English word "row," which referred to a row or a line, and the suffix "-son," indicating a patronymic name, meaning "son of the rower."

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Rowson can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire in 1195, where it appeared as "Rowesune." This suggests that the name may have initially been associated with individuals involved in rowing or boating activities.

During the 13th century, the name Rowson began to appear in various records across England, particularly in the counties of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire. It is thought that the name may have originated in these areas, where waterways and rivers were abundant, and rowing was a common occupation.

In the 14th century, the surname Rowson was mentioned in the Court Rolls of the Manor of Wakefield in Yorkshire, where a person named John Rowson was recorded as a tenant in 1348.

One notable historical figure bearing the Rowson surname was William Rowson, a 16th-century English clergyman and scholar. He was born around 1530 and served as the Rector of Chalbury in Dorset from 1565 until his death in 1594.

Another individual of note was Samuel Rowson, an English-American author, and playwright who lived from 1766 to 1828. He is best known for his novel "Charlotte Temple," which was one of the first American bestsellers and helped establish the genre of sentimental literature in the United States.

In the 18th century, a prominent bearer of the Rowson name was Susanna Rowson, an English-American actress, writer, and educator. She was born in 1762 and is credited with publishing the first novel written by a woman in America, titled "Charlotte: A Tale of Truth."

During the 19th century, the Rowson surname was found in various parts of England, including Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, and London. One notable figure from this period was William Rowson, a British naval officer and explorer who participated in several expeditions to the Arctic regions in the mid-1800s.

In the 20th century, one prominent individual with the Rowson surname was Cyril Rowson, a British mathematician and logician. He was born in 1897 and made significant contributions to the field of mathematical logic, particularly in the areas of set theory and model theory.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Rowson families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rowson 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 284 Rowsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.27x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 284 2.27x
Lincolnshire 185 10.98x
Shropshire 177 19.45x
Yorkshire 81 0.78x
Cheshire 76 3.27x
Middlesex 66 0.63x
Staffordshire 63 1.77x
Warwickshire 44 1.66x
Surrey 31 0.60x
Hampshire 13 0.60x
Derbyshire 12 0.73x
Nottinghamshire 10 0.70x
Cambridgeshire 8 1.20x
Dorset 5 0.72x
Kent 5 0.14x
Berkshire 4 0.51x
Montgomeryshire 3 1.24x
Leicestershire 2 0.17x
Northamptonshire 2 0.20x
Sussex 2 0.11x
Cumberland 1 0.11x
Denbighshire 1 0.25x
Essex 1 0.05x
Hertfordshire 1 0.14x
Radnorshire 1 1.18x
Royal Navy 1 0.80x
Somerset 1 0.06x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Worthen in Shropshire leads with 66 Rowsons recorded in 1881 and an index of 682.52x.

Place Total Index
Worthen 66 682.52x
Toxteth Park 40 9.45x
Warrington 34 22.94x
Astley 27 280.08x
Eccleston In Prescot 23 36.65x
Holy Trinity 23 9.16x
Macclesfield 21 20.32x
West Derby 21 5.74x
Birmingham 20 2.26x
Great Grimsby 20 18.71x
Manchester 20 3.56x
Oldham 19 4.71x
Pontesbury 19 171.64x
Worthen Hope 19 984.46x
Liverpool 18 2.37x
Stone 17 37.37x
Stafford St Mary 16 31.78x
West Torrington 14 2413.79x
Shrewsbury St Chad 13 40.70x
Halifax 11 7.18x
Islington London 11 1.08x
Shoreditch London 11 2.41x
Hedon 10 285.71x
Stoke Upon Trent 10 2.65x
Walton On Hill 10 14.77x
Wentnor 10 380.23x
Bollington In 9 43.48x
Burnley 9 8.55x
Church Pulverbach 9 620.69x
Sale 9 31.55x
South Somercoates 9 588.24x
Worlaby 9 428.57x
Wrangle 9 214.29x
Audley 8 22.73x
Baumber 8 645.16x
Padiham 8 26.49x
Ventnor 8 38.95x
Wolverhampton 8 2.93x
Derby St Werburgh 7 7.35x
Horncastle 7 40.25x
Paddington London 7 1.81x
Prescot 7 30.96x
Rugby 7 19.48x
Barnes 6 27.64x
Birkenhead 6 3.24x
Brampton Bierlow 6 44.88x
Broughton In Salford 6 5.25x
Friskney 6 112.15x
Frodingham 6 100.00x
Gainsborough 6 15.11x
Habberley 6 1200.00x
Ipsley 6 123.20x
Kelstern 6 967.74x
Laceby 6 163.49x
Shrewsbury St Mary 6 16.71x
Wainfleet All Sts 6 122.45x
Widnes 6 6.65x
Aston 5 0.68x
Bredbury 5 37.15x
Camberwell 5 0.74x
Cleethorpes 5 50.45x
Coventry St Michael 5 5.86x
Dawley 5 15.10x
Everton 5 1.25x
Gosberton 5 66.84x
Gt Hanwood 5 427.35x
Habrough 5 357.14x
Nottingham St Mary 5 1.36x
Ratlinghope 5 515.46x
Ruckland 5 2173.91x
Sheffield 5 1.50x
Southwark St John 5 15.52x
St Pancras London 5 0.59x
Tranmere 5 5.85x
Westminster St John 5 3.90x
Weymouth 5 38.17x
Willesden 5 5.03x
Lewisham 4 2.09x
Tottenham 4 2.38x
Westminster St James 4 3.69x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 72
William 65
George 44
Thomas 42
James 33
Henry 18
Charles 17
Edward 17
Samuel 17
Arthur 15
Joseph 14
Richard 13
Robert 9
Alfred 8
Walter 8
Fred 7
Peter 7
Benjamin 6
Edmund 6
Edwin 6
Albert 5
David 5
Frederick 5
Harry 5
Herbert 5
Joshua 4
Ernest 3
Nathan 3
Orlando 3
Thos. 3
Wm. 3
Christopher 2
Frank 2
Geo. 2
Harvey 2
Jesse 2
Job 2
Matthew 2
Percy 2
Richd. 2
Sarah 2
Wm.John 2
Edgar 1
Geo.H. 1
Gerrest 1
Gillwain 1
Knowler 1
Landy 1
Lawrence 1
Wm.M. 1

FAQ

Rowson surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rowson surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,078 people were recorded with the Rowson surname. That placed it at #3,678 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rowson surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,855 in 2016. That gives Rowson a modern rank of #3,422.

What does the Rowson surname mean?

A surname derived from a personal name or nickname derived from "Rowe" or "Roe".

What does the Rowson map show?

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