NameCensus.

UK surname

Rowton

An English habitational name denoting someone from a place named Rowton.

In the 1881 census there were 120 people recorded with the Rowton surname, ranking it #17,756 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 90, ranked #32,202, down from #17,756 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Greenwich, Dudley and Halifax. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Northamptonshire, Wolverhampton and Telford and Wrekin.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Rowton is 207 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 25.0%.

1881 census count

120

Ranked #17,756

Modern count

90

2016, ranked #32,202

Peak year

1861

207 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 1911

Key insights

  • Rowton had 120 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #17,756 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 90 in 2016, ranked #32,202.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 207 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Rowton surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Rowton surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Rowton 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 109 #16,212
1861 historical 207 #11,687
1881 historical 120 #17,756
1891 historical 120 #21,292
1901 historical 117 #20,830
1911 historical 101 #22,589
1997 modern 86 #28,876
1998 modern 83 #29,638
1999 modern 79 #30,243
2000 modern 87 #29,377
2001 modern 80 #29,945
2002 modern 80 #30,387
2003 modern 81 #30,311
2004 modern 90 #29,481
2005 modern 98 #28,325
2006 modern 93 #29,411
2007 modern 96 #29,339
2008 modern 92 #30,286
2009 modern 95 #30,393
2010 modern 100 #30,225
2011 modern 96 #30,721
2012 modern 99 #30,442
2013 modern 100 #30,773
2014 modern 97 #31,518
2015 modern 89 #32,325
2016 modern 90 #32,202

Geography

Back to top

Where Rowtons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Greenwich, Dudley, Halifax, Manchester and St John Hackney. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Northamptonshire, Wolverhampton, Telford and Wrekin, Wealden and County Durham. 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 Greenwich London (South Districts)
2 Dudley Staffordshire
3 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 St John Hackney London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Northamptonshire 002 South Northamptonshire
2 Wolverhampton 033 Wolverhampton
3 Telford and Wrekin 021 Telford and Wrekin
4 Wealden 004 Wealden
5 County Durham 051 County Durham

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Rowton

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Rowton

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Rowton, 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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Rowton surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Rowton household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Rowton 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

Rowton 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

Rowton falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Rowton

The surname Rowton is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the counties of Staffordshire and Shropshire, during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "row," meaning a row or line, and "tun," meaning a town or enclosure, possibly referring to a settlement or village with houses aligned in a row.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where the village of Rowton in Shropshire is mentioned. This suggests that the name was already established in that area by the late 11th century.

The earliest known bearer of the surname Rowton was William de Rowton, who was recorded in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1196. This document lists him as a landowner in the county during the reign of King Richard I.

Another notable early reference is found in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire from 1286, which mention a Richard de Rowton. This indicates that the name was still prevalent in the region two centuries after the Domesday Book.

In the 14th century, the surname appears in various forms, such as Roueton, Roweton, and Rowton, reflecting the evolving spelling and pronunciation over time. One example is John de Roueton, who was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Staffordshire in 1327.

A significant figure bearing the Rowton surname was Sir John Rowton (c. 1540-1597), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Staffordshire in the late 16th century during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Another notable individual was William Rowton (1650-1713), an English clergyman and author who served as the Rector of Newchurch in Warwickshire and wrote several religious works in the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

In the 19th century, one of the most prominent individuals with the Rowton surname was Samuel Rowton (1809-1888), a British architect who designed several notable buildings in London, including parts of the Royal Exchange and the Fishmongers' Hall.

Additionally, Edward Rowton (1836-1902) was a successful businessman and philanthropist who founded the Rowton Houses, a chain of affordable lodging houses for working-class men in London and other cities across England.

Throughout its history, the Rowton surname has also been associated with various places, such as Rowton Castle and Rowton Abbey in Shropshire, further reinforcing its ties to the region where it likely originated.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Rowton families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Rowton 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. Cambridgeshire leads with 22 Rowtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.68x.

County Total Index
Cambridgeshire 22 29.68x
Middlesex 14 1.20x
Warwickshire 14 4.74x
Lancashire 13 0.94x
Kent 11 2.75x
Surrey 8 1.40x
Leicestershire 6 4.62x
Derbyshire 5 2.73x
Lincolnshire 5 2.67x
Denbighshire 4 9.05x
Staffordshire 4 1.01x
Worcestershire 4 2.62x
Devon 2 0.82x
Northamptonshire 2 1.82x
Bedfordshire 1 1.65x
Glamorgan 1 0.49x
Gloucestershire 1 0.44x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.63x
Sussex 1 0.51x
Yorkshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Chatteris in Cambridgeshire leads with 19 Rowtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 1005.29x.

Place Total Index
Chatteris 19 1005.29x
Greenwich 10 53.68x
Hackney London 10 15.24x
Stoke 7 1206.90x
Astley 6 560.75x
Accrington 4 31.67x
Brymbo 4 259.74x
Coventry St Michael 4 42.19x
Dudley 4 21.53x
Epsom 4 143.88x
Leicester St Nicholas 4 547.95x
Burton Upon Trent 3 32.47x
Buxton 3 193.55x
Ewell 3 250.00x
Manchester 3 4.80x
Nuneaton 3 87.72x
Brixham 2 70.92x
Chinley Bugsworth 2 416.67x
Islington London 2 1.76x
Northampton Priory St 2 30.26x
Sutton St Mary 2 112.99x
Bedford St Peter 1 63.69x
Belgrave 1 34.13x
Bulwell 1 29.15x
Doddington 1 185.19x
Folkestone 1 12.90x
Gloucester Barton St 1 74.07x
Great Grimsby 1 8.42x
Holy Trinity Cambridge 1 125.00x
Hornsey 1 6.76x
Leicester St Mary 1 9.54x
Linthorpe 1 14.45x
Louth 1 23.31x
North Somercotes 1 204.08x
Ore 1 68.03x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 4.25x
St Giles In Fields 1 24.75x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 2.39x
Swansea Town 1 5.98x
Wisbech St Peter 1 26.88x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Elizabeth 6
Anna 3
Annie 3
Charlotte 3
Emma 3
Martha 3
Amy 2
Ellen 2
Frances 2
Jane 2
Louisa 2
Margaret 2
Sarah 2
Adelaide 1
Alice 1
Caroline 1
Catherine 1
Eleanor 1
Elen 1
Elenor 1
Ellin 1
Elsie 1
Elvia 1
Emelia 1
Fanny 1
Florence 1
Gladys 1
Jessie 1
Katherine 1
Lilian 1
Lousia 1
Margt. 1
Maria 1
Maude 1
Miriam 1
Rebecca 1
Ruith 1
Taesa 1

Top male names

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

FAQ

Rowton surname: questions and answers

How common was the Rowton surname in 1881?

In 1881, 120 people were recorded with the Rowton surname. That placed it at #17,756 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Rowton surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 90 in 2016. That gives Rowton a modern rank of #32,202.

What does the Rowton surname mean?

An English habitational name denoting someone from a place named Rowton.

What does the Rowton map show?

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