Find out how popular the last name Rowe is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Rowe.

Rowe, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Rowe surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rowe in America

Rowe is the 478th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rowe surname appeared 69,879 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 24 people would have the surname Rowe.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rowe to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Rowe

The surname Rowe originates from England, with its roots traced back to the late 11th century. It is derived from the Old English word "row," meaning a row or line of houses or buildings. This suggests that the name was initially given to someone who lived in a row of dwellings or along a particular street.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Rowe can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Rowa." This comprehensive survey, commissioned by William the Conqueror, provides valuable insights into the distribution and prevalence of surnames across various regions of England.

During the Middle Ages, the name Rowe was particularly common in the counties of Oxfordshire, Worcestershire, and Gloucestershire. Records from this period often feature variations in spelling, such as Rowe, Roe, Roo, and Roo. These variations were common due to the lack of standardized spelling conventions at the time.

One notable bearer of the name Rowe was Sir Thomas Rowe (1492-1570), a prominent English judge and Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Another distinguished figure was Owen Rowe (1618-1686), an English Puritan minister and author who played a significant role in the religious and political landscape of the 17th century.

In the 18th century, the name Rowe gained further prominence with the playwright and poet Nicholas Rowe (1674-1718). His most notable works include the tragedies "The Fair Penitent" and "Jane Shore," as well as translations of Lucan's "Pharsalia" and plays by Sophocles.

Another influential figure bearing the surname Rowe was John Rowe (1764-1832), an English Nonconformist minister and author. He was a prominent figure in the Wesleyan Methodist movement and wrote extensively on theological topics.

The Rowe surname also found its way across the Atlantic, with notable bearers in the United States, such as Thomas Rowe (1786-1838), a prominent lawyer and judge from Virginia who served as a United States Representative and Senator.

These examples illustrate the long and rich history of the surname Rowe, which has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, including legal professionals, religious leaders, writers, and politicians. The name's origins can be traced back to the early days of England, and its evolution over the centuries reflects the changing linguistic and cultural landscape of the regions where it was prevalent.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rowe

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Rowe.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Rowe was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Rowe has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Rowe was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Rowe, please contact us.

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