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

Rowles, 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 Rowles surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rowles in America

Rowles is the 9846th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rowles surname appeared 3,286 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Rowles.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rowles 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 Rowles

The surname Rowles originated in England during the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "rowel," which referred to a small spiked wheel used to control horses. This suggests that the name may have originally been an occupational surname for someone who worked with horses, perhaps a farrier or a stable hand.

The earliest recorded instance of the name Rowles dates back to the 13th century in Warwickshire, England. In the Hundred Rolls of 1273, a record of landowners and taxpayers, the name is listed as "Rowel." This spelling variation indicates the name's connection to the Old English term.

During the 14th century, the name appears in various records across different counties in England. In the Subsidy Rolls of 1332, there is an entry for a "Roger Rowel" in Oxfordshire. Additionally, in the Poll Tax Returns of 1379, a "John Rowles" is listed in Yorkshire.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Rowles was William Rowles, who was born in Staffordshire, England, in the late 15th century. He was a renowned scholar and theologian, serving as a fellow at Magdalen College, Oxford.

In the 16th century, the Rowles family established themselves in Gloucestershire, where they owned land and properties. A notable member of this branch was Sir Samuel Rowles (1577-1628), a Member of Parliament and High Sheriff of Gloucestershire.

The Rowles name also has connections to place names in England. In the village of Rowley Regis, Staffordshire, the name is believed to have evolved from the Old English words "row" and "leah," meaning a clearing in a row or line of trees.

Other notable individuals with the surname Rowles include Sir William Rowles (1617-1688), an English lawyer and politician who served as Solicitor-General during the reign of Charles II, and John Rowles (1936-2018), a renowned New Zealand singer and actor.

Throughout its history, the Rowles surname has been associated with various occupations, from scholars and politicians to artists and skilled tradesmen, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of its bearers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rowles

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

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 Rowles 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 Rowles 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 Rowles was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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