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

Rowls, 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 Rowls surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rowls in America

Rowls is the 100791st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rowls surname appeared 179 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Rowls.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rowls 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 Rowls

The surname ROWLS has its origins in the medieval period of England, tracing back to the 12th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "rowel," which referred to a small, spiked wheel on a spur. This suggests that the name may have originally been an occupational surname for a maker or seller of spurs.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name ROWLS can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1197, where it appears as "Rowel." This spelling variation highlights the fluid nature of surnames during that time period.

In the 13th century, the name ROWLS appeared in several historical records, including the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it was spelled as "Rowele." This document also mentions a connection to the village of Rowel, indicating that the name may have evolved from a place name in some cases.

The Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the surname ROWLS. However, it does mention the village of Rowel, providing evidence of the name's geographic origins.

Notable individuals who bore the surname ROWLS throughout history include:

1. William ROWLS (c. 1350 - 1415), a prominent landowner in Gloucestershire during the late 14th and early 15th centuries.
2. John ROWLS (c. 1510 - 1582), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the rector of St. Mary's Church in Stratford-upon-Avon.
3. Elizabeth ROWLS (1592 - 1673), a renowned herbalist and apothecary in London, known for her extensive knowledge of medicinal plants.
4. Robert ROWLS (1625 - 1688), a successful merchant and member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London.
5. Sarah ROWLS (1715 - 1790), a notable philanthropist and benefactor who founded several schools and orphanages in her hometown of Bristol.

As the surname ROWLS spread across England and beyond, it underwent various spelling variations, including Rowles, Rowlls, Rowels, and Rowells. These variations often reflected regional dialects and the preferences of individual record-keepers.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rowls

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

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

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

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