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

Rowse, 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 Rowse surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rowse in America

Rowse is the 32031st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rowse surname appeared 720 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 Rowse.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rowse 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 Rowse

The surname Rowse originated in England, with its earliest known records dating back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English word "rowse," which means "a rough, coarse person." The name likely referred to someone with a gruff or uncouth demeanor.

In the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1279, there is a record of a person named John Rowse. This is one of the earliest documented instances of the surname. Similarly, in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk from 1327, a Walter Rowse is mentioned.

The name Rowse is also closely linked to various place names in England. For instance, Rowse in Wiltshire is an old village that dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was recorded as "Rowese." This suggests that the surname may have originated from this locality.

One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Rowse was John Rowse (c. 1470-1538), an English clergyman and scholar who served as the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Cambridge from 1506 to 1507.

Another prominent figure was Samuel Rowse (1570-1632), a renowned English clergyman and author who wrote several religious works, including "The Scholar's Guide" and "The Soules Preparative to Prayer."

In the 18th century, Thomas Rowse (1709-1788) was a successful merchant and benefactor from Cornwall. He made significant contributions to the town of Stratton, including the construction of a school and almshouses.

One of the most celebrated individuals with the surname Rowse was A.L. Rowse (1903-1997), a renowned English historian, author, and poet. He wrote extensively on various topics, including Shakespearean studies, and was elected a Fellow of the British Academy in 1958.

Another notable figure was Trevor Rowse (1920-1998), an English actor and playwright. He had a successful career in theater and television, appearing in various productions by the Royal Shakespeare Company and the BBC.

The surname Rowse, with its origins rooted in Old English and its links to various place names, has a rich history that spans several centuries. Its bearers have contributed significantly to various fields, including academia, literature, religion, and the performing arts.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rowse

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

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

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

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