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

Rowsey, 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 Rowsey surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Rowsey in America

Rowsey is the 21403rd most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Rowsey surname appeared 1,222 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 Rowsey.

We can also compare 2010 data for Rowsey 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 Rowsey

The surname Rowsey is believed to have originated in England, possibly in the 12th or 13th century. It is thought to be derived from a place name, likely a location where the first bearers of the name resided or were born. One theory suggests that it may be related to the Old English words "row" or "rau," meaning rough or untamed, and "ey," meaning an island or piece of land surrounded by water or marsh.

Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in medieval records and documents. For example, a William Rowsey is mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1199. Another early reference is found in the Feet of Fines for Lincolnshire in 1218, which records a Roger de Rouseia.

The spelling of the name has evolved over time, with variations such as Rowsy, Rousey, and Rousy appearing in historical records. These variations may have been influenced by local dialects or the preferences of scribes who recorded the name.

One notable individual with the surname Rowsey was John Rowse or Rowsey (c. 1608-1671), an English clergyman and scholar who served as a chaplain to King Charles I during the English Civil War. Another was Thomas Rowse or Rowsey (fl. 1583-1598), an English translator and poet who is known for his translation of Pedro de Mexía's "Silva de Varia Lección" into English.

In the 17th century, a branch of the Rowsey family settled in the American colonies, with records showing a William Rowsey in Virginia in 1635. Later, a Richard Rowsey (1674-1732) was a prominent landowner and planter in Maryland.

Other notable individuals with the surname include Sir William Rowse or Rowsey (c. 1560-1632), an English politician and Member of Parliament, and John Rowse or Rowsey (1701-1787), an English clergyman and author from Cornwall.

The Rowsey name has been present in various parts of England over the centuries, with concentrations in counties such as Staffordshire, Lincolnshire, and Cornwall, among others. While not a particularly common surname, it has a long and storied history, with bearers of the name contributing to various fields, including religion, literature, and politics.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Rowsey

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

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

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

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