Show ContentsRowlee History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Rowlee family

The surname Rowlee was first found in Cheshire where the family claim to be of Saxon blood but the earliest record of the name was in the time of Edward II., when Randolph de Rowley was seated at Carmichan. 1

The name could have been Norman in origin too. "Roulat is now rather rare in France; but Roulet (and Roullet) and Roulot are fairly common." 2

There are also parishes named Rowley in Yorkshire and Staffordshire. The Assize Rolls of Yorkshire list Adam de Ruelay in 1219 3 and the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list Adam de Roulay in Yorkshire. There was a significant branch in Somerset as seen by Gervase Rolegh and John Roley who were listed there during the reign of Edward I. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls lists Johannes de Rouley in 1379. 4

Early History of the Rowlee family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rowlee research. Another 158 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1513, 1547, 1559, 1560, 1571, 1585, 1626, 1633, 1642, 1648, 1690, 1710, 1768, 1775 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Rowlee History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rowlee Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Rowley, Rowly and others.

Early Notables of the Rowlee family

Distinguished members of the family include Sir Ralph Rowlett (c. 1513-1571), of Holywell House, St. Albans, Hertfordshire, an English politician, Member of the Parliament for Hertfordshire in 1547, High Sheriff of Essex and Hertfordshire (1559-1560); William Rowley (c. 1585-1642), an English dramatist, known for works written in...
Another 47 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Rowlee Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Rowlee family to Ireland

Some of the Rowlee family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 66 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Rowlee family

Some of the first settlers of this family name or some of its variants were: John Rowley settled in Barbados in 1686; along with Joseph; David, George, Henry, Samuel, Thomas and William Rowley all arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1870..



  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)


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