Show ContentsRowlinson History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Rowlinson family

The surname Rowlinson was first found in Ayrshire (Gaelic: Siorrachd Inbhir Àir), formerly a county in the southwestern Strathclyde region of Scotland, that today makes up the Council Areas of South, East, and North Ayrshire, where they held a family seat from early times and their first records appeared on the early census rolls taken by the early Kings of Scotland to determine the rate of taxation of their subjects.

Richard Rollison is the fictional wealthy bachelor living in a Mayfair flat at 22 Gresham Terrace, nicknamed the Toff, by John Creasey (1908-1973) in his 60 Toff adevntures.

Early History of the Rowlinson family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rowlinson research. Another 139 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1184, 1196, 1296, 1555 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Rowlinson History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rowlinson Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Rolland, Roland, Rowland, Rowlands, Rowlandson, Rolan and many more.

Early Notables of the Rowlinson family

Another 39 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Rowlinson Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Ireland Migration of the Rowlinson family to Ireland

Some of the Rowlinson 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.


United States Rowlinson migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Rowlinson Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Rob Rowlinson, who arrived in Virginia in 1651 [1]
  • John Rowlinson, who landed in Virginia in 1652 [1]
  • William Rowlinson, who landed in Maryland in 1677 [1]
Rowlinson Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Kitty Rowlinson, aged 26, who immigrated to the United States from London, England, in 1907
  • Geo. Henry Rowlinson, aged 56, who landed in America from Cinderford, England, in 1908
  • Cyril B. F. Rowlinson, aged 27, who immigrated to the United States from Streatham, England, in 1909
  • Emily Rowlinson, aged 1, who landed in America from Nottingham, England, in 1922
  • Florence Rowlinson, aged 30, who immigrated to America from Nottingham, England, in 1922
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Rowlinson migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Rowlinson Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Mary Rowlinson, aged 32, who immigrated to Toronto, Canada, in 1921

Australia Rowlinson migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Rowlinson Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

New Zealand Rowlinson migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Rowlinson Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Thomas Rowlinson, (b. 1844), aged 30, British settler travelling from England aboard the ship "Varuna" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 27th May 1874 [4]
  • Mrs. Emelia Rowlinson, (b. 1851), aged 23, British settler travelling from England aboard the ship "Varuna" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 27th May 1874 [4]

Contemporary Notables of the name Rowlinson (post 1700) +

  • John Shipley Rowlinson (b. 1926), British chemist, recipient of the Faraday Lectureship Prize (1983)
  • Norman Rowlinson (1923-2006), English football chairman of Crewe Alexandra
  • Daniel Rowlinson Ratcliff (1837-1923), English lock and safe manufacturer and a Liberal politician


  1. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  2. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 24th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barossa
  3. South Australian Register Tuesday 15 November 1853. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Olivia 1857. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/olivia1853.shtml
  4. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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