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Show ContentsRowe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The Norman Conquest of England in 1066 brought many new words to England from which surnames were formed. Rowe was one of these new Norman names. It was specifically tailored to its first bearer, who was a person with red hair. Looking back even further, we found the name was originally derived from the Old French nickname le rous, meaning redhead. [1] Further to the north in Scotland, the name has a different meaning, specifically "row, signifies a low, small, narrow peninsula." [2]

Early Origins of the Rowe family

The surname Rowe was first found in Norfolk where Turchil le Roux was granted lands by King William after his attendance upon him at Hastings. His son Ralph the Red (Roux) went with King Henry to the Crusades and held the Castle of Pont-echanfre near Bernai in Vexin Normandy. He died in the wreck of the "Blanche Neuf" with the King's two sons and their estates became divided. [3]

Peter Rowe (died c.1401) was an Irish jurist who held the office of Lord Chief Justice of Ireland intermittently between 1388 and 1397. Whilehe was born in Ireland, he is thought to have been born to a family which was of English origin, but which had long been settled in Ireland.

In Somerset, England "Leighland, in the parish of Old Cleeve, was the property of the Poyntz family. From them it descended to the Rowes, in the reign of William III. John Rowe, as I learn from the parish register of Arlington, married Ursula Chi chester, on 25th November, 1697, yet left no issue; but to him William Widdicombe, Esq., devised his estate of Bickham, adjoining. Robert Rowe, the nephew of the said John, married Prudence Chichester, 15th August, 1706, and had several children; one of them, Elizabeth, became the wife of John Needham, of Hilston, county Monmouth." [4]

Early History of the Rowe family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rowe research. Another 119 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1368, 1426, 1441, 1477, 1525, 1559, 1580, 1581, 1592, 1595, 1607, 1626, 1640, 1641, 1644, 1654, 1657, 1661, 1672, 1674, 1677, 1705, 1715, 1717, 1718, 1719, 1737, 1747 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Rowe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rowe Spelling Variations

A multitude of spelling variations characterize Norman surnames. Many variations occurred because Old and Middle English lacked any definite spelling rules. The introduction of Norman French to England also had a pronounced effect, as did the court languages of Latin and French. Therefore, one person was often referred to by several different spellings in a single lifetime. The various spellings include Rowe, Roe, Row and others.

Early Notables of the Rowe family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • Sir Thomas Roe (c. 1581-1644), an English diplomat, chancellor of the Order of the Garter; Sir Thomas Rowe, Lord Mayor of London in 1559; Owen Rowe, (c. 1592-1661), English haberdasher in London, one...
  • John Rowe (1525-1580), was a Scottish reformer, "descended from a family supposed to have been of English origin." His third son, John Rowe (1525-1580), was historian of the kirk of Scotland and his s...

Rowe World Ranking

In the United States, the name Rowe is the 379th most popular surname with an estimated 72,123 people with that name. [5] However, in Canada, the name Rowe is ranked the 558th most popular surname with an estimated 8,762 people with that name. [6] And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Rowe is the 78th popular surname with an estimated 354 people with that name. [7] Australia ranks Rowe as 148th with 19,610 people. [8] New Zealand ranks Rowe as 132nd with 3,526 people. [9] The United Kingdom ranks Rowe as 245th with 24,481 people. [10]

Ireland Migration of the Rowe family to Ireland

Some of the Rowe family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 68 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 Rowe migration to the United States +

Many English families left England, to avoid the chaos of their homeland and migrated to the many British colonies abroad. Although the conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and some travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute, once in the colonies, many of the families prospered and made valuable contributions to the cultures of what would become the United States and Canada. Research into the origins of individual families in North America has revealed records of the immigration of a number of people bearing the name Rowe or a variant listed above:

Rowe Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Mary Rowe, who landed in Virginia in 1620 [11]
  • Mr. Nicholas Rowe, who arrived in Virginia aboard the ship "Elizabeth" in 1621 [12]
  • Mary Rowe and her husband settled in Virginia in 1624
  • Henry Rowe, who settled in Boston in 1630
  • Nathaniel Rowe, who arrived in Boston aboard the ship "Hector" in 1637 [12]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Rowe Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Jacob Rowe, who arrived in Virginia in 1758 [11]
Rowe Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Frederick Rowe, who arrived in Maryland in 1804 [11]
  • Peter Rowe, aged 23, who arrived in New York in 1812 [11]
  • Robert Rowe, aged 32, who landed in New York in 1812 [11]
  • Pierce Rowe, who settled in Charleston in 1820
  • George Rowe, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1834 [11]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Rowe Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Mr. John C. Rowe, (b. 1876), aged 24, Cornish labourer travelling aboard the ship "New York" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 5th May 1900 en route to Nebraska, USA [13]
  • Mr. Philip Rowe, (b. 1897), aged 4, American returning from Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Oceanic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 10th July 1901 en route to Butte, Montana, USA [13]
  • Mr. Nicholas Rowe, (b. 1861), aged 40, Cornish coachman, from St Austell, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Celtic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 26th July 1901 en route to Syracuse, New York, USA [13]
  • Mrs. Kate Rowe, (b. 1867), aged 34, American returning from Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Oceanic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 10th July 1901 en route to Butte, Montana, USA [13]
  • Miss Idean Rowe, (b. 1899), aged 2, American returning from Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Oceanic" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 10th July 1901 en route to Montana, USA [13]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Rowe migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Rowe Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Sgt. John Rowe U.E. who settled in Home District [York County], Ontario c. 1786 he served in Butlers Rangers [14]
Rowe Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Mary Rowe, aged 21, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "Perceval" from Plymouth, England
  • Mr. Thomas Rowe, aged 3 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Jessie" departing 18th April 1847 from Limerick, Ireland; the ship arrived on 26th June 1847 but he died on board [15]
  • Mr. Thomas Rowe who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Marchioness of Abercorn" departing 15th June 1847 from Londonderry, Ireland; the ship arrived on 5th August 1847 but he died on board [15]

Australia Rowe migration to Australia +

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

Rowe Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
  • Mr. John Rowe (b. 1757), aged 28, Cornish settler convicted in Launceston, Cornwall, UK 19th March 1785, sentenced for 7 years for stealing 2 cloth coats from a dwelling, valued at 67 shillings, transported aboard the ship "Scarborough" on 13th May 1787 to New South Wales, Australia [16]
  • Mr. William Rowe (b. 1755), aged 30, Cornish settler convicted in Launceston, Cornwall, UK 19th March 1784, sentenced for 7 years for stealing a bag and money from Benjamin Odgers, transported aboard the ship "Scarborough" on 13th May 1787 to New South Wales, Australia [16]
Rowe Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Miss Ann Rowe, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Broxbournebury" in January 1814, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [17]
  • Mr. James Rowe(b. 1804), aged 21, Cornish settler convicted in Cornwall, UK on 21st March 1825, sentenced for 7 years for housebreaking and stealing part of a fowl and 2 pieces of pork, transported aboard the ship "Midas" on 7th October 1826 to New South Wales, Australia [16]
  • Mr. Richard Rowe(b. 1808), aged 21, Cornish settler convicted in Cornwall, UK on 25th March 1828, sentenced for life for housebreaking, transported aboard the ship "York" on 30th April 1829 to Van Diemen's Land, Tasmania, Australia [16]
  • Mr. Hannibal Rowe (b. 1815), aged 19, Cornish settler convicted in Cornwall, UK on 27th March 1834, sentenced for 7 years for stealing money from William Harris and other unknown persons, transported aboard the ship "Augusta Jessie" on 27th September 1834 to Van Diemen's Land, Tasmania, Australia [18]
  • Mr. Hannibal Rowe, English convict who was convicted in Cornwall, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Augusta Jessie" on 27 September 1834, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [19]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Rowe 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:

Rowe Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • William Rowe, aged 39, a labourer, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Gertrude" in 1841 [20]
  • Frances Rowe, aged 38, who arrived in Port Nicholson aboard the ship "Gertrude" in 1841 [20]
  • Mr. Rowe, Australian settler travelling from Sydney aboard the ship "Earl of Lonsdale" arriving in Bay of Islands, North Island, New Zealand on 11th April 1841 [21]
  • Anthony Rowe, aged 21, who arrived in Nelson, New Zealand aboard the ship "Olympus" in 1842
  • Mr. Henry Rowe, British settler arriving as Detachment of the Royal New Zealand Fencibles travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Sir George Symour" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 26th November 1847 [22]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Rowe (post 1700) +

  • John William Rowe (1945-2022), American attorney and energy executive, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Exelon Corporation, a utility holding company headquartered in Chicago
  • Donald "Dee" Rowe (1929-2021), American college basketball coach for the UConn Huskies men's team, born in Worcester, Massachusetts
  • Hansford Rowe (1924-2017), American character actor, known for his roles in Three Days of the Condor, Dante's Peak, The Bonfire of the Vanities
  • William Leonard Rowe (1931-2015), American professor emeritus of philosophy at Purdue University
  • Brigadier-General Guy Ichabod Rowe (1886-1969), American Commanding Officer Jeffersonville Quartermaster Depot (1944-1945) [23]
  • John Rowe (1715-1787), early American property developer and merchant
  • James Nicholas "Nick" Rowe (1938-1989), United States Army officer who escaped captivity during the Vietnam War, recipient of the Silver Star, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star - 2, Purple Heart - 2 and many other distinctions
  • Dave Rowe (1854-1930), American Major League Baseball center fielder
  • Thomas Rowe, American Professor of pharmacology at the University of Florida
  • Misty Rowe (b. 1952), American actress
  • ... (Another 101 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
HMAS Sydney II
  • Mr. James Ronald Jack Rowe (1907-1941), Australian Telegraphist from South Bunbury, Western Australia, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking [24]
  • Mr. Allan Lawrence Rowe (1914-1941), Australian Able Seaman from Shenton Park, Western Australia, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking [24]
  • Mr. Lindsay Thomas Rowe (1923-1941), Australian Stoker 2nd Class from Seddon, Victoria, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking [24]
HMS Hood
  • Mr. Stanley G S Rowe (b. 1923), English Marine serving for the Royal Marine from Manchester, Lancashire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking [25]
HMS Prince of Wales
HMS Repulse
  • Mr. Eric Rowland Rowe, British Lieutenant "E", who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking [27]
  • Mr. Cyril Leslie Rowe (1909-1942), British Chief Engine Room Artificer, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse and survived the sinking, but was listed as missing presumed killed in the evacuation of Singapore in 1942 [27]
  • Mr. Herbert William Henwood Rowe, British Joiner 2nd Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking [27]
RMS Lusitania
  • Mr. John Rowe, English Trimmer from Bootle, Lancashire, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and died in the sinking [28]
RMS Titanic
  • Mr. Edward M. Rowe (d. 1912), aged 31, English Saloon 1st Class Steward from Southampton, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking [29]
  • Mr. George Thomas Rowe, aged 32, English Quartermaster from Gosport, Hampshire who worked aboard the RMS Titanic and survived the sinking escaping on collapsible C [29]
  • Mr. Alfred G. Rowe (d. 1912), aged 59, English First Class passenger from Liverpool, Merseyside who sailed aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking and was recovered by CS Mackay-Bennett [29]
SS Atlantic
  • John Rowe, Irish traveler aboard the ship "SS Atlantic" when it struck rocks off Nova Scotia in 1873, died in the sinking
SS Caribou
  • Mr. Hedley John Rowe, Newfoundland passenger who was Royal Navy from Newfoundland and Labrador was travelling aboard the railway ferry "SS Caribou" when it was struck by a German submarine torpedo on 14th October 1942, the most significant sinking in Canadian waters at that time, he died in the sinking
USS Arizona
  • Mr. Eugene Joseph Rowe, American Seaman First Class from New Jersey, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking [30]

The Rowe Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Innocens non timidus
Motto Translation: Innocent but not fearful.

Suggested Readings for the name Rowe +

  • The Marriage of Catherine & David: a History of Southwestern Pennsylvania Families by LaVonne R. Hanlon.
  • The Families of Johann Martin Rau and Johann Conrad Bohne by Nancy Ann Dietrich.
  1. Barber, Henry, British Family Names London: Elliot Stock, 62 Paternoster Row, 1894. Print.
  2. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  3. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  4. Oliver, George, Collections Illustrating the History of the Catholic Religion in the Counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset, Somerset, Wilts, and Gloucester London: Charles Dolman, 61, New Bond Street, 1857. Print
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  6. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  7. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  8. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  9. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  10. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  11. 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)
  12. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  13. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
  14. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  15. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 94)
  16. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 30th May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_convicts.pdf
  17. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 3rd November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/broxbournebury
  18. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 30th May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_convicts.pdf
  19. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th August 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/augusta-jessie
  20. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 12th December 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  21. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  22. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  23. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2014, March 26) Guy Rowe. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Rowe/Guy_Ichabod/USA.html
  24. HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
  25. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
  26. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  27. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
  28. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/
  29. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
  30. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html
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