Contents [hide]

Rowlands History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Ireland United States Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Rowlands History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland
Scotland

The Rowlands surname comes from the Norman personal name Rol(l)an, which derives from the Germanic elements "hrod," meaning "renown," and "land," meaning "territory." Much of the Medieval popularity of this name was as a result of Roland (d. 778), a Frankish military leader under Charlemagne who was defeated at the Battle of Roncevaux Pass in 778. The Song of Roland thought to have been written between 1040 and 1115 is an epic poem based the battle.

Early Origins of the Rowlands family

The surname Rowlands was first found in Bedfordshire (Old English: Bedanfordscir), located in Southeast-central England, formerly part of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia, where a record in the Domesday Book of 1086 lists Rolland as being a landholder in Beeston (Bistone). 1

They were in neighboring Huntingdonshire from the early 12th century. The Domesday Book also lists Ralunt (Rowland) in Derbyshire.

One source states "A baptismal name as in 'the son of Roland.' Roland or Orlando was the nephew of the great Charles, who fell at Roncesvalles." 2 This latter reference is derived from The Miscellaneous Prose Works of Sir Walter Scott (Vol IV) and we shall now provide it in a more complete context. "No reader can have forgotten, that when the decisive battle of Hastings commenced, a Norman minstrel, Taillefer, advanced on horseback before the invading host and gave the signal for onset, by singing the 'Song of Roland,' that renowned nephew of Charlamagne, of whom the chivalry of Charles the Great in the pass of Roncesvalles, has given rise to such clouds of romantic fiction, that its very name has been for ever associated with it. The remarkable passage has been often quoted from the 'Brut of Wace,' an Anglo-Norman metrical chronicle. 'Taillefer, who sung both well and loud, Came mounted on a courser proud; Before the Duke the minstrel sprung. And loud of Charles and Roland sung, Of Oliver and champions mo, Who died at fatal Roncevaux.'"

Early History of the Rowlands family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rowlands research. Another 121 words (9 lines of text) covering the years 1196, 1218, 1221, 1303, 1327, 1500, 1551, 1555, 1565, 1569, 1586, 1599, 1601, 1602, 1606, 1616, 1620, 1621, 1637, 1655, 1660, 1711 and 1723 are included under the topic Early Rowlands History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rowlands Spelling Variations

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

Early Notables of the Rowlands family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Richard Rowlands alias Verstegen (fl. 1565-1620), an English antiquary, born in the parish of St. Catherine, near the Tower of London, was grandson of Theodore Roland Verstegen, of an ancient Dutch fa...
Mary Rowlandson, née White (c. 1637-1711), was a colonial American woman who was captured by Native Americans during King Philip's War and held for 11 weeks before being ransomed. She wrote a book abo...

Rowlands Ranking

In the United States, the name Rowlands is the 13,934^th most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. 3 However, in the United Kingdom, the name Rowlands is ranked the 552^nd most popular surname with an estimated 11,750 people with that name. 4

Migration of the Rowlands family to Ireland

Some of the Rowlands family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rowlands migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Rowlands Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

James Rowlands, who settled in New England in 1774
James Rowlands, aged 29, who landed in New England in 1774 5

Rowlands Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Thomas Rowlands, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1856 5

Rowlands migration to Australia +

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

Rowlands Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Mr. Benjamin Rowlands, English convict who was convicted in Hampshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 6

Rowlands Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Scarth Rowlands, British convict who was convicted in Sadberge, Durham, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Competitor"18th March 1823, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 7
Edward Rowlands, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Seppings" in 1839 8
John Rowlands, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Orleana" in 1840 9
Daniel Rowlands, aged 35, a shepherd, who arrived in South Australia in 1850 aboard the ship "Stag" 10
Mr. William Rowlands, Welsh convict who was convicted in Cardiff, Wales for life, transported aboard the "Clara" on 28th January 1864, arriving in Western Australia, Australia 11

Rowlands 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:

Rowlands Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Joseph Rowlands, (b. 1852), aged 22, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Peter Denny" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 26th July 1874 12
Mr. Thomas Rowlands, (b. 1853), aged 24, Scottish settler travelling from Glasgow aboard the ship "Oamaru" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 13th January 1878, for Bluff 12
Thomas Rowlands, aged 24, a farm labourer, who arrived in Bluff, New Zealand aboard the ship "Oamaru" in 1878
J. Rowlands, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Tongariro" in 1888

Contemporary Notables of the name Rowlands (post 1700) +

Gena Rowlands (b. 1930), American actress of film, stage and television
John Rowlands (1947-2020), English professional footballer who played 399 matches as a defender and a forward
Patsy Rowlands (1934-2005), English actress who is best remembered for her roles in the Carry On films
Clive Rowlands OBE (1938-2023), Welsh rugby union footballer and coach
John Rowlands (1841-1904), birth name of Sir Henry Morton Stanley GCB, a Welsh explorer, journalist, soldier, colonial administrator, author and politician, famous for his exploration of Central Africa and his search for missionary and explorer David Livingstone
Gregory David "Greg" Rowlands (1947-2021), New Zealand rugby union player, member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, on their 1976 tour of South America
Dafydd Rowlands (1931-2001), Welsh Congregational minister, lecturer, writer and poet
William Rowlands (1802-1865), known as Gwylym Lleyn, Welsh bibliographer, son of Thomas and Eleanor Rowlands, born at Bryn Croes, Carnarvonshire
Daneil Rowlands (1713-1790), Welsh Methodist minister, born at Pantybeudy, in the parish of Nantcwnlle, Cardiganshire, second son of the Rev. Daniel Rowlands, rector of Llangeitho and Nantcwnlle
June Rowlands (1925-2017), née Pendock, Canadian politician, 60th Mayor of Toronto, Ontario (1991-1994)
... (Another 6 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Historic Events for the Rowlands family +

Empress of Ireland

Mr. Joseph Samuel Rowlands, British Fireman from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland (1914) and survived the sinking 13

HMAS Sydney II

Mr. Harold Edward Rowlands (1901-1941), Australian Supply Chief Petty Officer from Belmore, New South Wales, Australia, who sailed into battle aboard HMAS Sydney II and died in the sinking 14

HMS Hood

Mr. Daniel J Rowlands (b. 1921), English Marine serving for the Royal Marine from Lichfield, Staffordshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 15

HMS Repulse

Mr. Alfred Rowlands, British Stoker 2ne Class, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 16

HMS Royal Oak

Stanley Rowlands, British Marine with the Royal Marine aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking 17

North Sea Flood

A. P. Rowlands, British traveler aboard the ferry "Princess Victoria" killed in the North Sea Flood, a major storm surge in 1953

Senghenydd colliery

Mr. Edward Rowlands (b. 1865), Welsh coal miner from Caerphilly, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died
Mr. Evan Thomas Rowlands (b. 1893), Welsh coal miner from Abertridwr, Caerphilly, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died
Mr. John Rowlands (b. 1874), Welsh coal miner from Caerphilly, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died
Mr. Samuel Rowlands (b. 1885), Welsh coal miner from Senghenydd, Caerphilly, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died
Mr. William Rowlands (b. 1854), Welsh coal miner from Senghenydd, Caerphilly, Wales who was working at the Senghenydd colliery when there was an explosion on the 14th October 1913; he died

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
"UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
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)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th March 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/competitor
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) SEPPINGS 1839. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1839Seppings.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) ORLEANA 1840. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1840Orleana.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) STAG 1850. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1850Stag.htm
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th February 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/clara
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
HMAS Sydney II, Finding Sydney Foundation - Roll of Honour. (Retrieved 2014, April 24) . Retrieved from http://www.findingsydney.com/roll.asp
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
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html