Rowbotham History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
The present generation of the Rowbotham family is only the most recent to bear a name that dates back to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes from having lived in Lancashire where this local surname was derived from the local at the roe-bottom a residence in the depressed ground frequented by deer. Rowbotham is a topographic surname, which was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree.
Early Origins of the Rowbotham family
The surname Rowbotham was first found in Lancashire from very ancient times and were Lords of the Manor of Rowbottom near Ashton-under-Lyne in that shire. Some say they held a family seat there prior to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 A.D.
Early History of the Rowbotham family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rowbotham research. Another 97 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1520, 1560, 1654 and 1710 are included under the topic Early Rowbotham History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Rowbotham Spelling Variations
Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Rowbotham include Robottom, Roebottom, Rowbottom, Rowebottom, Robotham, Roebotham, Rowbotham, Rowebotham, Rowbarton, Roebarton, Rowebarton, Rowbothan, Roebothan, Rowbottam, Rowebottam and many more.
Early Notables of the Rowbotham family
More information is included under the topic Early Rowbotham Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Rowbotham 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:
Rowbotham Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
- Mr. Joseph L. Rowbotham, (b. 1863), aged Infant, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lancashire Witch" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th October 1863 1
- Mrs. Jane Rowbotham, (b. 1833), aged 30, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lancashire Witch" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th October 1863 1
- Mr. Joseph Rowbotham, (b. 1834), aged 29, British farm labourer travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lancashire Witch" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th October 1863 1
- Miss Sarah Jane Rowbotham, (b. 1856), aged 7, British settler travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Lancashire Witch" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 13th October 1863 1
Contemporary Notables of the name Rowbotham (post 1700) +
- Samuel Rowbotham (1816-1884), English inventor and writer
- Joseph Rowbotham (1831-1899), English cricketer
- Thomas William Stevenson Rowbotham (1949-2022), birth name of Tom Owen, a British actor best known for playing Tom Simmonite in the sitcom Last of the Summer Wine
- Thomas Charles Leeson Rowbotham (1823-1875), Irish landscape painter in watercolours from Dublin, son of Thomas Leeson Rowbotham (1783–1853), professor of drawing at the Royal Naval School, New Cross
- Stanley Rowbotham (1890-1979), British anaesthetist
- Sheila Rowbotham (b. 1943), British socialist feminist theorist
- Mike Rowbotham (b. 1989), Canadian amateur wrestler and professional mixed martial arts fighter
- Jason Rowbotham (b. 1969), Welsh footballer
- David Rowbotham (b. 1924), Australian poet and journalist
Historic Events for the Rowbotham family +
HMS Dorsetshire
- Markham Cyril Rowbotham (d. 1945), British Stoker 1st Class aboard the HMS Dorsetshire when she was struck by air bombers and sunk; he died in the sinking 2
- Mr. Harold E. Rowbotham, English Second Waiter from England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 3
Citations +