Rowland History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 
  Ireland 
  Scotland 


The Rowland 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 Rowland family

The surname Rowland 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 Rowland family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rowland 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 Rowland History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rowland Spelling Variations

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

Early Notables of the Rowland family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

Rowland World Ranking

In the United States, the name Rowland is the 838th most popular surname with an estimated 34,818 people with that name. 3 However, in Australia, the name Rowland is ranked the 845th most popular surname with an estimated 4,670 people with that name. 4 And in New Zealand, the name Rowland is the 857th popular surname with an estimated 856 people with that name. 5 The United Kingdom ranks Rowland as 553rd with 11,738 people. 6

Migration of the Rowland family to Ireland

Some of the Rowland 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.


Rowland migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Rowland Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Rowland Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Rowland Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Rowland migration to Australia +

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

Rowland Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Rowland 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:

Rowland Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Rowland migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. 15
Rowland Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Rowland (post 1700) +


Suggested Readings for the name Rowland +
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