Rowley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 
  Ireland 


Early Origins of the Rowley family

The surname Rowley was first found in Cheshire where the family claim to be of Saxon blood but the earliest record of the name was in the time of Edward II., when Randolph de Rowley was seated at Carmichan. 1

The name could have been Norman in origin too. "Roulat is now rather rare in France; but Roulet (and Roullet) and Roulot are fairly common." 2

There are also parishes named Rowley in Yorkshire and Staffordshire. The Assize Rolls of Yorkshire list Adam de Ruelay in 1219 3 and the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 list Adam de Roulay in Yorkshire. There was a significant branch in Somerset as seen by Gervase Rolegh and John Roley who were listed there during the reign of Edward I. The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls lists Johannes de Rouley in 1379. 4

Early History of the Rowley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rowley research. Another 158 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1513, 1547, 1559, 1560, 1571, 1585, 1626, 1633, 1642, 1648, 1690, 1710, 1768, 1775 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Rowley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rowley Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Rowley, Rowly and others.

Early Notables of the Rowley family

Distinguished members of the family include

Rowley World Ranking

In the United States, the name Rowley is the 2,267th most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. 5 However, in Australia, the name Rowley is ranked the 877th most popular surname with an estimated 4,508 people with that name. 6 And in the United Kingdom, the name Rowley is the 490th popular surname with an estimated 13,197 people with that name. 7

Migration of the Rowley family to Ireland

Some of the Rowley 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.


Rowley migration to the United States +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Rowley Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Rowley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Rowley migration to Australia +

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

Rowley Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
Rowley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Rowley 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:

Rowley Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Rowley 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
Rowley Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Rowley (post 1700) +


Suggested Readings for the name Rowley +
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