Show ContentsRowan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The illustrious surname Rowan is classified as a habitation surname, which was originally derived from a place-name, and is one form of surname belonging to a broader group called hereditary surnames. Habitation names were derived from pre-existing names for towns, villages, parishes, or farmsteads. Topographic names, form the other broad category of surnames that was given to a person who resided near a physical feature such as a hill, stream, church, or type of tree.

Other local names are derived from the names of houses, manors, estates, regions, and entire counties. As a general rule, the greater the distance between an individual and their homeland, the larger the territory they were named after. For example, a person who only moved to another parish would be known by the name of their original village, while people who migrated to a different country were often known by the name of a region or country from which they came. Rowan is a place-name from in Rouen, the capital of Normandy. The surname was derived from the Viscountcy of Rohan, in Brittany, in France. As a local name, it could also have been derived from the local at the rowan which referred to a residence beside a rowan-tree. Habitation names were derived from the name of the town, village or hamlet where the person originally lived.

Early Origins of the Rowan family

The surname Rowan was first found in Durham where they held a family seat from very early times and were granted lands by Duke William of Normandy, their liege Lord, for their distinguished assistance at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Rowan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Rowan research. Another 83 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1350, 1366, 1393, 1618, 1639, 1692 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Rowan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rowan Spelling Variations

Since the Old and Middle English languages lacked definite spelling rules, Breton surnames have many spelling variations. Latin and French, which were the official court languages, were also influential on the spelling of surnames. The spelling of surnames was rarely consistent in medieval times, and scribes and church officials recorded names as they sounded rather than adhering to any specific spelling rules. Therefore, it was common to find the same individual referred to with different spellings of their surname in the ancient chronicles. Moreover, a large number of foreign names were brought into England after the Norman Conquest, which accelerated and accentuated the alterations to the spelling of various surnames. The name has been spelled Roan, Rohan, Roohan, Rome, Rowan and others.

Early Notables of the Rowan family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was William Rougham (died 1393), the second master of Gonville Hall, Cambridge. He had been a fellow of the college since the 1350s...
Another 29 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Rowan Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Rowan Ranking

In the United States, the name Rowan is the 2,029th most popular surname with an estimated 14,922 people with that name. 1

Migration of the Rowan family to Ireland

Some of the Rowan family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 112 words (8 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Rowan migration to the United States +

Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America carried the name Rowan, or a variant listed above:

Rowan Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Margaret Rowan, who arrived in New Jersey in 1685 2
Rowan Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Matthew Rowan, who landed in Cape Fear, North Carolina in 1739 2
  • John Rowan, who landed in North Carolina in 1747 2
  • Margaret Rowan, who settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1767 with her husband Robert
Rowan Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • James Rowan, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1816 2
  • Mary Rowan, who landed in New York, NY in 1816 2
  • Samuel Rowan, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1826 2
  • Maurice Rowan, aged 21, who arrived in New York in 1854 2
  • Andrew, Denis, Edmond, Henry, James, John, Patrick, Thomas, and William Rowan all, who arrived in Philadelphia between 1840 and 1870

Rowan migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Rowan Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • James Rowan, aged 20, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the brig "Dorcas Savage" from Belfast, Ireland
  • Mr. Luke Rowan, aged 30 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "John Munn" departing from the port of Liverpool, England but died on Grosse Isle in September 1847 3
  • Mr. Michael Rowan, aged 30 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "James Moran" departing 22nd May 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 11th July 1847 but he died on board 4
  • Mr. Thomas Rowan, aged 19 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Emigrant" departing 11th August 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 3rd October 1847 but he died on board 4

Rowan migration to Australia +

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

Rowan Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Michael Rowan, English convict from London, who was transported aboard the "Anson" on September 23, 1843, settling in Van Diemen's Land, Australia 5
  • Mr. Michael Rowan, (b. 1822), aged 22, Irish farmer who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Cadet" on 9th April 1844, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 6
  • Miss Mary Ann Rowan, (b. 1831), aged 20, Irish house maid who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Blackfriar" on 24th January 1851, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 7
  • Anne Rowan, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Condor" in 1851 8
  • Thomas Rowan, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Condor" in 1851 8
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Rowan 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:

Rowan Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Rowan, (b. 1825), aged 49, Scottish powerloom manager, from Lanark travelling from Greenock aboard the ship "Nelson" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 31st December 1874 9
  • Mrs. Agnes Rowan, (b. 1827), aged 47, Scottish settler, from Lanark travelling from Greenock aboard the ship "Nelson" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 31st December 1874 9
  • Miss Jane Rowan, (b. 1847), aged 27, Scottish seamstress, from Lanark travelling from Greenock aboard the ship "Nelson" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 31st December 1874 9
  • Miss Ann Rowan, (b. 1849), aged 25, Scottish weaver, from Lanark travelling from Greenock aboard the ship "Nelson" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 31st December 1874 9
  • Miss Betsy Rowan, (b. 1853), aged 21, Scottish weaver, from Lanark travelling from Greenock aboard the ship "Nelson" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 31st December 1874 9
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Contemporary Notables of the name Rowan (post 1700) +

  • Henry Rowan (1923-2015), American philanthropist and engineer, eponym of Rowan University, New Jersey
  • Brigadier-General Hugh Williamson Rowan (1894-1973), American Chemical Officer US European Theater of Operations (1942-1945) 10
  • Matthew Rowan (d. 1760), American politician, acting Colonial Governor of North Carolina from 1753 to 1754
  • Louis R. Rowan (1911-1988), American businessman and Thoroughbred racehorse owner and breeder
  • Daniel Hale "Dan" Rowan (1922-1987), American Primetime Emmy Award winning comedian, best known for his work on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
  • Stephen Clegg Rowan (1805-1890), Irish-born, American admiral in the United States Navy who served during the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War, eponym of the USS Rowan, a torpedo boat, USS Rowan (DD-782), and the USS Rowan (DD-405), destroyers
  • Carl T Rowan (b. 1925), American journalist and author, U.S. ambassador to Finland (1963-1964)
  • Andrew Summers Rowan (1857-1943), American Army officer who served as the liaison between the United States and Cuban rebels led by General Calixto García during the Spanish American War 11
  • Peter Rowan (b. 1942), American bluegrass, country musician
  • Carl Thomas Rowan (1925-2000), American politician, U.S. Ambassador to Finland, 1963-64 12
  • ... (Another 32 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Empress of Ireland
  • Mr. William Henry Rowan, British Assistant Steward from United Kingdom who worked aboard the Empress of Ireland (1914) and survived the sinking 13
RMS Lusitania
  • Mr. Fred Rowan, Irish Fireman from Liverpool, England, who worked aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 14


  1. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  2. 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)
  3. 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. 54)
  4. 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)
  5. State Library of Queensland. (Retrieved 2015, January 8) Anson voyage to Van Diemen's Land, Australia in 1843 with 499 passengers. Retrieved from http://www.convictrecords.com.au/ships/anson/1843
  6. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 17th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/cadet/
  7. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 13th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/blackfriar
  8. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) CONDOR 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Condor.htm
  9. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  10. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2014, March 26) Hugh Rowan. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Rowan/Hugh_Williamson/USA.html
  11. Andrew Rowan. (Retrieved 2010, September 27) Andrew Rowan. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andrew_Summers_Rowan
  12. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 10) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  13. Commemoration Empress of Ireland 2014. (Retrieved 2014, June 17) . Retrieved from http://www.empress2014.ca/seclangen/listepsc1.html
  14. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 7) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/


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