Rowland
What is the origin of the last name Rowland?
Meaning and origin
The last name Rowland originates from the medieval English given name "Roland," which was introduced to Britain by the Normans. Derived from the Germanic elements "hrod," meaning "renown," and "land," meaning "land," it denoted a person of great fame or glory. The name gradually evolved over time, and the variant "Rowland" emerged as a patronymic surname, indicating "son of Rowland."
The longer story
The last name Rowland is of English origin. It is a variant spelling of the surname Roland, which is derived from the given name Roland.
The surname Rowland is not extremely common, but it has been in use for quite some time. It can be found in various records and documents from different periods of history.
Historically, the surname Rowland has been associated with various occupations. This occupation was particularly important in the textile industry during that time.
Surname origins are rarely settled: one spelling can have several sources, and families often took a name for reasons nobody wrote down. Check it against the sources below before you rely on it.
Similar spellings
#993
Rowland was the 993rd most common surname in the 2010 US Census, with 35,121 people, about 12 in every 100,000.
Who carries it
Surnames like Rowland
Names it is linked with, then names with the same origin and a similar standing.
Check the sources
- Forebears: where Rowland is found around the world
- The Internet Surname Database: a second opinion on the origin
- US Census Bureau: the 2010 surname figures used here
For a name you are serious about, compare the dictionaries: Reaney and Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames; Hanks, Dictionary of American Family Names.