This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Rowell family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Rowell Family History

Rowell Surname Meaning

English:: habitational name principally from Rothwell (Yorkshire) but Rothwell in Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire also gave rise to surnames. The placenames derive from Old English roth ‘clearing’ + wella ‘well spring stream’. habitational name from Rowell in Chudleigh (Devon) named with Old English rūh ‘rough’ + hyll ‘hill’.

The name may have been confused with Roll. perhaps a habitational name from Roel (Gloucestershire) or Rowell (Westmorland).

The Gloucestershire placename derives from Old English rā ‘roe roe buck’ + wella ‘well spring stream’ while the Westmorland placename probably derives from Old English rūh ‘rough’ + hol ‘hole hollow’.

perhaps a variant of Roll; see Rolfe.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Rowell family from?

You can see how Rowell families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Rowell family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Rowell families were found in USA in 1880. In 1911 there were 137 Rowell families living in Ontario. This was about 47% of all the recorded Rowell's in Canada. Ontario had the highest population of Rowell families in 1911.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Rowell surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Rowell ancestors do for a living?

In 1921, Farmer and Income were the top reported jobs for men and women in the Canada named Rowell. 51% of Rowell men worked as a Farmer and 25% of Rowell women worked as an Income. Some less common occupations for Americans named Rowell were Miner and Farmer.

View Census Data for Rowell | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1921

  • Farmer
    51%
  • Manager
    6%
  • Labourer
    6%
  • Miner
    5%

Top Female Occupations In 1921

  • Income
    25%
  • Student
    25%
  • Saleslady
    17%
  • Farmer
    17%

What Rowell family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 114,000 census records available for the last name Rowell. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Rowell census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search Canadian census records for Rowell

Passenger Lists

There are 10,000 immigration records available for the last name Rowell. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in Canada, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Rowell immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 20,000 military records available for the last name Rowell. For the veterans among your Rowell ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Rowell military records

You've only scratched the surface of Rowell family history

Discover More

What is the average Rowell lifespan?

Between 1945 and 2004, in the United States, Rowell life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1951, and highest in 1999. The average life expectancy for Rowell in 1945 was 47, and 73 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Rowell

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Rowell ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Rowell family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial