Surname Rowlett - Meaning and Origin

Rowlett: What does the surname Rowlett mean?

The origin of the last name Rowlett is uncertain, but it has been suggested that it derives from two separate sources. It may be derived from a place name, coming from 'Rouen', a city in Normandy. It may have been taken up by English settlers in France who returned back to Britain with the name. Alternatively, it may come from an Old English word meaning ‘rough clearing’ or a ‘row of trees’.

Rowlett is mainly found in Britain, Ireland and the United States. In Britain, the name is geographically associated with Lancashire, West Yorkshire, and Essex. In Ireland, it can be found in Dublin and the surrounding areas. The name has also been documented in Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

It is possible that our modern day Rowlett family values may have been influenced by the geographical roots of the name. Those that are from Lancashire might value their community spirit with a strong sense of local pride; Western Yorkshire people might be strong-minded with clear-cut ideals and beliefs; those from Ireland may bring a focus on family, particularly looking at legacy as something to be celebrated; and let’s not forget those of us from Essex who like to keep our finger on the pulse and stay up-to-date with the latest trends.

Overall, the Rowlett last name carries with it a deep-seated sense of pride whatever its origin. It can bring together and connect families through cultural ties with a shared sense of heritage and tradition passed down through generations.

Rowlett: Where does the name Rowlett come from?

The last name Rowlett today is common in the United States and Canada predominantly. It is also found in the United Kingdom, where records of its usage dates back to the 1600s. It is thought to be an English family name, but it could have originated elsewhere.

In the United States, Rowlett is most common in the states of Texas, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Based on census data, the name appears to have been in the United States for more than 200 years.

In Canada, Rowlett is found primarily in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia, but can also be found in other Canadian provinces.

Rowlett is a fairly uncommon name, even today. According to the US Census Bureau, it ranks 4,054th in terms of common family names. This is similar across other English-speaking countries, where it appears to be quite rare.

Despite its rarity, it is likely to remain in usage for some time; in the United States alone, there are more than 30,000 census records using the name Rowlett. This indicates that it is likely the name will remain in usage for some time to come, though it won't be as common as some other English family names.

Variations of the surname Rowlett

Rowlett is a surname of English origin, originating from the name Rowley which was a habitational name derived from any of the various places in England called Rowley or La Rolley.

Variants, spellings and alternate surnames of Rowlett include Rowlette, Rolliet, Roller, Rollitt, Rollet, Rollett, Roulet, Roullett, and Rollat.

Rowlett is derived from the Norman French word 'rosel', meaning a wild rose. It also has connections to a family of knights from Roxburghshire, Scotland, who descended from Rollo, the first ruler of the Viking settlements of Normandy. The family of Rollo adopted the surname Rollo, and it is from this which many of the variants are derived.

In the 13th century, the Rowlett family branched out into England and in different parts of the country they developed different spellings of their original surname, eventually Anglicizing it.

The variant surnames of Rowlett in England include Rollat, Roller, Rollitt, Rollett, and Roulet. These surnames are found throughout England but especially in the counties of Gloucestershire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire.

The variant spellings of Rowlett found in Scotland are Rollet, Roullett, Rolliet, and Rowlette. These surnames are mainly found in the counties of Ross-shire and Cromartyshire in the Highlands.

In Ireland, many people who are descended from a common ancestor in England or Scotland adapted the surname of Rowlett to the Irish spellings, such as Rollic and Rollish. This surname is the most common in the areas of County Cork and County Dublin.

Finally, in America, where the surname Rowlett is most popular, variants include Rouillet, Rolet, Rollitt, Roulet and Rollat. This surname is mainly found in the states of Virginia, West Virginia, Indiana and Illinois.

Famous people with the name Rowlett

• Sarah Rowlett: former US Ambassador to Monaco
• Troy Rowlett: professional baseball player
• Tom Rowlett: American lawyer and political operative
• Barry Rowlett: English actor
• Earlene Rowlett: American singer-songwriter
• Richard Rowlett: American architectural photographer
• Rebecca Rowlett: British poet
• David Rowlett: Australian cricketer
• Bill Rowlett: former Major League Baseball player
• George Rowlett: Canadian rower
• Gordon Rowlett: American endurance cyclist
• Robert Rowlett: American film director
• Mazoe Ford-Rowlett: American textile artist
• Mo Rowlett: American silversmith
• Judith Rowlett: English electrical engineer and professor
• James Rowlett: British author
• William Rowlett: British soldier and Conservative politician
• Nadine Rowlett: American psychologist
• Charles Rowlett: American Brigadier General and biologist
• Herta Rowlett: German resistance fighter

Other surnames

RowlesRowletRowleteRowletteRowley