Surname Rowbrey - Meaning and Origin

Rowbrey: What does the surname Rowbrey mean?

The last name Rowbrey has its origin in the Anglo-Saxon culture. The most likely source is the Old English word 'raw' which means a clearing, referring to someone who lived in or near a clearing in the woods. It is also likely to be derived from the Old English word 'bre', meaning hill, indicating someone who lived close to a hill.

The Rowbrey surname would have originally been used as a topographical marker to indicate someone’s origin and location, and was often used interchangeably with similar surnames, such as Rowberry.

The name may have been used as a descriptive nickname as well. Considering the heavy Anglo-Saxon influence, it is possible that it could have been a nickname for someone who was considered to be brave or mad. In this case, the root element would no longer be the Old English for 'row' and 'berry', but instead a derivative of the Old English word 'raw' or 'rā' which suggests boldness or recklessness.

Over time the spelling of the surname may have also changed due to regional variations. While originally spelled as 'raw' it eventually became Rowbrey. It likely reached its modern spelling when English underwent a series of changes in spelling rules with the advent of the printing press.

Overall, the last name Rowbrey is an apt origin story of an Anglo Saxon family living by a clearing in the woods, or by a hill. As time passed, the evolution of the English language provided other etymological possibilities to describe the same origin.

Rowbrey: Where does the name Rowbrey come from?

The last name Rowbrey is most commonly associated with areas of England. The earliest known record of the surname is in the Yorkshire area of England in the 16th century. The name is still believed to be concentrated primarily in England today, although it is also found in other parts of the British Isles. The origin of the name is believed to refer to a village in this same region which is now referred to as Ragworth, or Rudyworth.

The name is also found in other parts of the world, such as the United States, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand. People of this surname can be found to have migrated from either the UK or other countries with British descendants, particularly during the Victorian Era. In the United States, the name is more rare, but it is found in some areas.

For example, the census records for the years 1880 through 1920 show families by the name of Rowbrey living in the states of Ohio and Indiana, primarily in the city of Philadelphia. The 1890s census reveals Rowbreys in Iowa, and in England, the name is still quite common near counties such as Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Lancashire, West Midlands, Shropshire, and Staffordshire.

For those that have traced their genealogy, there may also be ties of the name to other parts of Europe, including in Germany, France, and Sweden. As of April 2020, the surname Rowbrey is the 29,480th most common surname in the United States, according to the website Forebears.

Variations of the surname Rowbrey

The surname Rowbrey is a variant of the Anglo-Saxon name Robbins, which originates from the given name Robert. Derived from Old Germanic personal name "Hrodebert", which itself combined the Germanic elements "hrod" (meaning “renown”) and “beraht” (meaning “big,bright, or famous”). The earliest known record of the surname dates back to 1174 in Essex, England.

The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Rowbrey include:

Robins: The most common spelling for the surname Robins, this variant of Rowbrey is derived from the original Norman French form of the name Robbins.

Robbins: The original Norman French name, Robbins was used by the Normans in post-Conquest England in the 11th and 12th centuries. Today, it is most commonly found in the United Kingdom.

Robbinson: Commonly found in Scotland, the surname Robbinson is derived from the Anglo-Scottish variation of Robbins, which originated in Normans times.

Robynson: Commonly found in Ireland, this variant of Rowbrey likely originated from the Middle English surnames of Robyn or Robynson.

Robers: This variant is derived from the Old Germanic name, "Hrodebert", which combines the Germanic elements, “hrod” (meaning “renown”) and “beraht” (meaning “big,bright, or famous”). It is likely that Robers was an early spelling of Robbins.

Robley: The surname Robley is derived from the Old English for “son of Robert”. It is likely that the spelling Robley became transformed to Rowbrey over time.

Robarrage: This variant of Rowbrey likely has its roots in the Old Germanic personal name "Hrodebert", which was likely anglicized in post-Conquest England as Robarrage.

Robyns: This variant of Rowbrey is likely an Americanized form of Robbins, which was popular in the United States in the 19th century.

Robson: Derived from the popular patronymic surname Robson, this variant is most commonly found in England and Scotland.

Robateau: This variant of Rowbrey is likely a French anglicization of Robbins, popular in Canada.

Famous people with the name Rowbrey

• Tom Rowbrey: British Paralympic swimmer
• Stuart Rowbrey: British rower
• Walter Rowbrey: English cricketer
• Eddie Rowbrey: American soccer player
• Jack Rowbrey: English actor
• Bernard Rowbrey: English musician
• Anthony Rowbrey: British singer
• Jim Rowbrey: American politician
• Joe Rowbrey: American footballer
• Fred Rowbrey: English actor
• Mary Rowbrey: Canadian hockey player
• James Rowbrey: British educator
• Robert Rowbrey: American film director
• Albert Rowbrey: British music composer
• Bill Rowbrey: American football coach
• Mark Rowbrey: British businessman
• David Rowbrey: British doctor
• Elizabeth Rowbrey: British pilot
• Anthony Rowbrey: English artist
• William Rowbrey: Australian cyclist

Other surnames

Rowbree