Surname Rowney - Meaning and Origin
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Rowney: What does the surname Rowney mean?
The last name Rowney is of English origin. It is a habitational name derived from any of various places, particularly two in Cheshire, England, called ‘Rauncey’ or ‘Rauncy’. The name itself comes from the Old English elements hraefn, meaning 'raven' and eg, meaning 'island'.
The earliest record of the name dates back to 1379, when Jordan de Rounsay was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Suffolk. The name is found in records throughout English history and was popular in Lancashire in the 15th and 16th centuries. The Rowney family was awarded multiple coats of arms.
The name Rowney is closely associated with loyalty, stability, and generosity. People with the last name are said to be natural-born leaders who are determined and strong-willed. They are described as hard-working individuals who are ambitious and devoted to achieving their goals. Rownleys also have a deep appreciation of life’s simple pleasures and are said to be loving and affectionate.
Today, Rowney is still one of the most popular surnames in England. It is estimated that there are more than 11,000 people in the UK with the Rowney surname. It has also spread to other countries, with people bearing the last name now living in the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Order DNA origin analysisRowney: Where does the name Rowney come from?
The last name Rowney can be found today in many countries around the world. In the United States, the surname can be found primarily in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and California. In the United Kingdom, the surname can be found primarily in the counties of Oxfordshire, Hampshire, and West Yorkshire.
In Canada, the surname is primarily located in the provinces of Quebec, Ontario, and British Columbia. Australia can also boast of many bearers of the surname Rowney, particularly in the states of Victoria, New South Wales, and Tasmania. In Ireland, the surname is found in the counties of Cork and Leitrim.
Given the current migration trends, many people of the surname Rowney can also be found outside of these main countries. The surname can be found in Germany, France, the Netherlands, Spain, South Africa, Israel, Brazil, and many other countries. Given the increased communication and travel available to us today, people from all over the world can now be found with the Rowney surname.
Variations of the surname Rowney
The surname Rowney is derived from the Old English rowe and means 'rye clearing'. Variants of this surname include Rowen, Rowan, and Rowaine as well as spellings such as Rawne, Rowane, and Rowine.
Different branches of the same family can often have different spellings and variations of the same surname. In Rowney’s case, surnames like Rowin, Rowen, Rowley, Ralston, Ralston, Ralston, Ralstone, Rollins, Rollin, Rowlinson, and Revell have all been derived from the root name.
In Scotland, some families have changed their spelling to Ronnie or Ronney, while in some parts of England the spelling has changed to Royn(e)y. The variations of Royney/Royny may also reflect different origins, including French, South-East England, Lincolnshire, Scottish, and Welsh.
Anglo-Norman surnames such as Rorne, de Rovan, Ruenes, Ruvan, and de Rovan have all been derived from Rowney. In some cases, it is believed that the surnames have been anglicized to Rowney due to difficulty in pronouncing the names in English.
Sometimes, variants to the surname also change depending on the particular location. For example, some Irish families have adapted the surname Rowntree, while some English families have adapted the spelling Rye. There are also records of the surnames Raveney and baptisms of Fugge in the Scottish county of Berwickshire.
The breadth of surnames that have evolved from the root surname Rowney shows how language and culture have influenced the evolution of this surname throughout the years. Despite the many different variations, they all stem from the same name and are recognized as part of the same family.
Famous people with the name Rowney
- Andrew Rowney: professional baseball player in the 1920s
- Sean Rowney: Australian surfer
- Garrick Rowney: former American professional basketball player
- Ryan Rowney: American Professional ice hockey player
- Mason Rowney: professional lacrosse player
- Sydney Rowney: child actor and singer
- Stefan Rowney: executive director of the International Association of Public Transport
- Sam Rowney: British film and television producer and director
- Donna Rowney: classical soprano
- Aaron Rowney: Australian cricketer