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Rowney Family History

Rowney Surname Meaning

From any of various places called Rowney, including Rowney Green in Alvechurch (Worcs), Rowney Wood in Debden (Essex), Rowney in Little Munden (Herts), or Rowney in Sawbridgeworth (Herts). The place-names mean ‘(at the) rough enclosure’ from Old English rūh ‘rough’ (dative rūgan) + (ge)hæg ‘enclosure’.

From Ó Ruanaidh, see Rooney.

Source: The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland, 2016


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Where is the Rowney family from?

You can see how Rowney families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Rowney family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Rowney families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 55 Rowney families living in London. This was about 16% of all the recorded Rowney's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Rowney families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Rowney surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
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What did your Rowney ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Public Works Contractors Ha and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Rowney. 34% of Rowney men worked as a Public Works Contractors Ha and 76% of Rowney women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Rowney were General Labourer and Housekeeper.

View Census Data for Rowney | 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 1939

  • Public Works Contractors Ha
    34%
  • Postman
    34%
  • General Labourer
    34%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    76%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    5%
  • Domestic Servant
    5%
  • Housekeeper
    3%

What Rowney family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 9,000 census records available for the last name Rowney. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Rowney census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Rowney

Passenger Lists

There are 1,000 immigration records available for the last name Rowney. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Rowney immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 593 military records available for the last name Rowney. For the veterans among your Rowney ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Rowney military records

You've only scratched the surface of Rowney family history

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What is the average Rowney lifespan?

Between 1962 and 2004, in the United States, Rowney life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1980, and highest in 2002. The average life expectancy for Rowney in 1962 was 75, and 78 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Rowney

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Rowney 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.

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