ROWLING
Rowling
Overview: Rowling is a British surname of Old English origin. The name derives from the word "rauling" or "roeling," which means a small clearing in a forest or a small field for cattle. The surname is typically found in the English counties of Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Cheshire.
History: The earliest recorded reference to the surname Rowling dates back to the 13th century in Yorkshire, England. The Rowling family were known to be landowners and farmers, often residing in rural areas. Over the centuries, the name spread to other parts of England, with variations such as Rowlinson and Rouling also emerging.
Notable Individuals: One of the most famous bearers of the surname Rowling is J.K. Rowling, the renowned British author known for the wildly popular Harry Potter book series. Joanne Rowling, using the pen name J.K. Rowling, has achieved worldwide fame and acclaim for her contributions to children's literature.
Modern Day: In contemporary British society, the surname Rowling remains relatively uncommon. However, due to the global success of J.K. Rowling and the enduring popularity of the Harry Potter franchise, the name has gained recognition far beyond its origins in Yorkshire.
Variants: Variants of the Rowling surname include Rowlinson, Rouling, and Rolin.
References:
- Hanks, P., Coates, R., McClure, P. (2016). The Oxford Dictionary of Family Names in Britain and Ireland.
- Reaney, P.H., Wilson, R.M. (1997). A Dictionary of English Surnames.
There are approximately 793 people named Rowling in the UK. That makes it roughly the 8,835th most common surname in Britain. Around 12 in a million people in Britain are named Rowling.
Surname type: Location or geographical feature
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Typical given names associated with the surname
Male
- Christopher
- Daniel
- David
- John
- Jon
- Keith
- Mark
- Michael
- Neil
- Paul
- Peter
- Richard
- Timothy
Female
- Ann
- Clare
- Deborah
- Elizabeth
- Helen
- Karen
- Louise
- Margaret
- Mary
- Melissa
- Nelly
- Nicola
- Rachel
- Sarah
Similar and related surnames
- Railing
- Ralling
- Rauling
- Rawling
- Rawlings
- Rawlinson
- Rayling
- Realing
- Reeling
- Rehling
- Reiling
- Relling
- Reuling
- Rewling
- Riling
- Rilling
- Roehling
- Roeling
- Roelink
- Rohling
- Rolin
- Roling
- Rolings
- Rolingson
- Rolington
- Rolink
- Rolins
- Rollen
- Rollin
- Rolling
- Rollinger
- Rollings
- Rollingson
- Rollington
- Rollins
- Rollnick
- Rolnick
- Rolnik
- Rowlin
- Rowlings
- Rowlingson
- Rowlingston
- Rowlins
- Rowlinson
- Rowllings
- Ruling
- Ryling
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.