Rowland Name: Complete Etymology, Meaning & Popularity Analysis
Summary
Rowland is of Old Germanic origin, meaning 'famous land'. It has evolved through historical forms including Hruodland and Roland. The name is associated with traits of fame and nobility. There is no specific biblical relevance. Its popularity surged in medieval times due to literary references, and it remains a respected name today.
The name Rowland is most popular in Pennsylvania, USA across all generations. It ranks highest as a Boy name among the G.I. Generation generation in the Northeast region. Recent 3-year trends show this Boy name is maintaining steady popularity, while the 25-year trend indicates it has been relatively stable. From 2020-2022, Rowland has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. The long-term 25-year analysis reveals it has been stalled for male in MidWest, stalled for male in Northeast, stalled for male in South, stalled for male in West. Across generations, 'Rowland' has shown interesting popularity patterns: Among the G.I. Generation (1901-1927), it ranked 761st out of 7545 names. Among the Silent Generation (1928-1945), it ranked 873rd out of 6773 names. Among the Baby Boomers (1946-1964), it ranked 1065th out of 7552 names. Among the Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980), it ranked 1980th out of 10718 names. Among the Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996), it ranked 3539th out of 16616 names. Among the Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012), it ranked 6774th out of 24088 names. Among the Generation Alpha (2013-2024), it ranked 4750th out of 23106 names. Discover how the name 'Rowland' has evolved through American history with our comprehensive regional and generational analysis.
Etymology & Cultural Background of "Rowland"
Pronunciation
/ˈroʊlənd/
Origin
Old Germanic
Etymology
The name Rowland is derived from the Old High German name 'Hruodland', which is composed of the elements 'hruod' meaning 'fame' and 'land' meaning 'land' or 'territory'.
Meaning
Famous land
Language Evolution
Hruodland, Roland, Rowland
Historical Usage
Rowland gained popularity in medieval Europe, particularly after the hero Roland in the 'Song of Roland', a significant epic poem from the 11th century.
Variants & Derivatives
Roland, Roldan, Rollo
Modern Popularity & Image
Currently, Rowland is viewed as a classic and strong name, often associated with nobility and chivalry.
Famous People
Rowland Hill, an English teacher and preacher, Rowland S. Howard, an Australian musician, Rowland Emett, an English cartoonist
Explore More Rowland Name Visualizations
Historical Birth Statistics for the Name "Rowland"
Note: Years with identical rankings may represent different numbers of births. Data is sourced from Social Security card applications for births in the United States.
Yearly Ranking History of "Rowland"
"Rowland" Popularity Across American Generations
| Generation | Gender | Rank | Total Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) | Boy | 761st of 7545 | 1,198 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) | Boy | 873rd of 6773 | 963 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) | Boy | 1065th of 7552 | 947 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) | Boy | 1980th of 10718 | 352 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) | Boy | 3539th of 16616 | 241 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) | Boy | 6774th of 24088 | 166 |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) | Boy | 4750th of 23106 | 246 |
Regional Popularity of "Rowland" by Generation for Male Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
45.55% 645th/1416 |
36.55% 504th/1379 |
64.75% 1532nd/2366 |
62.70% 716th/1142 |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
50.45% 780th/1546 |
36.38% 566th/1556 |
75.65% 1780th/2353 |
48.74% 754th/1547 |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
48.63% 1083rd/2227 |
40.16% 976th/2430 |
51.91% 1481st/2853 |
40.14% 1114th/2775 |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
55.16% 1620th/2937 |
63.82% 2223rd/3483 |
64.38% 2265th/3518 |
57.34% 2319th/4044 |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - |
52.49% 3316th/6317 |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
Regional Popularity of "Rowland" by Generation for Female Names
| TOP(%) | MidWest | Northeast | South | West |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.I. Generation (1901-1927) |
- | - | - | - |
| Silent Generation (1928-1945) |
- | - | - | - |
| Baby Boomers (1946-1964) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation X (Gen X) (1965-1980) |
- | - | - | - |
| Millennials (Gen Y) (1981-1996) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Z (Gen Z or Zoomers) (1997-2012) |
- | - | - | - |
| Generation Alpha (2013-2024) |
- | - | - | - |
State-by-State Popularity of "Rowland"
This map shows the relative popularity of "Rowland" across states, calculated by dividing the number of births with this name in each state by the total births in that state. This methodology provides a standardized measure of popularity regardless of state population size.