Rowland is a name of English origin that has been used for centuries. It is derived from the Old German name Hrodland, which was composed of two elements: "hrod," meaning "fame" or "renown," and "-land," indicating that it was likely an occupational name given to someone who worked on land owned by a person named Hroth. The name was popular among the Anglo-Saxons during the Middle Ages and can still be found in various forms today, such as Roland and Rolando.
One of the most famous historical figures with the name Rowland was Saint Rowland, also known as Saint Roland of France. He was a French nobleman who became a Christian martyr in the 9th century. Legend has it that he refused to renounce his faith during the time of religious persecution under Charlemagne and was subsequently executed. His feast day is celebrated on September 16.
In literature, Rowland appears as a character in several works, including the epic poem "The Song of Roland" by Turoldus, which tells the story of a fictionalized version of Charlemagne's chief knight. The name has also been used in more modern literature, such as in C.S. Lewis' Chronicles of Narnia series, where Rowland is one of the main characters.
Overall, Rowland is a name with a rich history and interesting origins that continues to be used today. Despite its somewhat outdated feel, it remains a unique choice for parents looking for an unusual but meaningful name for their child.
The name Rowland experienced significant fluctuations in popularity over the years, with a marked decline after the early 20th century. Between 1880 and 1923, there were periods of notable popularity, peaking at 90 births in 1917 and 83 births in 1924. However, from 1930 onwards, there was a consistent decrease, reaching as low as 5 births in some years (e.g., 1964, 1970). The name's popularity began to slightly recover from the late 1980s, with occasional peaks, such as 24 births in 2021 and 30 births in 2022. Overall, there were a total of 4248 births named Rowland from 1880 to 2023.