Skip Ancestry navigation Skip to Footer Ancestry Home
  • Home
  • Trees
  • Search
  • Memories
  • DNA
  • Subscribe
  • Cart
  • Sign In
Home
Loading

Trees you own

    Shared with you

      Tree tools

      • My Trees
      • First Name Meanings
      • Last Name Meanings
      • Individual Records Search
      • Family Trees Support
      • Start a New Tree
      • Upload a GEDCOM
      Loading
      • Search All Records
      • Census & Electoral Rolls
      • Birth, Marriage & Death, including Parish
      • Military
      • Wills & Probate
      • Immigration & Travel
      • Schools, Directories & Church Histories
      • Public Member Trees
      • Card Catalogue
      • Member Search
      Memories
      Loading
      • Register a kit
      • AncestryDNA® Learning Hub
      • Traits Learning Hub
      • AncestryDNA®
      • AncestryDNA® Support
      Loading
      • Support Centre
      • Ancestry Academy
      • Community
      • Hire an expert
      • Site Status
      Loading
      • Support Centre
      • Ancestry Academy
      • Community
      • Hire an expert
      • Site Status
      • Support Centre
      • Ancestry Blog
      • About Us
      • Site Map
      • Gift Memberships
      • Careers
        • Ancestry Corporate
        • Fold3.com
        • ForcesWarRecords.com
        • Geneanet.org
        • Newspapers.com
        • ProGenealogists.com
        • RootsWeb.com
      • © 2002-2025 Ancestry
      • Privacy
      • Cookies
      • Terms and Conditions
      • Operated by Ancestry Ireland Unlimited Company

      Meaning of the first name
      Rowena

      Origin 
      English

      Meaning 
      Fame joy

      Variations 
      Rogena, Owena, Rowen

      *Some content has been generated by an artificial intelligence language model, in combination with data sourced from Ancestry records and provided by BabyNames.com.
      The name Rowena derives its origins from the English language and is composed of two elements: row which means fame and joy which signifies happiness or delight. This combination results in Rowena symbolically representing the concept of joyful fame. The name first appeared in history during the 19th century, and its popularity grew steadily in English-speaking countries.

      In historical contexts, Rowena has been depicted in various literary works, most notably in Sir Walter Scott's novel Ivanhoe which was published in 1819. In this renowned novel, Rowena is portrayed as a beautiful Saxon lady, capturing the hearts of several characters within the story. This literary connection played a significant role in popularizing the name, leading to its increased usage during the Victorian era.

      Moving towards modern-day usage, Rowena continues to maintain a presence in English-speaking societies, although it is not as widely used as some other names. The name often carries an air of elegance and sophistication and is sometimes chosen as a name for characters in literature, film, or television. Furthermore, Rowena has evolved to become more multicultural, being embraced by individuals from diverse backgrounds, ensuring its continued relevance in contemporary society.
      Based on our records...
      This is the most common surname, spouse name and child name associated with Rowena.
      Smith

      is the most common surname for Rowena.

      William

      is the most common spouse name for Rowena.

      William

      is the most common child name for Rowena.

      Start your curiosity engines.

      Ready to learn more about your own family? Here are two ways to begin.
      Free Trial
      Order Ancestry
      did_you_know_bar
      Based on our records...
      Did you know?
      1913 is when there were the most people born with the first name Rowena.

      We'll guide you through the process of building and growing your tree

      Explore the origins of another name.