A surname of English origin, also referring to various place names. Can denote someone from a place called Rowley or refer to a rough or wild meadow.
From Old English 'ruh' meaning 'rough' and 'leah' meaning 'wood, clearing, meadow.' Originally described someone who lived near a rough clearing or wild meadow.
The name Rowley preserves an ancient English landscape description - a 'rough meadow' - showing how surnames often served as primitive GPS coordinates, telling you exactly what kind of terrain someone's family came from. Many English place names ending in '-ley' share this meadow heritage.
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