Welcome to the Rowbotham Genealogy Website! Our intention is to create the most comprehensive repository of genealogical data relating to Rowbothams and associated names in the UK.

Whats the meaning of the surname?
    The surname Rowbotham is most commonly found in the region of Lancashire, although it does not appear in records prior to 1500. It is of local origin, that is, it belongs to the category of surnames derived from a particular geographical feature, either man made or natural, near which the original bearer once lived or held land. In this case, the name is derived from the Old English word "ruh" meaning "rough, overgrown" and "botm" meaning "bottom valley". However, it is also possible that this surname is toponymic in origin, indicating "one who came from Rowbotham", the name of a place which is today extinct, but which was most likely to have been situated in Lancashire.
Variants of this surname include Rowbottom, Rowbottem, Rowbottam, Robatham, Robottom and Roebotham.
     This was never a numerous surname and early records are scarce. Today this surname is, in fact, more common in the U.S. than in its native England.
Big tips when first beginning your search
Don't expect your surname to be spelt the same when looking up records, remember that the census enumerators, those that maintained church records and registrars wrote as they heard in whatever dialect it was given. I have also noted that within different areas the name had a tendency to be spelt a certain way. 
When carrying out an advanced search of the 1901 UK Census on line, to ensure you have captured all the variant spellings possible, use the * wild cards and input R*b*m. For the Place field I have noted that by inputting for example Staff* for Staffordshire it pulls up more entries.

Good hunting!

The Story so Far - The quest to trace back my own family tree.

My Family Tree - The data that I have gathered so far relating to my own roots.

New Notice Board - Place any requests for information or details of certificates that you want to sell, anything relating to the name.Make other folk aware of the family line you are researching.It may be worthwhile to copy over existing messages from the old notice board.In order that folk replying may want to contact you direct please add your email to your message.

Cliff Rowbotham Page -Contains over 5000 GRO index records of deaths covering Rowbotham and variant names between the years 1837 up to 1900. The data has been compiled by Cliff Rowbotham and has been kindly offered to this site.

County Index/IGI Database /British Vital Records  and donated data that have been collated into County and Chronological order. This enables a precise search to be carried out and identifies the extent of records collated for towns and churches
Currently there are over 9,750 records listed within this database.
I have also added the 1881 Census Index lists for the counties.
.If you find this site useful - let me know.
Data Appeal
The success of this site to be little more than just a listing of existing  available data requires the support of fellow genealogists to donate records they have, not currently listed, or that provide additional information to that shown. Any data that you may be able to give will be greatly appreciated by myself and useful to us all.
I hope this site has helped you, maybe you have data that will help others.

RGI - The Rowbotham Genealogical Index, this comprises mainly of Cheshire and Derbyshire data that I and fellow researchers have compiled from church records, this will be integrated into the IGI database time allowing.
I am currently trying to locate the baptism details for John Rowbotham born 8th August 1825  and his brother Henry born about 1824 in the Macclesfield area, their father being Thomas, also the marriage of Thomas to Elizabeth about 1823. If there is anyone who is also searching this area please look out for John and Henry and Thomas/ Elizabeth, I have not checked out churches at Alderley St Mary, Chelford St John the Evangelist, Capesthorpe Holy Trinity, Siddington All Saints

Pioneer letters to and from  - I am creating a data base of the early letters sent to and from folk that emigrated from the UK pre 1900's. Do you have any letters, why not make them available to all. Please email me as below.

You can send e-mail to Mike at:   mrowbotham(@)freeuk(.)com - Please remove the (brackets)  from the email address, this is necessary to hopefully reduce the spam.
Let me know if you like the site and if any data supplied has been of help.
This website would not have been possible without the technical support and know-how of my son, Matthew Rowbotham.

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