Rowe 2 is an English surname derived from the medieval given name Row, itself a variant of Roul or a short form of Roland. The name Roul is the Norman French form of Rolf, which originates from the Old German name Hrolf or its Old Norse cognate Hrólfr—a contracted form of Hrodulf, akin to Rudolf. This chain ultimately leads back to the Germanic Hrodulf, composed of the elements hruod 'fame' and wolf 'wolf'. The name Rudolf was borne by several early rulers, including three kings of Burgundy and a king of West Francia, as well as various Habsburg emperors of the Holy Roman Empire and Austria. The medieval personal name Row—from which the surname Rowe emerged—was reintroduced to England by the Normans, though it eventually dwindled in common use before experiencing occasional revivals through German cultural influence. Over time, the form Row solidified into the hereditary surname Rowe or Rowe 2, transmitted patrilineally throughout English-speaking regions. Related surnames include the variant Rowland, as well as international equivalents: French Rolland, Italian Orlando, Spanish Roldán, and the Norwegian patronymic Rolvsson. However, the direct adoption of Row as a surname remains particularly characteristic of English genealogy, tie-ing its history to the Flemish and Norman immigrations. Notable Figures Historical figures with the surname Rowe—but spelled as the more common form rather than with the Norman-related root? Likely not documented, but those sharing name origin are... this article is about this variant formation. Meaning: Derives from medieval given name Row, a variant of Roul or diminutive of Roland Root elements: “fame” + “wolf” (via Hrodulf) Number of bearers per sources: Hard to assess, but pattern typical of early Anglicized surnames Usage regions: Primarily English-speaking countries (United Kingdom, Ireland, North America)