Rowbotham

Rowbotham is a surname of English origin. It is believed to be a habitational name, deriving from a place in Lancashire called Rowbotham, meaning "rough valley" or "hilly valley" in Old English. The name has been present in England for centuries, with early records showing its use in various counties.

Several notable individuals have borne the surname Rowbotham. Among them is Samuel Rowbotham (1794-1871), an English inventor and eccentric who is most famously associated with the Zetetic astronomy movement, which promoted the idea of a flat Earth. He published numerous pamphlets and books advocating for this view, including "Zetetic Astronomy: Earth Not a Globe."

In more modern times, the name has been carried by athletes, academics, and professionals in various fields. The distribution of the surname is most concentrated in the United Kingdom, but it can also be found in countries with historical British emigration, such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The name Rowbotham itself is generally understood to refer to a specific geographical location or a descriptor of terrain, suggesting its roots are firmly planted in the landscape of England.