Rowett

English from a medieval personal name composed of the Germanic elements hrod ‘renown’ + wald ‘rule’, which was introduced into England by Scandinavian settlers in the form Róaldr, and again later by the Normans in the form Rohald or Roald. This name has absorbed a much rarer one with the second element hard ‘hardy’, ‘brave’, ‘strong’, which was introduced into England by the Normans in the form Rohard or Roard. It has also sometimes been used as a pet form of Rowe, itself both a variant of Rolf and a short form of Rowland.