What was J.K. Rowling’s birth surname?

J.K. Rowling’s birth surname was Rowling.

She was born Joanne Rowling, so “Rowling” was her family name from birth. After her first marriage, she was sometimes known as Joanne Rowling Murray, but she continued publishing Harry Potter under the name J.K. Rowling.

The author’s professional name also includes the initial K, although she had no middle name at birth. Her publisher requested a second initial because research suggested that some boys might be less likely to choose a book by a woman author. Rowling selected Kathleen, the name of her paternal grandmother.

Rowling is therefore distinct from Robert Galbraith, the pen name used for her crime fiction. “Murray” relates to her first marriage, while “Galbraith” is a deliberately constructed author identity rather than her birth surname.