NameCensus.

UK surname

Arrow

A surname derived from the projectile weapon used for hunting or warfare.

In the 1881 census there were 173 people recorded with the Arrow surname, ranking it #14,112 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 207, ranked #19,118, down from #14,112 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, Farnborough and Tunbridge, Bidborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Mid Sussex, Rushmoor and Guildford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Arrow is 235 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 19.7%.

1881 census count

173

Ranked #14,112

Modern count

207

2016, ranked #19,118

Peak year

1998

235 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Arrow had 173 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #14,112 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 207 in 2016, ranked #19,118.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 209 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Arrow surname distribution map

The map shows where the Arrow surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Arrow surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Arrow over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 113 #15,815
1861 historical 195 #12,263
1881 historical 173 #14,112
1891 historical 194 #15,277
1901 historical 181 #16,107
1911 historical 209 #14,557
1997 modern 223 #16,448
1998 modern 235 #16,358
1999 modern 228 #16,790
2000 modern 223 #16,978
2001 modern 221 #16,848
2002 modern 222 #17,147
2003 modern 229 #16,601
2004 modern 229 #16,684
2005 modern 222 #16,983
2006 modern 229 #16,748
2007 modern 209 #17,951
2008 modern 226 #17,238
2009 modern 225 #17,631
2010 modern 228 #17,844
2011 modern 215 #18,379
2012 modern 200 #19,207
2013 modern 207 #19,093
2014 modern 205 #19,375
2015 modern 206 #19,208
2016 modern 207 #19,118

Geography

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Where Arrows are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, Farnborough, Tunbridge, Bidborough and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Mid Sussex, Rushmoor, Guildford and Cherwell. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Wolverhampton Staffordshire
2 Farnborough Kent
3 Tunbridge, Bidborough Kent
4 London parishes London 3
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Mid Sussex 004 Mid Sussex
2 Rushmoor 005 Rushmoor
3 Guildford 005 Guildford
4 Guildford 018 Guildford
5 Cherwell 002 Cherwell

Forenames

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First names often paired with Arrow

These lists show first names that appear often with the Arrow surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Arrow

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Arrow, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Arrow surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Arrow household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Arrow is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Arrow is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Arrow falls in decile 10 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Arrow is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Arrow, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Arrow

The surname Arrow is believed to have originated in England, specifically in the county of Oxfordshire, during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English word "arwe," which means "arrow," referring to someone who made or sold arrows.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Arrow can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273, where it is spelled "Arwe." This document was a survey of landowners and their holdings, indicating that the name was already in use by the 13th century.

In the 14th century, the surname appears in various forms, such as "Arowe," "Arroue," and "Arrue," reflecting the variations in spelling common during that time. The Subsidy Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1327 list a William Arowe, who may have been a fletcher or arrow-maker by trade.

The surname Arrow is also associated with several place names in England, such as Arrow in Warwickshire and Arrowtown in Herefordshire. These locations likely derived their names from the same Old English root, indicating the presence of arrow-makers or suppliers in those areas.

One notable figure in history with the surname Arrow was John Arrow (c. 1545-1615), an English playwright and poet. He is best known for his play "The Tanner of Denmark" and his contributions to the anthology "The Phoenix Nest."

Another individual of note was Sir Walter Arrow (1588-1663), an English politician and Member of Parliament for Stafford during the reign of Charles I. He played a role in the English Civil War and was a supporter of the Parliamentarian cause.

In the 18th century, the surname Arrow gained some prominence with the birth of James Arrow (1717-1799), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy during the Seven Years' War and the American Revolutionary War.

Another notable figure was William Arrow (1805-1892), a English architect and surveyor who designed several churches and public buildings in Oxfordshire and neighbouring counties.

Lastly, the name Arrow is associated with Henry Arrow (1865-1932), a British businessman and philanthropist who founded the Arrow Shipping Company and made significant contributions to various charitable causes in the early 20th century.

These are just a few examples of individuals who have carried the surname Arrow throughout history, reflecting its origins and presence in various regions of England over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Arrow families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Arrow surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Surrey leads with 61 Arrows recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.42x.

County Total Index
Surrey 61 7.42x
Kent 32 5.56x
Middlesex 28 1.66x
Essex 14 4.20x
Staffordshire 8 1.40x
Sussex 8 2.81x
Warwickshire 8 1.88x
Yorkshire 5 0.30x
Durham 2 0.40x
Hampshire 2 0.58x
Worcestershire 2 0.91x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.94x
Derbyshire 1 0.38x
Lincolnshire 1 0.37x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Shere in Surrey leads with 16 Arrows recorded in 1881 and an index of 1616.16x.

Place Total Index
Shere 16 1616.16x
Betchworth 10 990.10x
Farnborough 10 1190.48x
Clapham 9 42.65x
Wolverhampton 8 18.26x
Stanwell 7 560.00x
Tonbridge 7 33.72x
Hackney London 6 6.34x
West Ham 6 8.16x
Albury 5 666.67x
Croydon 5 10.96x
Kensington London 5 5.33x
Lewisham 5 16.29x
Godalming 4 77.22x
Guildford Holy Trinity 4 254.78x
Keymer 4 199.01x
Leeds 4 4.24x
Aston 3 2.56x
Bidborough 3 1875.00x
Deptford St Paul 3 6.76x
Leyton Low 3 44.31x
Orpington 3 170.45x
Shoreditch London 3 4.10x
Coventry Holy Trinity 2 15.74x
Cuckfield 2 69.69x
Fulham London 2 8.17x
Great Malvern 2 43.48x
Kimblesworth 2 298.51x
Leamington Priors 2 19.10x
Newington 2 3.21x
Paddington London 2 3.22x
South Weald 2 70.18x
Barking 1 10.26x
Brighton 1 1.74x
Chelsea London 1 1.97x
East Ham 1 16.18x
Hastings St Leonards 1 23.92x
Holy Trinity 1 2.49x
Hornsey 1 4.69x
Kilmiston 1 1000.00x
Kirkby Underwood 1 833.33x
Milverton 1 80.00x
Mortlake 1 27.32x
Putney 1 13.00x
Reigate Borough 1 52.63x
Richmond 1 8.68x
Southwark St George Martyr 1 2.95x
St Pauls Cray 1 227.27x
St Peter Cambridge 1 277.78x
Streatham 1 7.99x
Sudbury 1 333.33x
Ventnor 1 30.40x
Walthamstow 1 8.34x
Willesden 1 6.29x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Arrow surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Arrow surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
James 8
George 7
Charles 6
Thomas 6
William 6
Henry 5
John 5
Arthur 4
Caleb 3
Albert 2
Frank 2
Frederick 2
Robert 2
Abraham 1
David 1
Edmund 1
Edwd. 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Gilbert 1
Harold 1
Henery 1
Herbert 1
Isaac 1
Joseph 1
Richard 1
Russell 1
Samuel 1
Walter 1

FAQ

Arrow surname: questions and answers

How common was the Arrow surname in 1881?

In 1881, 173 people were recorded with the Arrow surname. That placed it at #14,112 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Arrow surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 207 in 2016. That gives Arrow a modern rank of #19,118.

What does the Arrow surname mean?

A surname derived from the projectile weapon used for hunting or warfare.

What does the Arrow map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Arrow bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.