NameCensus.

UK surname

Barlow

From a place name meaning "barley hill" in Old English, or a person who lived near such a hill.

In the 1881 census there were 16,181 people recorded with the Barlow surname, ranking it #243 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 19,047, ranked #315, down from #243 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Manchester and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bury, Bolton and Cheshire East.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Barlow is 21,161 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 17.7%.

1881 census count

16,181

Ranked #243

Modern count

19,047

2016, ranked #315

Peak year

1911

21,161 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Barlow had 16,181 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #243 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 19,047 in 2016, ranked #315.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 21,161 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Barlow surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Barlow surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Barlow 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 10,361 #243
1861 historical 10,398 #246
1881 historical 16,181 #243
1891 historical 16,674 #247
1901 historical 19,569 #251
1911 historical 21,161 #205
1997 modern 18,797 #308
1998 modern 20,070 #297
1999 modern 20,194 #297
2000 modern 19,887 #300
2001 modern 19,412 #300
2002 modern 19,717 #302
2003 modern 19,232 #302
2004 modern 18,985 #303
2005 modern 18,578 #307
2006 modern 18,530 #306
2007 modern 18,559 #312
2008 modern 18,572 #314
2009 modern 19,052 #314
2010 modern 19,328 #314
2011 modern 19,153 #312
2012 modern 18,791 #314
2013 modern 19,227 #313
2014 modern 19,353 #314
2015 modern 19,109 #315
2016 modern 19,047 #315

Geography

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Where Barlows are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Manchester, London parishes, Bolton-le-Moors and Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bury, Bolton, Cheshire East, King's Lynn and West Norfolk and Shropshire. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Manchester Lancashire
3 London parishes London 2
4 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire
5 Bury (Walmersley and Tottington, Heap),Middleton (Birtle with Bamford, Pilsworth) Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bury 016 Bury
2 Bolton 013 Bolton
3 Cheshire East 049 Cheshire East
4 King's Lynn and West Norfolk 012 King's Lynn and West Norfolk
5 Shropshire 001 Shropshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Barlow

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Barlow

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Barlow, 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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Barlow is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Barlow is most concentrated in decile 6 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Barlow falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Barlow 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 Barlow, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Barlow

The surname Barlow originated in England, deriving from the Old English words 'bearu' meaning 'grove' or 'thicket' and 'hlaw' meaning 'hill' or 'mound'. It is thought to have been a topographic name given to someone who lived near a grassy hill or mound covered in trees.

The earliest recorded use of the name Barlow dates back to the late 12th century in Derbyshire, where it appeared as 'de Barlowe' in the Pipe Rolls of 1199. This suggests the name may have originated as a place name, referring to a specific location with these geographical features.

In the 13th century, the surname Barlow appeared in various records, including the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it was spelled 'de Barlow'. This spelling variation indicates the name was initially formed as a habitation name, referring to someone from a place called Barlow.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Roger de Barlow, who was mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1199. Another early record is of William de Barlow, who was listed in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1272.

The Domesday Book, compiled in 1086, does not contain any direct references to the name Barlow. However, it does mention several places with names similar to Barlow, such as Barleye in Derbyshire and Barlawe in Cheshire, suggesting the name may have originated from one of these locations.

A notable figure in history with the surname Barlow was William Barlow, who was the Bishop of Lincoln from 1608 to 1613. He played a significant role in the Hampton Court Conference of 1604, which helped shape the King James Bible.

Another prominent individual was Sir Samuel Barlow, a British naval officer and colonial administrator who served as the Governor of Jamaica from 1679 to 1686. He was known for his efforts to improve the island's defenses and infrastructure.

In the field of literature, Jane Barlow (1857-1917) was an English novelist and children's writer who authored several popular books, including "Irish Idylls" and "Bog-Land Studies".

The name Barlow also has connections to the American Civil War, with Francis Channing Barlow (1834-1896), a lawyer and Union Army general who fought in several major battles, including Gettysburg and Antietam.

Finally, Joel Barlow (1754-1812) was an American poet and diplomat who served as the United States Minister to France during the French Revolution. He is best known for his epic poem "The Columbiad".

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Barlow families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Barlow 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. Lancashire leads with 6,940 Barlows recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.71x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 6,940 3.71x
Cheshire 1,539 4.42x
Yorkshire 1,140 0.73x
Staffordshire 1,061 1.99x
Middlesex 747 0.47x
Warwickshire 545 1.37x
Nottinghamshire 542 2.55x
Derbyshire 427 1.73x
Surrey 328 0.43x
Lincolnshire 239 0.95x
Durham 193 0.41x
Berkshire 184 1.55x
Hampshire 182 0.56x
Buckinghamshire 173 1.81x
Worcestershire 165 0.80x
Kent 162 0.30x
Essex 127 0.41x
Leicestershire 127 0.73x
Shropshire 122 0.90x
Northamptonshire 119 0.80x
Norfolk 99 0.41x
Northumberland 78 0.33x
Cambridgeshire 73 0.73x
Wiltshire 72 0.52x
Cumberland 55 0.40x
Sussex 54 0.20x
Gloucestershire 53 0.17x
Oxfordshire 51 0.52x
Devon 47 0.14x
Somerset 46 0.18x
Flintshire 43 1.01x
Huntingdonshire 42 1.34x
Lanarkshire 41 0.08x
Caernarfonshire 40 0.63x
Glamorgan 28 0.10x
Denbighshire 27 0.45x
Dorset 27 0.26x
Ayrshire 23 0.19x
Herefordshire 22 0.34x
Hertfordshire 22 0.20x
Rutland 17 1.47x
Suffolk 16 0.08x
Midlothian 15 0.07x
Banffshire 14 0.43x
Cornwall 13 0.07x
Westmorland 13 0.38x
Angus 11 0.08x
Fife 11 0.12x
Isle of Man 11 0.38x
Aberdeenshire 8 0.05x
Monmouthshire 8 0.07x
Bedfordshire 7 0.09x
Merionethshire 5 0.17x
Montgomeryshire 4 0.11x
Royal Navy 3 0.16x
Renfrewshire 2 0.02x
Berwickshire 1 0.05x
Cardiganshire 1 0.03x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.02x
Channel Islands 1 0.02x
Dunbartonshire 1 0.02x
Perthshire 1 0.01x
Stirlingshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Manchester in Lancashire leads with 327 Barlows recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.88x.

Place Total Index
Manchester 327 3.88x
Oldham 315 5.21x
Bury 270 12.63x
Stoke Upon Trent 270 4.78x
Salford 246 4.47x
Aston 232 2.12x
Radcliffe 198 21.94x
Pilkington 194 27.28x
Hulme 168 4.30x
Little Bolton 165 6.86x
Heap 164 16.52x
Birmingham 149 1.12x
Barton Upon Irwell 142 10.08x
Tottington Lower End 140 15.74x
Stockport 134 7.48x
Great Bolton 128 5.16x
Pendleton In Salford 125 5.60x
Gorton 118 6.71x
Burslem 114 7.47x
Haslingden 113 14.58x
Little Lever 112 46.79x
Broughton In Salford 108 6.31x
Ashton Under Lyne 106 2.59x
Chorlton On Medlock 106 3.56x
Wigan 106 4.05x
Ecclesall Bierlow 105 3.30x
Castleton 102 5.46x
Elton 98 15.15x
Prestwich 98 20.99x
Sheffield 95 1.91x
Liverpool 94 0.83x
Newchurch 92 6.01x
Nottingham St Mary 91 1.65x
Toxteth Park 90 1.42x
Hyde 86 8.37x
Spotland 86 4.13x
Worsley 86 7.45x
Farnworth 83 7.40x
Halliwell 83 12.18x
Preston 83 1.66x
Newton 82 5.68x
Kearsley 81 20.56x
Warrington 79 3.56x
Droylsden 78 12.77x
Ardwick 77 4.56x
Macclesfield 76 4.91x
Islington London 74 0.48x
Accrington 72 4.23x
Congleton 70 11.63x
Hackney London 70 0.79x
Bethnal Green London 69 1.01x
Biddulph 64 21.30x
Everton 63 1.06x
Failsworth 63 14.71x
Wycombe 54 7.60x
Battersea 53 0.91x
Birkenhead 53 1.91x
Blackburn 53 1.06x
Walmersley Cum 53 17.72x
Lambeth 52 0.38x
Wolstanton 52 3.22x
Brightside Bierlow 51 1.66x
Heaton Norris 51 4.79x
West Ham 50 0.73x
Leeds 49 0.56x
Reading St Mary 48 5.06x
St Marylebone London 48 0.57x
Tonge 47 11.97x
Alfreton 46 6.13x
Openshaw 46 5.25x
Tottington Higher End 45 21.12x
Breightmet 44 53.43x
Hopwood 44 17.98x
Kirkdale 44 1.40x
Worksop 44 6.98x
Middleton In Oldham 43 7.66x
West Derby 43 0.79x
St Pancras London 42 0.33x
Altrincham 41 6.74x
Camberwell 40 0.40x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 1,245
Elizabeth 728
Sarah 705
Ann 387
Alice 341
Jane 320
Ellen 260
Annie 223
Hannah 215
Eliza 212
Emma 211
Margaret 203
Martha 200
Emily 159
Harriet 117
Ada 90
Edith 90
Catherine 86
Maria 78
Lucy 74
Clara 70
Fanny 68
Louisa 68
Charlotte 66
Florence 64
Frances 63
Betty 51
Esther 50
Kate 50
Betsy 48
Agnes 46
Anne 45
Susannah 44
Amelia 42
Harriett 38
Rose 37
Matilda 36
Caroline 34
Susan 34
Elizth. 33
Lydia 31
Amy 30
Nancy 30
Rachel 30
Julia 27
Ruth 26
Ethel 25
Selina 25
Isabella 24
Bertha 23

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 1,049
William 756
James 651
Thomas 625
George 542
Joseph 326
Henry 268
Robert 258
Charles 243
Samuel 210
Alfred 161
Edward 158
Richard 154
Arthur 136
Walter 103
Frederick 101
Albert 99
Harry 88
Frank 72
Herbert 72
Peter 66
Edwin 55
Ernest 54
Benjamin 50
David 47
Wm. 45
Fred 41
Thos. 36
Francis 30
Edmund 27
Abraham 24
Isaac 22
Josiah 21
Percy 21
Jno. 20
Tom 19
Andrew 18
Daniel 18
Hugh 18
Stephen 17
Geo. 16
Jas. 15
Fredrick 14
Mark 14
Michael 14
Moses 14
Ralph 14
Robt. 13
Chas. 12
Jonathan 12

FAQ

Barlow surname: questions and answers

How common was the Barlow surname in 1881?

In 1881, 16,181 people were recorded with the Barlow surname. That placed it at #243 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Barlow surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 19,047 in 2016. That gives Barlow a modern rank of #315.

What does the Barlow surname mean?

From a place name meaning "barley hill" in Old English, or a person who lived near such a hill.

What does the Barlow map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Barlow 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.