NameCensus.

UK surname

Barrow

An English occupational surname referring to someone who pushed a wheelbarrow or worked as a cart driver.

In the 1881 census there were 6,340 people recorded with the Barrow surname, ranking it #676 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 7,745, ranked #856, down from #676 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lancaster Borough, London parishes and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include St. Helens and North Devon.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Barrow is 8,498 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 22.2%.

1881 census count

6,340

Ranked #676

Modern count

7,745

2016, ranked #856

Peak year

1911

8,498 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Barrow had 6,340 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #676 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 7,745 in 2016, ranked #856.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 8,498 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Barrow surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Barrow surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Barrow 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 4,591 #609
1861 historical 5,145 #546
1881 historical 6,340 #676
1891 historical 7,303 #613
1901 historical 7,716 #695
1911 historical 8,498 #582
1997 modern 7,608 #846
1998 modern 7,963 #840
1999 modern 7,997 #847
2000 modern 7,875 #850
2001 modern 7,728 #847
2002 modern 7,934 #847
2003 modern 7,745 #844
2004 modern 7,764 #838
2005 modern 7,590 #850
2006 modern 7,660 #837
2007 modern 7,715 #840
2008 modern 7,687 #852
2009 modern 7,922 #845
2010 modern 8,066 #849
2011 modern 7,969 #844
2012 modern 7,669 #863
2013 modern 7,882 #848
2014 modern 7,906 #856
2015 modern 7,814 #852
2016 modern 7,745 #856

Geography

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Where Barrows are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lancaster Borough, London parishes, Gateshead and Manchester. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to St. Helens and North Devon. 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 Lancaster Borough Lancashire
2 London parishes London 1
3 London parishes London 3
4 Gateshead Durham
5 Manchester Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 St. Helens 019 St. Helens
2 North Devon 008 North Devon
3 North Devon 006 North Devon
4 North Devon 010 North Devon
5 St. Helens 004 St. Helens

Forenames

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First names often paired with Barrow

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Barrow

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Barrow, 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 Barrow surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Barrow 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, Barrow 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

Barrow is most concentrated in decile 9 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Barrow falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Barrow

The surname Barrow is of English origin and can be traced back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Old English word "beorg" or "bearu," which means a hill or mound. The name was initially used to refer to someone who lived near a hill or barrow.

In the Domesday Book of 1086, the name appears as "de la Berwe" and "de la Bergh," indicating that it was already in use during the Norman Conquest. The earliest recorded instance of the name is found in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from the year 1176, where it is spelled "de Barwe."

The surname Barrow is closely associated with various place names in England, such as Barrow-upon-Soar in Leicestershire, Barrow-in-Furness in Cumbria, and Barrow-upon-Humber in Lincolnshire. These place names contributed to the widespread use and distribution of the surname throughout the country.

One notable figure with the surname Barrow was Isaac Barrow (1630-1677), an English mathematician and theologian who served as the Master of Trinity College, Cambridge. He made significant contributions to the development of calculus and optics.

William Barrow (1609-1667) was an English politician and member of the Parliament of England during the English Civil War. He fought for the Parliamentarian cause and played a role in the trial and execution of King Charles I.

John Barrow (1764-1848) was an English writer and traveler who accompanied Lord Macartney on his famous embassy to China in 1792-1794. He later became the Second Secretary to the Admiralty and co-founded the Royal Geographical Society.

Henry Barrow (1550-1593) was an English Puritan and Separatist who advocated for religious reform and the establishment of independent congregations separate from the Church of England. He was arrested and executed for his beliefs, becoming a martyr for the Puritan cause.

Robert Barrow (1807-1876) was a British naval officer and explorer who served in the Arctic regions. He participated in several expeditions to search for the Northwest Passage and made significant contributions to the mapping and exploration of the Arctic.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Barrow families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Barrow 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 1,953 Barrows recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.66x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,953 2.66x
Middlesex 502 0.81x
Yorkshire 463 0.75x
Cheshire 362 2.65x
Kent 286 1.35x
Hampshire 254 2.00x
Devon 241 1.87x
Durham 239 1.30x
Sussex 224 2.15x
Surrey 194 0.64x
Staffordshire 164 0.78x
Somerset 128 1.28x
Gloucestershire 127 1.05x
Westmorland 119 8.75x
Leicestershire 110 1.60x
Nottinghamshire 99 1.19x
Essex 82 0.67x
Cumberland 78 1.46x
Worcestershire 74 0.92x
Northumberland 67 0.73x
Warwickshire 67 0.43x
Shropshire 64 1.20x
Glamorgan 62 0.58x
Norfolk 40 0.42x
Derbyshire 32 0.33x
Lincolnshire 32 0.32x
Suffolk 29 0.38x
Midlothian 22 0.27x
Lanarkshire 19 0.09x
Northamptonshire 19 0.33x
Cambridgeshire 18 0.46x
Wiltshire 18 0.33x
Aberdeenshire 17 0.30x
Buckinghamshire 14 0.37x
Dorset 14 0.34x
Berkshire 12 0.26x
Flintshire 12 0.72x
Ayrshire 11 0.24x
Bedfordshire 9 0.28x
Hertfordshire 9 0.21x
Merionethshire 8 0.71x
Caernarfonshire 6 0.24x
Monmouthshire 5 0.11x
Argyllshire 4 0.23x
Brecknockshire 4 0.32x
Oxfordshire 4 0.10x
Roxburghshire 4 0.36x
Royal Navy 4 0.54x
Herefordshire 3 0.12x
Radnorshire 3 0.60x
Cardiganshire 2 0.13x
Channel Islands 2 0.11x
Isle of Man 2 0.17x
West Lothian 2 0.21x
Angus 1 0.02x
Cornwall 1 0.01x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.07x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.05x
Perthshire 1 0.04x
Shetland 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Liverpool in Lancashire leads with 96 Barrows recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.15x.

Place Total Index
Liverpool 96 2.15x
Manchester 74 2.24x
Salford 70 3.24x
West Derby 70 3.26x
Lancaster 64 14.65x
Westoe 62 5.94x
Dalton In Furness 59 20.81x
Everton 58 2.48x
Kensington London 53 1.54x
Sopley 52 298.17x
Lambeth 48 0.89x
Barnstaple 43 21.26x
Barrow In Furness 42 4.20x
Birmingham 42 0.81x
Hulme 42 2.74x
Hackney London 41 1.18x
Wolstanton 38 5.99x
Kendal 37 14.86x
Church Coniston 36 174.84x
Failsworth 36 21.42x
West Ham 36 1.33x
Christchurch 35 12.72x
Great Bolton 35 3.60x
Holdenhurst 35 10.52x
Sutton 35 14.21x
Windle 35 8.47x
Pendleton In Salford 34 3.89x
Bratton Fleming 33 297.30x
Goudhurst 33 56.46x
Bishopwearmouth 31 1.96x
Portsea 31 1.25x
St Pancras London 31 0.62x
Cheltenham 30 3.20x
Chorley 30 7.28x
Toxteth Park 30 1.21x
Islington London 29 0.48x
Marton 29 59.38x
Moss Side 29 7.50x
Preston 29 1.48x
Stockport 29 4.12x
Broughton In Salford 28 4.17x
North Meols 28 3.89x
St Marylebone London 27 0.82x
Huddersfield 26 2.91x
Leicester St Margaret 26 1.55x
Little Bolton 26 2.75x
Brighton 25 1.19x
Leeds 25 0.72x
Eccleston In Prescot 24 6.51x
Kirkdale 24 1.94x
Heathfield 23 54.39x
Bedminster 22 2.35x
Camberwell 22 0.56x
Drayton In Hales 22 19.96x
Hawkshead Monk Coniston 22 85.97x
Newington 22 0.96x
Nottingham St Mary 22 1.02x
West Broughton 22 88.67x
Widnes 22 4.15x
Arnold 21 17.24x
Chelsea London 21 1.13x
Lathom 21 23.68x
Layton With Warbreck 21 7.79x
Prescot 21 15.81x
Ulverston 21 9.82x
Brightside Bierlow 20 1.66x
Macclesfield 20 3.29x
Otham 20 251.57x
Poplar London 20 1.71x
Warrington 20 2.30x
Alston 19 19.35x
Belgrave 19 12.27x
Blackburn 19 0.97x
Greenwich 19 1.93x
Horton In Bradford 19 1.98x
Lytham 19 16.95x
Ringwood 19 23.41x
West Bergholt 19 83.26x
Hunslet 18 1.88x
St George Hanover Square 18 1.65x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 475
Elizabeth 283
Sarah 225
Jane 143
Ann 138
Margaret 117
Ellen 105
Alice 98
Annie 88
Emma 81
Eliza 76
Hannah 74
Emily 68
Martha 47
Harriet 42
Isabella 42
Fanny 38
Agnes 35
Edith 32
Florence 31
Frances 29
Louisa 29
Charlotte 27
Kate 27
Maria 25
Ada 24
Caroline 24
Catherine 24
Lucy 22
Esther 21
Amelia 19
Amy 19
Clara 19
Grace 19
Anne 16
Elizth. 16
Jessie 16
Julia 15
Susan 15
Lydia 14
Ruth 14
Beatrice 13
Bessie 13
Harriett 11
Rose 11
Eleanor 10
Minnie 10
Betsy 9
Maud 9
Sophia 9

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 411
William 370
Thomas 270
George 216
James 214
Joseph 132
Henry 110
Robert 96
Charles 94
Richard 84
Edward 63
Arthur 58
Alfred 53
Frederick 48
Samuel 47
Albert 46
Walter 33
Benjamin 24
Frank 24
Wm. 24
Isaac 23
Harry 22
Ernest 18
Peter 18
Thos. 18
Edmund 13
David 12
Francis 12
Christopher 11
Edwin 11
Stephen 11
Herbert 10
Jonathan 10
Matthew 9
Percy 9
Geo. 8
Chas. 7
Daniel 7
Fred 7
Jos. 7
Richd. 7
Jno. 6
Alexander 5
Amos 5
Frederic 5
Hugh 5
Job 5
Louis 5
Ralph 5
Timothy 5

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Barrow households.

FAQ

Barrow surname: questions and answers

How common was the Barrow surname in 1881?

In 1881, 6,340 people were recorded with the Barrow surname. That placed it at #676 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Barrow surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 7,745 in 2016. That gives Barrow a modern rank of #856.

What does the Barrow surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to someone who pushed a wheelbarrow or worked as a cart driver.

What does the Barrow map show?

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