NameCensus.

UK surname

Borrow

A surname derived from an Old English word meaning a small hill or mound.

In the 1881 census there were 276 people recorded with the Borrow surname, ranking it #10,305 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 277, ranked #15,619, down from #10,305 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Auckland St Andrew and Ryton. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Cambridgeshire, Redcar and Cleveland and Northumberland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Borrow is 457 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 0.4%.

1881 census count

276

Ranked #10,305

Modern count

277

2016, ranked #15,619

Peak year

1911

457 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Borrow had 276 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #10,305 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 277 in 2016, ranked #15,619.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 457 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Borrow surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Borrow surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Borrow 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 336 #6,970
1861 historical 373 #6,841
1881 historical 276 #10,305
1891 historical 392 #9,019
1901 historical 359 #10,242
1911 historical 457 #8,397
1997 modern 282 #14,072
1998 modern 285 #14,351
1999 modern 300 #13,958
2000 modern 290 #14,237
2001 modern 289 #14,069
2002 modern 285 #14,483
2003 modern 279 #14,506
2004 modern 277 #14,644
2005 modern 267 #14,954
2006 modern 272 #14,834
2007 modern 268 #15,172
2008 modern 281 #14,782
2009 modern 279 #15,184
2010 modern 293 #14,974
2011 modern 278 #15,390
2012 modern 273 #15,546
2013 modern 288 #15,192
2014 modern 288 #15,285
2015 modern 273 #15,789
2016 modern 277 #15,619

Geography

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Where Borrows are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Auckland St Andrew, Ryton, St John Hackney and Croydon, Battersea (Penge), Sanderstead. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Cambridgeshire, Redcar and Cleveland, Northumberland, Wyre Forest and Flintshire. 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 London parishes London 3
2 Auckland St Andrew Durham
3 Ryton Durham
4 St John Hackney London (North Districts)
5 Croydon, Battersea (Penge), Sanderstead Surrey

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Cambridgeshire 002 South Cambridgeshire
2 Redcar and Cleveland 012 Redcar and Cleveland
3 Northumberland 037 Northumberland
4 Wyre Forest 011 Wyre Forest
5 Flintshire 003 Flintshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Borrow

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Borrow

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

Social Rented Sector Families with Children

Group

Social Rented Sector Pockets

Within London, Borrow is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Pockets, part of Social Rented Sector Families with Children. 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

Found in pockets across London, residents are less likely to live in private sector rentals and fewer adults are students. Fewer individuals work in transport and communications occupations relative to the Supergroup average. More individuals identify as Black and were born in Africa.

Wider London pattern

Residents of these neighbourhoods include sizable numbers identifying with ethnicities originating outside Europe, particularly in Africa or Bangladesh. The proportion of residents identifying as White, Indian or Pakistani is well below the London average. Neighbourhood age profiles are skewed towards younger adults, and above average numbers of families have children. Rates of use of English at home are below average. Marriage rates are low, and levels of separation or divorce are above average. Housing is predominantly in flats, and renting in the social rented sector the norm - few residents are owner occupiers. Housing is often overcrowded, and neighbourhoods are amongst the most densely populated in London. Disability rates are above average, although levels of unpaid care provision are about average. Employment is in caring, leisure, other service occupations, sales and customer service, or process, plant, and machine operation. Part time working and full-time student study are common. Levels of unemployment are slightly above average. Most residents have only Level 1 or 2 educational qualifications or have completed apprenticeships.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Borrow is most concentrated in decile 2 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Borrow falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Borrow is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Borrow

The surname Borrow is believed to have originated in England, deriving from the Old English word "burg" or "burh," which means a fortified town or settlement. It is thought to have first emerged as a locational name, indicating someone who resided in or near a particular borough or fortified town.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Borrow can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landowners and tenants commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Borowe" and "Borowe."

During the Middle Ages, the name Borrow was particularly prevalent in the counties of Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, and Lancashire. Some historical records indicate that individuals with the surname Borrow were landowners or held positions of prominence within their local communities.

In the 14th century, a notable figure bearing the name Borrow was John Borrow, a merchant and landowner from Yorkshire, who was born around 1320. Another prominent individual was Sir Thomas Borrow, a knight and member of Parliament in the late 15th century, born circa 1460.

As the name spread across England, variations in spelling emerged, such as Burrow, Burgh, and Borough. These variations often reflected local dialects and variations in pronunciation.

One of the most famous individuals with the surname Borrow was George Borrow, a celebrated English author, and traveler who lived from 1803 to 1881. He is best known for his novels "Lavengro" and "The Romany Rye," which provided insights into the lives of the Romani people in England.

Other notable individuals with the surname Borrow include:

1. Sir John Borrow (1687-1762), a British naval officer and colonial administrator. 2. Samuel Borrow (1758-1833), a British artist and engraver. 3. George Henry Borrow (1808-1881), a English writer and linguist, nephew of George Borrow. 4. Nathaniel Borrow (1825-1905), an English cricketer who played for Nottinghamshire. 5. William Borrow (1834-1915), a British architect and surveyor.

While the surname Borrow has evolved over centuries and spread across different regions, its origins can be traced back to the Old English word "burg," reflecting the historical significance of fortified settlements in the development of surnames in England.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Borrow families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Borrow 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. Middlesex leads with 48 Borrows recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.78x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 48 1.78x
Yorkshire 30 1.12x
Durham 27 3.37x
Lancashire 26 0.81x
Surrey 23 1.75x
Hampshire 22 3.99x
Northumberland 17 4.24x
Sussex 16 3.52x
Glamorgan 15 3.20x
Cornwall 10 3.28x
Gloucestershire 7 1.33x
Cumberland 6 2.59x
Suffolk 5 1.52x
Worcestershire 5 1.42x
Cheshire 4 0.67x
Kent 4 0.44x
Westmorland 4 6.76x
Devon 2 0.36x
Somerset 2 0.46x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.61x
Essex 1 0.19x
Lanarkshire 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Shoreditch London in Middlesex leads with 17 Borrows recorded in 1881 and an index of 14.57x.

Place Total Index
Shoreditch London 17 14.57x
Kensington London 11 7.35x
Portsea 11 10.17x
Stockton On Tees 11 28.49x
Thirlwall 11 2037.04x
St Cleer 10 378.79x
Ystradyfodwg 10 24.32x
Accrington 8 27.54x
Lambeth 8 3.41x
Middlesbrough 8 23.03x
Aldingbourn 7 1014.49x
Conside Knitsley 7 112.36x
St Pancras London 7 3.23x
Toxteth Park 7 6.47x
Betchworth 6 370.37x
Blendworth 6 2222.22x
Gayles 6 5000.00x
Islington London 6 2.30x
Westbury On Severn East 6 50.25x
Bettws 5 555.56x
Crosscanonby 5 65.19x
Hackney London 5 3.31x
Hastings All Sts 5 116.82x
Leigh 5 117.10x
Scarborough 5 20.63x
Southwark St Saviour 5 36.13x
Ulverston 5 53.71x
Church Coniston 4 444.44x
Gazeley 4 519.48x
Haltwhistle 4 206.19x
Ormside 4 2000.00x
Skelton In Guisbrough 4 55.40x
Dishforth 3 1071.43x
Farlington 3 265.49x
Midhurst 3 201.34x
Norton 3 102.04x
Stockport 3 9.81x
Westoe 3 6.61x
Bath St James 2 44.25x
Chatham 2 7.91x
Clapham 2 5.94x
Clerkenwell London 2 3.15x
Dalton In Furness 2 16.22x
Deptford St Paul 2 2.82x
Healey 2 2000.00x
Millbrook 2 14.39x
Bishopwearmouth 1 1.45x
Bristol St James In 1 12.87x
Constable Burton 1 500.00x
Dinton 1 156.25x
Epsom 1 15.65x
Glasgow 1 0.65x
Headingley Cum Burley 1 5.82x
Kimberworth 1 6.75x
Marple 1 24.51x
Nether Denton 1 333.33x
Oulton 1 90.09x
Plymouth Charles The 1 4.05x
School Aycliffe 1 5000.00x
Stoke Damerel 1 2.55x
Streatham 1 5.01x
Subdeanary 1 81.97x
Walthamstow 1 5.23x
Welburn In Malton 1 192.31x
West Herrington 1 35.59x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 21
Elizabeth 11
Alice 6
Eliza 6
Sarah 6
Annie 5
Ellen 5
Jane 5
Ann 4
Emma 4
Hannah 4
Kate 4
Ada 3
Elizth. 3
Louisa 3
Amy 2
Catherine 2
Florence 2
Isabella 2
Margaret 2
Minnie 2
Susan 2
Beatrice 1
Bessie 1
Celiste 1
Charlotte 1
Constance 1
Dorcas 1
Edith 1
Eleanor 1
Ethel 1
Fanney 1
Fanny 1
Francis 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Isabel 1
Jessie 1
Laura 1
Lolerk 1
Lydia 1
Margart 1
Margrett 1
Maria 1
Marie 1
Martha 1
Maude 1
Rhoda 1
Rose 1
Winifred 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
George 20
William 19
John 16
James 8
Charles 7
Thomas 7
Frederick 5
Henry 5
Alfred 4
Frank 3
Harry 3
Robert 3
Walter 3
Wm. 3
Albert 2
Herbert 2
Nicholas 2
Richard 2
Alexander 1
Alice 1
Arthur 1
Cornelius 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Edward 1
Edwd. 1
Ernest 1
Geo. 1
Harold 1
Hugh 1
Isaac 1
J. 1
Joe 1
Newton 1
Sidney 1
Sydney 1
Thos.Boreham 1
Wm.Edward 1

FAQ

Borrow surname: questions and answers

How common was the Borrow surname in 1881?

In 1881, 276 people were recorded with the Borrow surname. That placed it at #10,305 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Borrow surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 277 in 2016. That gives Borrow a modern rank of #15,619.

What does the Borrow surname mean?

A surname derived from an Old English word meaning a small hill or mound.

What does the Borrow map show?

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