NameCensus.

UK surname

Catlow

An occupational surname referring to someone who caught wild cats or cats for hunting.

In the 1881 census there were 1,234 people recorded with the Catlow surname, ranking it #3,284 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 855, ranked #6,547, down from #3,284 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Manchester, Ashton-under-Lyne and Whalley. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Burnley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Catlow is 1,495 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 30.7%.

1881 census count

1,234

Ranked #3,284

Modern count

855

2016, ranked #6,547

Peak year

1911

1,495 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Catlow had 1,234 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,284 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 855 in 2016, ranked #6,547.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,495 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Catlow surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Catlow surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Catlow 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 554 #4,574
1861 historical 489 #5,336
1881 historical 1,234 #3,284
1891 historical 1,150 #3,708
1901 historical 1,471 #3,476
1911 historical 1,495 #3,229
1997 modern 986 #5,564
1998 modern 986 #5,739
1999 modern 1,003 #5,701
2000 modern 996 #5,706
2001 modern 963 #5,762
2002 modern 980 #5,794
2003 modern 946 #5,854
2004 modern 942 #5,877
2005 modern 923 #5,905
2006 modern 911 #5,977
2007 modern 910 #6,036
2008 modern 899 #6,132
2009 modern 923 #6,137
2010 modern 925 #6,245
2011 modern 920 #6,222
2012 modern 883 #6,331
2013 modern 884 #6,435
2014 modern 886 #6,459
2015 modern 867 #6,500
2016 modern 855 #6,547

Geography

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Where Catlows are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Manchester, Ashton-under-Lyne, Whalley and Blackburn. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Burnley. 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 Manchester Lancashire
2 Ashton-under-Lyne Lancashire
3 Whalley Lancashire
4 Blackburn Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Burnley 006 Burnley
2 Burnley 005 Burnley
3 Burnley 014 Burnley
4 Burnley 007 Burnley
5 Burnley 010 Burnley

Forenames

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First names often paired with Catlow

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Catlow

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Catlow is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction 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

These scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

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

Catlow 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

Catlow 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 Catlow 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 Catlow, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Catlow

The surname Catlow has its origins in England, dating back to the Anglo-Saxon period. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the Old English words "catt" and "hlaw," meaning "the hill where wild cats lived." This suggests that the name originated in a particular area where wild cats were prevalent.

The earliest known record of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of lands and properties commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name is listed as "Cattehlawe," referring to a location in the county of Lancashire.

In the 13th century, the name was found in various spellings, such as "Cattelaw," "Catlowe," and "Catlough." These variations reflect the regional dialects and the evolution of language over time.

One of the earliest recorded individuals bearing the name was John Catlow, who lived in Lancashire in the late 14th century. In the 16th century, there are records of a Thomas Catlow, who resided in the village of Catterall, located near the Catlow Fell hill in Lancashire.

In the 17th century, the name appears in the parish records of Chipping, a village in the Ribble Valley area of Lancashire. One notable figure from this time was Richard Catlow, a yeoman farmer born in 1648.

Moving into the 18th century, we find Samuel Catlow, born in 1684, who was a respected figure in the local community and served as a churchwarden in the village of Eccleston, Lancashire.

In the 19th century, the Catlow name gained prominence with individuals like George Catlow (1807-1863), a renowned English artist and lithographer known for his illustrations of natural history subjects. Another notable figure was Agnes Catlow (1808-1892), a writer and naturalist who authored several books on botany and natural history.

As the name spread beyond its original geographical roots, it has been associated with various areas in England, particularly in the counties of Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Cheshire. However, the earliest records and the etymological origins point to the name's strong ties to the Lancashire region.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Catlow families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Catlow 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 1,056 Catlows recorded in 1881 and an index of 7.37x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 1,056 7.37x
Yorkshire 68 0.57x
Cheshire 44 1.65x
Leicestershire 39 2.92x
Middlesex 10 0.08x
Durham 4 0.11x
Cambridgeshire 3 0.39x
Staffordshire 3 0.07x
Cumberland 2 0.19x
Derbyshire 2 0.11x
Channel Islands 1 0.28x
Glamorgan 1 0.05x
Hampshire 1 0.04x
Oxfordshire 1 0.13x
Royal Navy 1 0.70x
Suffolk 1 0.07x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Blackburn in Lancashire leads with 130 Catlows recorded in 1881 and an index of 34.12x.

Place Total Index
Blackburn 130 34.12x
Habergham Eaves 96 73.36x
Denton 92 289.95x
Colne 61 142.99x
Accrington 55 42.25x
Oswaldtwistle 52 102.79x
Great Little Marsden 51 77.76x
Over Darwen 49 42.84x
Burnley 45 37.32x
Barrowford Booth 34 214.65x
Trawden 33 368.30x
Wilpshire 29 2521.74x
Newchurch 22 18.78x
Salesbury 20 2631.58x
Ashton Under Lyne 19 6.07x
Leicester St Margaret 19 5.82x
Livesey 18 71.63x
Haughton 17 81.38x
Hyde 17 21.63x
Leeds 16 2.37x
Rishton 16 95.29x
Haslingden 14 23.61x
Briercliffe Cum 13 273.68x
Church 13 64.29x
Leicester All Sts 13 49.49x
Little Harwood 13 501.93x
Reddish 13 65.92x
Whalley 13 62.29x
Musbury 11 262.53x
Horton In Bradford 10 5.36x
Clitheroe 9 21.36x
Newton In Ashton Under 9 34.25x
Bury 8 4.89x
Cowling 8 103.23x
Halliwell 8 15.35x
Lower Booths 8 31.19x
Preston 8 2.09x
Egton 7 133.59x
Spotland 7 4.40x
Dukinfield 6 4.87x
Hulme 6 2.01x
Moss Side 6 7.96x
Padiham 6 17.35x
Stockport 6 4.38x
West Derby 6 1.43x
Whitwick 6 35.27x
Carlton In Skipton 5 71.53x
Dilworth 5 57.01x
Everton 5 1.10x
Little Bolton 5 2.72x
Poplar London 5 2.20x
Todmorden Walsden 5 13.03x
Glusburn 4 59.26x
Manchester 4 0.62x
Pendleton In Salford 4 2.34x
Pittington 4 39.64x
Ramsgreave 4 404.04x
Saddleworth 4 4.34x
Bradford 3 1.04x
Heaton Norris 3 3.68x
Hurdsfield 3 18.30x
St Andrewthe Less 3 3.44x
Toxteth Park 3 0.62x
Caldewgate 2 3.51x
Chelsea London 2 0.55x
Derby St Peter 2 3.32x
Elslack 2 588.24x
Great Harwood 2 7.73x
Halifax 2 1.14x
Mile End Old Town London 2 0.78x
Mottram 2 16.57x
Mucklestone 2 51.15x
North Meols 2 1.43x
Osbaldeston 2 312.50x
Radcliffe 2 2.90x
Samlesbury 2 63.49x
Shipley 2 3.22x
Tottington Higher End 2 12.27x
Stoke Upon Trent 1 0.23x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 1 2.43x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 103
Sarah 55
Elizabeth 47
Alice 37
Jane 37
Ellen 28
Ann 25
Margaret 25
Nancy 22
Hannah 15
Annie 14
Martha 14
Eliza 12
Emma 12
Betty 10
Susannah 8
Catherine 7
Betsy 6
Esther 6
Harriet 6
Anne 5
Clara 5
Fanny 5
Grace 5
Edith 4
Emily 4
Kate 4
Lucy 4
Margret 4
Maria 4
Eleanor 3
Elizth. 3
Isabella 3
Louisa 3
Matilda 3
Rose 3
Ada 2
Bertha 2
Bettey 2
Bridget 2
Easter 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Gertrude 2
Helen 2
Lydia 2
Maggie 2
Margt. 2
Minnie 2
Nanny 2

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 91
James 65
Thomas 48
William 48
Henry 30
George 29
Robert 24
Samuel 21
Joseph 20
Benjamin 13
Richard 13
Charles 11
Isaac 11
Walter 11
Alfred 9
Harry 9
Jonathan 8
Arthur 7
Christopher 7
Edward 6
Alexander 5
Edmund 5
Hartley 5
Albert 4
Edwin 4
Jesse 4
Amos 3
David 3
Ernest 3
Sam 3
Charlie 2
Frank 2
Fred 2
Hampden 2
Harold 2
Julian 2
Lawrence 2
Peter 2
Singleton 2
Wright 2
Chas. 1
Eli 1
Elias 1
Frederick 1
Fredk. 1
Geo. 1
Israel 1
J.J. 1
Jas. 1
Zechariah 1

FAQ

Catlow surname: questions and answers

How common was the Catlow surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,234 people were recorded with the Catlow surname. That placed it at #3,284 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Catlow surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 855 in 2016. That gives Catlow a modern rank of #6,547.

What does the Catlow surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to someone who caught wild cats or cats for hunting.

What does the Catlow map show?

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