NameCensus.

UK surname

Darlow

An English place name derived from a location in Northumberland.

In the 1881 census there were 626 people recorded with the Darlow surname, ranking it #5,649 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,051, ranked #5,546, up from #5,649 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Kempston, Gamlingay and Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Barnsley.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Darlow is 1,169 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 67.9%.

1881 census count

626

Ranked #5,649

Modern count

1,051

2016, ranked #5,546

Peak year

1999

1,169 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Darlow had 626 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #5,649 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,051 in 2016, ranked #5,546.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 958 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Darlow surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Darlow surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Darlow 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 309 #7,449
1861 historical 403 #6,372
1881 historical 626 #5,649
1891 historical 685 #5,716
1901 historical 800 #5,648
1911 historical 958 #4,707
1997 modern 1,113 #5,016
1998 modern 1,151 #5,053
1999 modern 1,169 #5,039
2000 modern 1,159 #5,053
2001 modern 1,140 #5,029
2002 modern 1,168 #5,020
2003 modern 1,113 #5,122
2004 modern 1,103 #5,170
2005 modern 1,078 #5,219
2006 modern 1,072 #5,238
2007 modern 1,095 #5,206
2008 modern 1,097 #5,230
2009 modern 1,110 #5,290
2010 modern 1,119 #5,359
2011 modern 1,121 #5,290
2012 modern 1,066 #5,431
2013 modern 1,079 #5,469
2014 modern 1,081 #5,494
2015 modern 1,067 #5,497
2016 modern 1,051 #5,546

Geography

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Where Darlows are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Kempston, Gamlingay, Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory, Odell and Sheffield. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bedford, Central Bedfordshire, Barnsley and Huntingdonshire. 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 Kempston Bedfordshire
2 Gamlingay Cambridgeshire
3 Northampton St Giles, Northampton St Sepulchre, Northampton Priory Northamptonshire
4 Odell Bedfordshire
5 Sheffield Yorkshire, West Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bedford 004 Bedford
2 Central Bedfordshire 003 Central Bedfordshire
3 Barnsley 019 Barnsley
4 Central Bedfordshire 004 Central Bedfordshire
5 Huntingdonshire 003 Huntingdonshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Darlow

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Darlow

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Darlow is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Darlow is most concentrated in decile 8 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Darlow 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 Darlow is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 50-60 mbit/s.

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

8
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Darlow

The surname DARLOW is of English origin, and it is believed to have originated in the medieval period, around the 13th or 14th century. The name is thought to be derived from the Old English words "deor" meaning "deer" and "hlaw" meaning "hill" or "mound," indicating that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near or on a hill where deer were found.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname DARLOW can be traced back to various regions in England, particularly in the counties of Derbyshire, Staffordshire, and Yorkshire. The name was likely adopted by families who resided in or near areas with a topographical feature known as a "deer hill" or "deer mound."

One of the earliest known references to the DARLOW surname is found in the Subsidy Rolls of Derbyshire from the year 1327, where a person named Willelmus de Derlawe is mentioned. This spelling variation, "Derlawe," provides insight into the potential evolution of the name over time.

In the 16th century, the DARLOW name appears in various records, including the Parish Registers of Bakewell, Derbyshire, where a baptism of Johanne Darlow is recorded in 1564. Another notable entry is the marriage of John Darlow and Agnes Smyth in the Parish Registers of Hartington, Derbyshire, in 1581.

Throughout history, several notable individuals have borne the DARLOW surname. One such person was John Darlow (1612-1688), an English Puritan clergyman who served as the Vicar of St. Mary's Church in Nottingham. Another remarkable figure was Thomas Darlow (1880-1958), an English Anglican priest and author who wrote extensively on biblical studies and church history.

In the field of sports, Thomas Darlow (1903-1978) was a professional English footballer who played as a goalkeeper for various clubs, including Southampton and Swindon Town, during the 1920s and 1930s.

The name DARLOW has also been associated with notable figures in the arts and literature. William Darlow (1837-1921) was an English painter and watercolorist known for his landscapes and rural scenes. Additionally, Graham Darlow (1903-1997) was a British novelist and playwright who wrote several works, including the novel "The Lost Princess" and the play "Arabesque."

While the DARLOW surname may have originated from a specific geographical location, it has since spread across various regions and countries, with families bearing this name contributing to various fields throughout history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Darlow families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Darlow 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. Bedfordshire leads with 125 Darlows recorded in 1881 and an index of 39.53x.

County Total Index
Bedfordshire 125 39.53x
Yorkshire 95 1.57x
Cambridgeshire 66 17.06x
Huntingdonshire 64 52.78x
Northamptonshire 62 10.79x
Middlesex 51 0.84x
Warwickshire 50 3.25x
Surrey 22 0.74x
Lincolnshire 18 1.84x
Essex 14 1.16x
Leicestershire 10 1.48x
Worcestershire 9 1.13x
Gloucestershire 7 0.58x
Hertfordshire 7 1.66x
Rutland 6 13.38x
Staffordshire 6 0.29x
Lancashire 5 0.07x
Cheshire 2 0.15x
Somerset 2 0.20x
Derbyshire 1 0.10x
Hampshire 1 0.08x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.12x
Shropshire 1 0.19x
Sussex 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Gamlingay in Cambridgeshire leads with 42 Darlows recorded in 1881 and an index of 1042.18x.

Place Total Index
Gamlingay 42 1042.18x
Kempston 26 362.12x
Nether Hallam 25 30.54x
Attercliffe Cum Darnall 24 42.58x
Thurleigh 22 1746.03x
Odell 19 2159.09x
Ramsey 17 175.08x
Islington London 16 2.70x
Bedford St Paul 14 64.55x
Brightside Bierlow 14 11.80x
Northampton St Sepulchre 13 44.49x
Potton 13 309.52x
Hemingford Grey 12 645.16x
Kenilworth 12 138.25x
Bourn 11 647.06x
Little Stukeley 11 1774.19x
Kettering 10 43.05x
Kimbolton 9 352.94x
Leeds 9 2.63x
St George In East London 9 15.67x
St Pancras London 9 1.83x
Aston 8 1.89x
Bubbenhall 8 1454.55x
Souldrop 8 1600.00x
Daventry 7 86.21x
East Ham 7 31.29x
Harwich St Nicholas 7 75.19x
Leicester All Sts 7 52.63x
Northampton Priory St 7 20.31x
Cheshunt 6 40.79x
Dudley 6 6.19x
Fleet 6 215.83x
Kingswinford 6 8.02x
Lambeth 6 1.13x
Uppingham 6 112.36x
Whilton 6 810.81x
Wimbledon 6 17.96x
Bristol St Paul In 5 15.67x
Buckden 5 229.36x
Chatteris 5 50.66x
Dodworth 5 79.49x
Napton On Hill 5 270.27x
Peterborough 5 12.03x
Arrington 4 784.31x
Ashow 4 1081.08x
Battersea 4 1.78x
Bingley 4 10.38x
Bow London 4 5.15x
Harrold 4 186.92x
Huntingdon St Mary 4 132.01x
Manningham 4 5.37x
Oldham 4 1.71x
Penge 4 10.25x
Bethnal Green London 3 1.13x
Birmingham 3 0.58x
Chelsea London 3 1.63x
Coventry Holy Trinity 3 6.52x
Halifax 3 3.38x
Huntingdon St John 3 85.47x
Little Staughton 3 306.12x
Northampton St Giles 3 13.71x
Raunds 3 51.28x
Spalding 3 15.48x
Allesley 2 98.52x
Bedford St Peter 2 24.36x
Birkenhead 2 1.86x
Breedon 2 133.33x
Bristol St James St Paul 2 5.01x
Clapham 2 156.25x
Cowbit 2 150.38x
Cranfield 2 65.79x
Eaton Socon 2 40.32x
Ecclesall Bierlow 2 1.63x
Higham Ferrers 2 64.10x
Kings Norton 2 2.80x
Little Addington 2 281.69x
New Sleaford 2 31.95x
North Bierley 2 6.12x
Quadring 2 106.38x
Sharnbrook 2 114.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 32
Elizabeth 31
Sarah 19
Emma 14
Eliza 12
Martha 11
Ann 10
Emily 10
Ellen 8
Louisa 8
Alice 7
Jane 7
Florence 6
Ada 5
Annie 5
Clara 5
Hannah 5
Kate 5
Susan 5
Agnes 4
Charlotte 4
Edith 4
Fanny 4
Frances 4
Gertrude 4
Margaret 4
Matilda 3
Rose 3
Bertha 2
Cath. 2
Elizth. 2
Esther 2
Georgina 2
Harriet 2
Harriett 2
Minnie 2
Naomi 2
Rebecca 2
Rosetta 2
Sophia 2
Betsey 1
Betsy 1
Blanche 1
Elizth.A. 1
Emely 1
Emly 1
Jenny 1
Jessie 1
Kezia 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 57
John 33
George 32
Thomas 25
Charles 18
Frederick 15
Joseph 11
Henry 9
Samuel 9
Alfred 8
Albert 7
Arthur 7
David 7
Edward 7
James 7
Eli 5
Fredrick 5
Harry 5
Walter 5
Herbert 4
Frank 3
Carrington 2
Fredk. 2
Geo. 2
Joshua 2
Mathew 2
Robert 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Earnest 1
Eben 1
Ebenezer 1
Edwin 1
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Humphrey 1
Infant 1
Lantaff 1
Leonard 1
Louis 1
Reuben 1
Richard 1
Rueben 1
Saml 1
Sidney 1
Simon 1
Stephen 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Darlow surname: questions and answers

How common was the Darlow surname in 1881?

In 1881, 626 people were recorded with the Darlow surname. That placed it at #5,649 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Darlow surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,051 in 2016. That gives Darlow a modern rank of #5,546.

What does the Darlow surname mean?

An English place name derived from a location in Northumberland.

What does the Darlow map show?

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