NameCensus.

UK surname

Harlow

An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "rock hill" or "army hill."

In the 1881 census there were 1,650 people recorded with the Harlow surname, ranking it #2,600 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,039, ranked #3,163, down from #2,600 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Burton-on-Trent, London parishes and St Werburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Derby, Swale and Carmarthenshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Harlow is 2,240 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 23.6%.

1881 census count

1,650

Ranked #2,600

Modern count

2,039

2016, ranked #3,163

Peak year

1911

2,240 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Harlow had 1,650 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,600 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,039 in 2016, ranked #3,163.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,240 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Harlow surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Harlow surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Harlow 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 916 #3,010
1861 historical 1,103 #2,544
1881 historical 1,650 #2,600
1891 historical 1,855 #2,480
1901 historical 2,046 #2,619
1911 historical 2,240 #2,257
1997 modern 2,089 #2,944
1998 modern 2,108 #3,030
1999 modern 2,152 #2,998
2000 modern 2,087 #3,062
2001 modern 2,038 #3,069
2002 modern 2,103 #3,042
2003 modern 2,038 #3,068
2004 modern 2,026 #3,081
2005 modern 2,002 #3,086
2006 modern 1,984 #3,117
2007 modern 2,005 #3,124
2008 modern 2,035 #3,098
2009 modern 2,063 #3,131
2010 modern 2,131 #3,107
2011 modern 2,090 #3,121
2012 modern 2,034 #3,148
2013 modern 2,088 #3,127
2014 modern 2,079 #3,156
2015 modern 2,076 #3,134
2016 modern 2,039 #3,163

Geography

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Where Harlows are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Burton-on-Trent, London parishes, St Werburgh, Margate and Chilham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Derby, Swale, Carmarthenshire, Dudley and Sandwell. 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 Burton-on-Trent Staffordshire
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Werburgh Derbyshire
4 Margate Kent
5 Chilham Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Derby 029 Derby
2 Swale 015 Swale
3 Carmarthenshire 013 Carmarthenshire
4 Dudley 006 Dudley
5 Sandwell 009 Sandwell

Forenames

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First names often paired with Harlow

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Harlow

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

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Harlow is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, 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

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

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

Harlow is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Harlow falls in decile 10 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.

10
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Harlow

The surname Harlow is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "hara" meaning hare and "hlaw" meaning hill or mound. It is believed to have originated as a place name referring to a location where hares were commonly found on a hill or mound.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Harlow can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Herlaua" and "Herlawe" in Essex and Hertfordshire respectively. These entries suggest that the name was already well-established in these areas during the 11th century.

During the medieval period, the name appeared in various forms, including Herlawes, Herlawe, and Harlowe, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common at the time. Several places in England were also named Harlow, further solidifying the name's geographical roots.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname Harlow was John Harlow (c. 1512-1554), an English Protestant martyr who was burned at the stake in Stratford-le-Bow during the Marian Persecutions for his religious beliefs.

In the 17th century, Richard Harlow (1625-1688) was a prominent English painter known for his portraits and landscapes. His works can be found in various collections throughout England.

The 18th century saw the birth of George Henry Harlow (1787-1819), an English painter renowned for his historical and literary subjects. His most famous work, "The Trial of Queen Katharine," depicting a scene from Shakespeare's Henry VIII, is housed in the National Gallery in London.

In the 19th century, Jean Harlow (1911-1937), born Harlean Carpenter, was an iconic American film actress and sex symbol. Despite her short life, she became one of the most celebrated stars of the 1930s and a lasting icon of Hollywood's Golden Age.

More recently, Heather Harlow (born 1970) is an American singer-songwriter and musician known for her work in the indie rock and folk genres, contributing to the vibrant music scene of the Pacific Northwest.

Throughout its history, the surname Harlow has maintained a strong connection to its English roots, with many individuals bearing the name leaving their mark across various fields, from art and literature to religion and entertainment.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Harlow families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Harlow 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. Kent leads with 472 Harlows recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.65x.

County Total Index
Kent 472 8.65x
Derbyshire 192 7.67x
Middlesex 148 0.93x
Lancashire 140 0.74x
Staffordshire 101 1.87x
Surrey 89 1.14x
Yorkshire 57 0.36x
Leicestershire 53 2.99x
Essex 43 1.36x
Warwickshire 39 0.97x
Cheshire 32 0.91x
Bedfordshire 26 3.14x
Glamorgan 26 0.93x
Cambridgeshire 23 2.27x
Worcestershire 23 1.10x
Nottinghamshire 22 1.02x
Hampshire 18 0.55x
Midlothian 16 0.75x
Northumberland 15 0.63x
Norfolk 13 0.53x
Lincolnshire 12 0.47x
Durham 9 0.19x
Suffolk 9 0.46x
Cardiganshire 8 2.05x
Gloucestershire 8 0.26x
Huntingdonshire 8 2.52x
Devon 7 0.21x
Northamptonshire 6 0.40x
Angus 4 0.27x
Monmouthshire 3 0.26x
Pembrokeshire 3 0.59x
Somerset 3 0.12x
Sussex 3 0.11x
Lanarkshire 2 0.04x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.10x
Fife 1 0.11x
Flintshire 1 0.23x
Morayshire 1 0.40x
Oxfordshire 1 0.10x
Royal Navy 1 0.52x
Westmorland 1 0.28x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Margate St John Baptist in Kent leads with 112 Harlows recorded in 1881 and an index of 112.06x.

Place Total Index
Margate St John Baptist 112 112.06x
Derby St Werburgh 58 40.11x
Chilham 55 707.85x
Burton Upon Trent 36 28.49x
Aston 26 2.34x
Edmonton 26 20.17x
Wivenhoe 23 183.41x
Chatteris 22 85.11x
Leicester St Leonard 22 131.03x
Camberwell 21 2.06x
St Luke London 18 7.01x
Nonington 17 390.80x
Stapenhill 17 45.60x
Hackney London 16 1.78x
Islington London 16 1.03x
Ramsgate 16 17.96x
Battersea 15 2.55x
Chartham 15 110.29x
Harborne 15 8.67x
Little Bolton 15 6.15x
Minster In Thanet 14 123.24x
Cardiff St Mary 13 8.47x
Lambeth 13 0.93x
St Pancras London 13 1.01x
Aberdare 12 6.28x
Bermondsey 12 2.52x
Chorley 12 11.27x
Anstey 11 156.92x
Ash Next Sandwich 11 91.06x
Birmingham 11 0.82x
Boston 11 14.17x
Bridge 11 234.54x
Clerkenwell London 11 2.91x
Hugglescote 11 42.16x
Hulland 11 1018.52x
Macclesfield 11 7.01x
Ravensden 11 423.08x
St Andrew Holborn London 11 15.88x
Whitstable 11 41.09x
Ashford 10 18.81x
Gorton 10 5.60x
Rotherhithe 10 5.06x
Sturry 10 154.80x
Ardwick 9 5.26x
Barham 9 162.16x
Carlton Miniott 9 432.69x
Goodnestone In Eastry 9 409.09x
Little Eaton 9 173.75x
Mint 9 1500.00x
Orpington 9 53.86x
Radford 9 8.22x
Repton 9 95.04x
Thornham 9 251.40x
Tissington 9 443.35x
Toxteth Park 9 1.40x
Tutbury 9 68.39x
Aberystwith 8 23.82x
Ashton Under Lyne 8 1.93x
Barking 8 8.66x
Derby All Sts 8 38.24x
Hoath 8 432.43x
Horninglow 8 31.45x
Liverpool 8 0.69x
Sandwich St Peter 8 139.37x
Stalisfield 8 430.11x
Sturston 8 193.24x
Whistones 8 52.88x
Bromley 7 8.41x
Canterbury St Alphage 7 120.07x
Everton 7 1.16x
Gorleston 7 14.14x
Hougham 7 21.57x
Leek Lowe 7 9.74x
Longbenton 7 6.94x
Milton 7 85.89x
Oldham 7 1.14x
Poplar London 7 2.32x
Spitalfields London 7 5.82x
Unstone 7 71.07x
West Malling 7 56.96x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 101
William 97
George 64
James 59
Thomas 46
Charles 34
Henry 34
Alfred 27
Edward 21
Joseph 21
Frederick 18
Walter 18
Arthur 16
Harry 15
Albert 11
Herbert 10
Robert 10
Samuel 9
Jesse 8
Richard 8
Michael 7
Ernest 6
Frank 6
Daniel 5
Fredk. 5
Wm. 5
David 4
Geo. 4
Isaac 4
Patrick 4
Andrew 3
Benjamin 3
Edmund 3
Edwin 3
Fred. 3
Jabez 3
Jno. 3
Stephen 3
Tom 3
Alexander 2
Archley 2
Barnabus 2
Cornelius 2
Dennis 2
Jonathon 2
Josiah 2
Percy 2
Peter 2
Reuben 2
Timothy 2

FAQ

Harlow surname: questions and answers

How common was the Harlow surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,650 people were recorded with the Harlow surname. That placed it at #2,600 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Harlow surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,039 in 2016. That gives Harlow a modern rank of #3,163.

What does the Harlow surname mean?

An English habitational surname derived from a place name meaning "rock hill" or "army hill."

What does the Harlow map show?

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