NameCensus.

UK surname

Hurlow

A surname derived from a location, possibly referring to a hill or low-lying area.

In the 1881 census there were 108 people recorded with the Hurlow surname, ranking it #18,888 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 217, ranked #18,535, up from #18,888 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Mary, Begelly and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Swansea and Pembrokeshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hurlow is 222 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 100.9%.

1881 census count

108

Ranked #18,888

Modern count

217

2016, ranked #18,535

Peak year

2011

222 bearers

Map years

8

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hurlow had 108 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,888 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 217 in 2016, ranked #18,535.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 150 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Hurlow surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hurlow surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hurlow 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 60 #22,584
1861 historical 140 #16,169
1881 historical 108 #18,888
1891 historical 150 #18,328
1901 historical 133 #19,372
1911 historical 133 #19,214
1997 modern 197 #17,792
1998 modern 203 #17,949
1999 modern 203 #18,081
2000 modern 211 #17,603
2001 modern 193 #18,334
2002 modern 208 #17,848
2003 modern 209 #17,620
2004 modern 205 #17,935
2005 modern 214 #17,378
2006 modern 217 #17,349
2007 modern 213 #17,744
2008 modern 221 #17,495
2009 modern 221 #17,848
2010 modern 221 #18,205
2011 modern 222 #17,999
2012 modern 217 #18,184
2013 modern 215 #18,598
2014 modern 216 #18,705
2015 modern 216 #18,600
2016 modern 217 #18,535

Geography

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Where Hurlows are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Mary, Begelly, Manchester, Bedwelty and Cardiff St John and St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Swansea and Pembrokeshire. 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 St Mary Pembrokeshire
2 Begelly Pembrokeshire
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Bedwelty Monmouthshire
5 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Swansea 011 Swansea
2 Swansea 021 Swansea
3 Pembrokeshire 016 Pembrokeshire
4 Swansea 016 Swansea
5 Swansea 013 Swansea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hurlow

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hurlow

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Hurlow surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Hurlow household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Central Connected Professionals and Managers

Group

Senior Professionals

Within London, Hurlow is most associated with areas classed as Senior Professionals, part of Central Connected Professionals and Managers. 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 very central neighbourhoods house residents whose ages are more skewed towards older age cohorts than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Few households have young children. Rates of illness are low. Indian ethnicity is rare compared to the Supergroup mean. Property under occupation is more common, despite the centrality of neighbourhoods, and more residents live in communal establishments than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Adult residents of these neighbourhoods are typically aged 25 to 44, working full-time in professional, managerial or associate professional occupations. There are few families with dependent children. The predominantly Inner London neighbourhoods have an international character, including many residents born elsewhere in Europe alongside high numbers of individuals identifying as of Chinese ethnicity. Many individuals are never married, childless and/or living alone. Above average numbers of individuals, likely to be full-time students, live in communal establishments. Elsewhere, privately rented flats are the dominant housing type. Residents of these areas are well-qualified, with a significant number holding Level 4 or above qualifications. There is a correspondingly high level of individuals employed full-time in professional, managerial and associated professional or technical occupations. Employing industries are financial, real estate, professional, administration, and, to a lesser degree, transport and communications. Unemployment is uncommon.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hurlow is most concentrated in decile 4 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.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hurlow falls in decile 2 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.

2
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Hurlow

The surname Hurlow is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period. It is thought to be derived from the Old English words "huru," meaning a nook or corner, and "hlaw," meaning a hill or mound. This suggests that the name may have referred to someone who lived in a secluded or sheltered area on a hillside.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the Hurlow surname can be found in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of land ownership commissioned by William the Conqueror in 1086. The entry mentions a landowner named Hurluua, which is likely an early spelling variation of Hurlow.

During the 13th century, records show the surname spelled as "Hurlowe" and "Hurloue," indicating the name's evolution over time. These variations may have been influenced by the place names of areas where families bearing the surname resided, such as the village of Hurlow in Derbyshire.

Notable individuals with the Hurlow surname include John Hurlow, a merchant who lived in London in the late 16th century. Records from 1591 mention his involvement in trade with the Netherlands. Another early bearer of the name was Thomas Hurlow, a farmer from Gloucestershire, who was born in 1612.

In the 18th century, a prominent figure was Sir William Hurlow (1720-1789), a member of Parliament and landowner in Oxfordshire. He was known for his support of agricultural reforms and his advocacy for better farming practices.

Another individual of note was Elizabeth Hurlow (1785-1864), a writer and poet from Yorkshire. Her collection of poems, titled "Musings of a Country Lass," was published in 1832 and received praise for its vivid descriptions of rural life.

The 19th century saw the birth of Robert Hurlow (1842-1912), a renowned architect from Lancashire. He designed several notable buildings in Manchester, including the city's central library and the Athenaeum theater.

Throughout its history, the Hurlow surname has maintained its strong ties to England, with various branches of the family residing in different regions over the centuries. While the name may have evolved in spelling and pronunciation, its roots can be traced back to the medieval era, reflecting the unique geographical and linguistic influences that shaped its origin.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hurlow families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hurlow 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. Pembrokeshire leads with 56 Hurlows recorded in 1881 and an index of 165.73x.

County Total Index
Pembrokeshire 56 165.73x
Glamorgan 16 8.64x
Lancashire 13 1.03x
Kent 8 2.21x
Monmouthshire 8 10.41x
Durham 4 1.26x
Gloucestershire 2 0.96x
Royal Navy 1 7.89x
Surrey 1 0.19x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Pembroke St Mary in Pembrokeshire leads with 16 Hurlows recorded in 1881 and an index of 367.82x.

Place Total Index
Pembroke St Mary 16 367.82x
Ardwick 13 114.24x
Bedwellty 8 58.95x
Lawrenny 7 7000.00x
Rudbaxton 7 3684.21x
Roath 6 71.34x
Sundridge 6 1000.00x
Llanwonno 5 75.19x
Nash 5 12500.00x
St Florence 5 4166.67x
Williamston 5 2777.78x
Ystradyfodwg 5 30.79x
Stockton On Tees 4 26.23x
Manor Bier 3 1304.35x
Tenby St Mary In 3 174.42x
Bristol St Philip Jacob 2 10.19x
Minster In Sheppey 2 33.28x
St Issells 2 281.69x
Carew 1 294.12x
Kingston On Thames 1 8.04x
Rhoscrowther 1 1250.00x
Royal Navy 1 9.23x
Steynton 1 91.74x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 12
Jane 5
Elizabeth 3
Martha 3
Agnes 2
Ann 2
Annie 2
Catherine 2
Edith 2
Helena 2
Margaret 2
Alice 1
Allet 1
Amy 1
Elinda 1
Esther 1
Fanny 1
Hannah 1
Her.J. 1
Katie 1
Lizzie 1
Lydia 1
Margart 1
Mira 1
Rebecca 1
Rhoda 1
Sarah 1
Sophia 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 9
William 8
Thomas 7
Richard 6
George 4
Isaac 3
James 3
Charles 2
Edward 2
Alfred 1
Batholomew 1
Benjamin 1
Edgar 1
Ernest 1
Fred 1
Harry 1
Hugh 1
Joseph 1
W.H. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Hurlow surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hurlow surname in 1881?

In 1881, 108 people were recorded with the Hurlow surname. That placed it at #18,888 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hurlow surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 217 in 2016. That gives Hurlow a modern rank of #18,535.

What does the Hurlow surname mean?

A surname derived from a location, possibly referring to a hill or low-lying area.

What does the Hurlow map show?

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