UK surname
A locational surname for people from Jarrow, a town near the River Tyne in England.
In the 1881 census there were 58 people recorded with the Jarrow surname, ranking it #25,428 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 3, ranked #38,594, down from #25,428 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Strubby with Woodthorp, Darlington and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Jarrow is 157 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 94.8%.
1881 census count
58
Ranked #25,428
Modern count
3
2016, ranked #38,594
Peak year
1861
157 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Jarrow surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Jarrow surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 48 | #24,615 |
| 1861 | historical | 157 | #14,732 |
| 1881 | historical | 58 | #25,428 |
| 1891 | historical | 131 | #20,073 |
| 1901 | historical | 29 | #30,848 |
| 1911 | historical | 28 | #30,296 |
| 1997 | modern | 7 | #37,533 |
| 1998 | modern | 12 | #36,790 |
| 1999 | modern | 13 | #36,693 |
| 2000 | modern | 9 | #37,119 |
| 2001 | modern | 8 | #37,124 |
| 2002 | modern | 8 | #37,206 |
| 2003 | modern | 7 | #37,397 |
| 2004 | modern | 6 | #37,655 |
| 2005 | modern | 10 | #37,180 |
| 2006 | modern | 9 | #37,345 |
| 2007 | modern | 8 | #37,572 |
| 2008 | modern | 9 | #37,473 |
| 2009 | modern | 8 | #37,689 |
| 2010 | modern | 8 | #37,769 |
| 2011 | modern | 7 | #37,865 |
| 2012 | modern | 1 | #38,986 |
| 2013 | modern | 3 | #38,526 |
| 2014 | modern | 3 | #38,552 |
| 2015 | modern | 3 | #38,558 |
| 2016 | modern | 3 | #38,594 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Strubby with Woodthorp, Darlington, Gateshead, Ryton and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Strubby with Woodthorp | Lincolnshire |
| 2 | Darlington | Durham |
| 3 | Gateshead | Durham |
| 4 | Ryton | Durham |
| 5 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Jarrow surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Jarrow, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Jarrow surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Jarrow household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Jarrow is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Jarrow is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Jarrow, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Jarrow has its origins in England and can be traced back to the medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name, derived from the town of Jarrow in the County of Durham, located on the River Tyne. The name is thought to come from the Old English words "gēare" meaning "at the" and "rēow" meaning "row" or "bank," referring to the town's location on the river bank.
One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name Jarrow can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Gyruum." This important historical document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, recorded the landholdings and population of much of England at the time.
In the 12th century, the Benedictine monastery of St. Paul's, located in Jarrow, became a significant center of learning and scholarship. One notable figure associated with Jarrow was the Venerable Bede (672-735), a renowned monk, scholar, and author who is considered one of the greatest historians of the Anglo-Saxon period.
Throughout the medieval and early modern periods, various spelling variations of the name Jarrow emerged, including Jarrow, Jarrowe, Jerow, and Jerrow. These variations often reflected regional dialects and the preferences of individual record-keepers.
Several notable individuals have borne the surname Jarrow over the centuries. One such figure was John Jarrow (c. 1600-1670), an English Puritan minister who served as a chaplain in the Parliamentary army during the English Civil War. Another was William Jarrow (1725-1804), a renowned clockmaker from Newcastle upon Tyne, whose timepieces were highly prized for their accuracy and craftsmanship.
In the 19th century, a notable bearer of the Jarrow surname was Isaac Jarrow (1815-1892), a British industrialist and shipbuilder who founded the Jarrow Shipyard on the River Tyne. This shipyard played a crucial role in the development of the shipbuilding industry in the region and contributed significantly to the local economy.
Another prominent figure with the Jarrow surname was Sir Leonard Jarrow (1875-1951), a British civil engineer and inventor. He is particularly known for his contributions to the development of steam turbines and for his work on the construction of the Forth Bridge in Scotland.
While the surname Jarrow is relatively uncommon, it has a rich historical legacy tied to the town of Jarrow and its various associations with scholarship, industry, and engineering over the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Jarrow surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 13 Jarrows recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.30x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 13 | 2.30x |
| Angus | 7 | 13.36x |
| Northumberland | 7 | 8.32x |
| Durham | 6 | 3.57x |
| Essex | 5 | 4.48x |
| Worcestershire | 5 | 6.77x |
| Berkshire | 3 | 7.07x |
| Surrey | 3 | 1.09x |
| Dorset | 2 | 5.39x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.30x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.52x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 0.55x |
| Renfrewshire | 1 | 2.28x |
| Sussex | 1 | 1.05x |
| Yorkshire | 1 | 0.18x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bethnal Green London in Middlesex leads with 5 Jarrows recorded in 1881 and an index of 20.35x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Bethnal Green London | 5 | 20.35x |
| Chelmsford | 5 | 260.42x |
| Kings Norton | 5 | 75.53x |
| Teddington London | 5 | 390.63x |
| Darlington | 4 | 61.54x |
| West Denton | 4 | 4444.44x |
| Lambeth | 3 | 6.08x |
| Montrose | 3 | 94.34x |
| Preston In Tynemouth | 3 | 909.09x |
| Reading St Giles | 3 | 71.94x |
| Aberlemno | 2 | 1052.63x |
| St Marylebone London | 2 | 6.62x |
| Stalbridge | 2 | 571.43x |
| Brechin | 1 | 48.54x |
| Brighton | 1 | 5.20x |
| Cathcart | 1 | 42.19x |
| Chorlton On Medlock | 1 | 9.38x |
| Dundee | 1 | 5.11x |
| Glasgow | 1 | 3.08x |
| Greencroft Langley | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Islington London | 1 | 1.82x |
| Little Woolton | 1 | 526.32x |
| Sheffield | 1 | 5.61x |
| Stranton | 1 | 17.67x |
| Whitstable | 1 | 105.26x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Jarrow surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Jarrow surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Jarrow households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 9 |
| Governess Of School (T) | 2 |
| Labourer | 2 |
| Laundress | 2 |
| Railway Porter | 2 |
| Able Seaman | 1 |
| Butcher | 1 |
| Cook Domestic Serv | 1 |
| Domestic Footman | 1 |
| Dyers Sub Manager | 1 |
| Gas Fitter | 1 |
| Jeweller | 1 |
| Jobbing Gardener | 1 |
| No Occupation | 1 |
| Railway Porters Wife | 1 |
| Shop Assistant (Draper) | 1 |
| Stay Maker | 1 |
| Takes In Boarders (House Keeper) | 1 |
| Waterman | 1 |
| Watermans Wife | 1 |
| Wood Turner | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 58 people were recorded with the Jarrow surname. That placed it at #25,428 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 3 in 2016. That gives Jarrow a modern rank of #38,594.
A locational surname for people from Jarrow, a town near the River Tyne in England.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Jarrow bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.