UK surname
An Old English surname derived from the mallow flower or plant.
In the 1881 census there were 31 people recorded with the Mallow surname, ranking it #29,218 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 30, ranked #35,997, down from #29,218 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Felton, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside and Gateshead. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mallow is 157 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has stayed broadly stable by 3.2%.
1881 census count
31
Ranked #29,218
Modern count
30
2016, ranked #35,997
Peak year
1861
157 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Mallow surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Mallow surname density by area, 1861 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 | 35 | #27,037 |
| 1861 | historical | 157 | #14,732 |
| 1881 | historical | 31 | #29,218 |
| 1891 | historical | 85 | #26,080 |
| 1901 | historical | 29 | #30,848 |
| 1911 | historical | 33 | #29,703 |
| 1997 | modern | 46 | #33,077 |
| 1998 | modern | 42 | #33,651 |
| 1999 | modern | 33 | #34,610 |
| 2000 | modern | 28 | #35,080 |
| 2001 | modern | 19 | #35,866 |
| 2002 | modern | 27 | #35,243 |
| 2003 | modern | 23 | #35,650 |
| 2004 | modern | 22 | #35,878 |
| 2005 | modern | 24 | #35,827 |
| 2006 | modern | 28 | #35,665 |
| 2007 | modern | 32 | #35,530 |
| 2008 | modern | 32 | #35,610 |
| 2009 | modern | 38 | #35,380 |
| 2010 | modern | 39 | #35,451 |
| 2011 | modern | 44 | #35,161 |
| 2012 | modern | 29 | #35,991 |
| 2013 | modern | 25 | #36,276 |
| 2014 | modern | 30 | #36,005 |
| 2015 | modern | 29 | #36,040 |
| 2016 | modern | 30 | #35,997 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Felton, Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside, Gateshead, Manchester and Liverpool. 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 | Felton | Northumberland |
| 2 | Lanchester (Collierley, Kyo, Billingside, Medomsley, Ebchchester, Benfieldside, Heelyfield, Conside | Durham |
| 3 | Gateshead | Durham |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Mallow 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 Mallow, 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 Mallow surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Mallow 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, Mallow 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 Mallow is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Mallow, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Mallow is of English origin, deriving from the Old English word 'malu' or 'malwe', meaning a plant of the mallow family. It likely originated as a nickname for someone who lived near a place where mallow plants grew abundantly or as an occupational name for a person who harvested or traded in these plants.
The earliest recorded instances of the surname date back to the 13th century. One of the earliest bearers of the name was Walter de la Malowe, mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of Staffordshire in 1275. The 'de la' prefix suggests the name may have initially referred to a specific place name, possibly a location with an abundance of mallow plants.
In the 14th century, the surname appeared in various spellings, such as Malewe, Malough, and Malowe, reflecting the variations in pronunciation and spelling practices of the time. One notable bearer of the name was John Mallow, a merchant from London, who was recorded in the city's records in 1382.
During the 16th century, the Mallow surname was well-established in various parts of England, particularly in the counties of Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, and Somerset. A notable figure from this period was William Mallow, a member of the Worshipful Company of Mercers in London, who was born around 1510.
In the 17th century, the name spread to other parts of the British Isles, including Ireland and Scotland. One prominent individual with this surname was Sir Thomas Mallow, an English soldier and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Gloucestershire in the 1620s.
The 18th century saw the emergence of several notable Mallows, including John Mallow (1693-1766), a renowned English clockmaker and inventor, and Samuel Mallow (1718-1796), a British naval officer who served during the American Revolutionary War.
In the 19th century, the Mallow surname continued to be widely represented, with individuals such as Charles Mallow (1811-1873), a British writer and journalist, and William Mallow (1845-1917), an English industrialist and philanthropist, leaving their mark on history.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mallow 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 8 Mallows recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.74x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 8 | 2.74x |
| Durham | 4 | 4.60x |
| Hertfordshire | 3 | 14.88x |
| Lancashire | 3 | 0.86x |
| Leicestershire | 2 | 6.17x |
| Yorkshire | 2 | 0.69x |
| Bedfordshire | 1 | 6.61x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 1.74x |
| Hampshire | 1 | 1.67x |
| Kent | 1 | 1.00x |
| Lanarkshire | 1 | 1.06x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 2.14x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 3.64x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.70x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cowpen Bewley in Durham leads with 4 Mallows recorded in 1881 and an index of 4000.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cowpen Bewley | 4 | 4000.00x |
| Bishop Stortford | 3 | 447.76x |
| Hulme | 2 | 27.62x |
| Oakthorpe Donsthorpe | 2 | 2222.22x |
| Paddington London | 2 | 18.60x |
| St George In East | 2 | 100.50x |
| Bedford St Paul | 1 | 96.15x |
| Bingley | 1 | 54.05x |
| Fordingbridge | 1 | 303.03x |
| Great Grimsby | 1 | 33.67x |
| Hawkesbury | 1 | 500.00x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 3.92x |
| Leeds | 1 | 6.11x |
| Limehouse London | 1 | 31.15x |
| Newchurch | 1 | 35.21x |
| Northampton All Sts | 1 | 107.53x |
| Old Monkland | 1 | 26.67x |
| St Anne Soho London | 1 | 59.88x |
| West Malling | 1 | 454.55x |
| Westminster St | 1 | 92.59x |
| Whitechapel London | 1 | 34.72x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mallow 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 Mallow 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 Mallow households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Dressmaker | 2 |
| Labourer Bricklayer | 2 |
| 21/3 Mile Stone Mason | 1 |
| Assistant To House Keeper | 1 |
| Boot & Shoe Maker | 1 |
| Carman | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Charwoman | 1 |
| Coachman | 1 |
| Cook Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Cook N D Out Of Work | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| House Maid | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Labourer At Works (Iron) | 1 |
| Mashnest Shoes | 1 |
| Master | 1 |
| Masters Wife | 1 |
| Scholar | 1 |
| Travelling Draper | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 31 people were recorded with the Mallow surname. That placed it at #29,218 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 30 in 2016. That gives Mallow a modern rank of #35,997.
An Old English surname derived from the mallow flower or plant.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mallow 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.