NameCensus.

UK surname

Pellow

A surname derived from the Cornish place name Pellow.

In the 1881 census there were 510 people recorded with the Pellow surname, ranking it #6,678 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 671, ranked #7,978, down from #6,678 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Lamerton, Brentor, Budock and Gluvias. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Pellow is 686 in 2002. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 31.6%.

1881 census count

510

Ranked #6,678

Modern count

671

2016, ranked #7,978

Peak year

2002

686 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Pellow had 510 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,678 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 671 in 2016, ranked #7,978.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 659 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Pellow surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Pellow surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Pellow 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 367 #6,469
1861 historical 315 #8,071
1881 historical 510 #6,678
1891 historical 543 #6,951
1901 historical 619 #6,894
1911 historical 659 #6,373
1997 modern 632 #7,843
1998 modern 641 #7,986
1999 modern 661 #7,845
2000 modern 657 #7,870
2001 modern 643 #7,864
2002 modern 686 #7,633
2003 modern 665 #7,693
2004 modern 665 #7,714
2005 modern 659 #7,694
2006 modern 659 #7,728
2007 modern 645 #7,914
2008 modern 677 #7,676
2009 modern 686 #7,759
2010 modern 674 #8,014
2011 modern 651 #8,148
2012 modern 628 #8,297
2013 modern 665 #8,068
2014 modern 661 #8,143
2015 modern 670 #7,996
2016 modern 671 #7,978

Geography

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Where Pellows are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Lamerton, Brentor, Budock, Gluvias, Stoke Climsland and Falmouth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall. 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 Lamerton, Brentor Devon
2 Budock Cornwall
3 Gluvias Cornwall
4 Stoke Climsland Cornwall
5 Falmouth Cornwall

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 060 Cornwall
2 Cornwall 057 Cornwall
3 Cornwall 061 Cornwall
4 Cornwall 046 Cornwall
5 Cornwall 062 Cornwall

Forenames

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First names often paired with Pellow

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Pellow

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Skilled Trades and Construction Workers

Within London, Pellow is most associated with areas classed as Skilled Trades and Construction Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 scattered, peripheral and often low residential density neighbourhoods house more workers in skilled trades and construction. Few households rent social housing and there are few students. Multiple car ownership is higher than the Supergroup average, perhaps because of poorer public transport connectivity. Incidence of mixed or multiple ethnicity is below the Supergroup average, and the absence of individuals identifying as Pakistani or Other Asian groups is also less pronounced. Flatted accommodation is less dominant than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Pellow is most concentrated in decile 2 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

2
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Pellow falls in decile 4 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.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Pellow

The surname PELLOW is believed to have originated in Cornwall, England, with the earliest recorded instances dating back to the late 16th century. It is derived from the Cornish place name "Pellow", a township in the parish of St. Breward, which itself is derived from the Cornish words "pell" meaning "remote" or "distant", and "loo" meaning "place".

One of the earliest recorded mentions of the name PELLOW can be found in the parish records of St. Breward, where a John Pellow was listed as a resident in 1598. The surname also appears in the Protestation Returns of 1641-1642, a document listing those who swore allegiance to the Protestant faith during the English Civil War.

In the 17th century, the PELLOW name began to spread beyond Cornwall, with records showing individuals bearing the surname in various parts of England, including London and the surrounding counties. One notable figure from this era was William PELLOW, a merchant and ship owner from Cornwall who was active in the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

As the PELLOW family grew and dispersed throughout England, various spellings of the name emerged, including Pellowe, Pelowe, and Pellaw. In the 19th century, several members of the PELLOW family achieved distinction, such as Henry PELLOW (1785-1870), a renowned architect responsible for designing numerous churches and public buildings in Cornwall.

Another prominent figure was Sir John Walter PELLOW (1821-1892), a British naval officer who served in the Crimean War and later became a Member of Parliament. His son, Sir Walter PELLOW (1854-1936), followed in his footsteps and had a distinguished career in the Royal Navy, rising to the rank of Admiral.

In more recent times, the PELLOW surname has been carried by individuals such as John PELLOW (1907-1982), a British politician and Member of Parliament, and Richard PELLOW (born 1942), an English actor known for his roles in television and film.

While the PELLOW surname originated in Cornwall, it has since spread throughout the United Kingdom and beyond, with descendants bearing the name found in various parts of the world. Despite its humble beginnings, the name has a rich history and has been associated with individuals from diverse backgrounds and professions over the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Pellow families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Pellow 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. Cornwall leads with 274 Pellows recorded in 1881 and an index of 48.65x.

County Total Index
Cornwall 274 48.65x
Devon 134 12.94x
Essex 16 1.63x
Hampshire 14 1.37x
Lancashire 13 0.22x
Lanarkshire 11 0.68x
Middlesex 11 0.22x
Angus 9 1.95x
Warwickshire 8 0.64x
Durham 6 0.41x
Channel Islands 4 2.71x
Staffordshire 3 0.18x
Cumberland 1 0.23x
Midlothian 1 0.15x
Oxfordshire 1 0.33x
Royal Navy 1 1.69x
Somerset 1 0.12x
Surrey 1 0.04x
Yorkshire 1 0.02x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Erth in Cornwall leads with 43 Pellows recorded in 1881 and an index of 1261.00x.

Place Total Index
St Erth 43 1261.00x
Falmouth 42 210.63x
Sourton 26 2954.55x
Stoke Climsland 25 694.44x
Budock 18 424.53x
Camborne 18 77.55x
St Blazey 13 262.63x
Plymouth St Andrew 11 13.79x
Bodmin 10 107.30x
Harwich St Nicholas 10 131.93x
St Gluvias 10 317.46x
St Gluvias Penryn 10 221.73x
St Stithians 10 322.58x
Dundee 9 5.23x
Southampton All Sts 9 51.43x
Tavistock 9 76.27x
Uny Lelant 9 296.05x
Bothwell 7 16.04x
Calstock 7 63.35x
Exbourne 7 1093.75x
Lamerton 7 355.33x
Mabe 7 603.45x
Stoke Damerel 7 9.66x
Antony 6 110.29x
Gateshead 6 5.41x
Gwinear 6 224.72x
North Petherwyn 6 410.96x
Northlew 6 461.54x
Tiverton 6 33.63x
Wolborough 6 45.84x
Aston 5 1.45x
Okehampton 5 128.21x
Oldham 5 2.62x
Plymouth Charles The 5 10.96x
Portsea 5 2.50x
Sampford Spiney 5 714.29x
St Austell 5 25.97x
Tormoham 5 11.41x
Walton On Hill 5 15.63x
West Ham 5 2.31x
Callington 4 121.95x
Ludgvan 4 89.09x
St Allen 4 404.04x
St Thomas Apostle 4 229.89x
Birmingham 3 0.72x
Compton 3 434.78x
Harborne 3 5.57x
Illogan 3 20.12x
Lewannick 3 272.73x
Marystow 3 454.55x
St Helier 3 6.25x
Barony 2 0.49x
Bideford 2 18.03x
Bridestow 2 181.82x
Devonport 2 16.81x
Hanwell 2 22.68x
Kelly 2 512.82x
Kensington London 2 0.72x
Kenwyn 2 13.58x
Liskeard 2 21.23x
Maryhill 2 6.35x
Phillack 2 27.51x
St Marylebone London 2 0.75x
St Pancras London 2 0.50x
Sydenham Damerel 2 250.00x
Thrushelton 2 273.97x
Ugborough 2 80.00x
Ealing 1 2.25x
Edinburgh Greenside 1 11.35x
Hatherleigh 1 38.76x
Lambeth 1 0.23x
Lawhitton 1 135.14x
Layton With Warbreck 1 4.62x
Royal Navy 1 1.97x
Sampford Courtenay 1 64.52x
St Clement 1 17.01x
St Dominick 1 70.92x
Stratton 1 32.68x
Trinity 1 29.33x
Truro St Mary 1 21.14x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 41
Elizabeth 27
Jane 9
Alice 7
Grace 7
Susan 7
Ellen 6
Ann 5
Eliza 5
Emma 5
Maria 5
Anne 4
Annie 4
Catherine 4
Clara 4
Elizth. 4
Emily 4
Louisa 4
Margaret 4
Betsy 3
Caroline 3
Jessie 3
Kate 3
Minnie 3
Sarah 3
Bessie 2
Celia 2
Christiana 2
Elizebeth 2
Florence 2
Frances 2
Hannah 2
Harriet 2
Jemima 2
Laura 2
Lucy 2
Martha 2
Nanny 2
Rosina 2
Sanria 2
Selina 2
Therza 2
Amelia 1
Attlia 1
Avis 1
Beatrice 1
Elizh. 1
Elizth.Mary 1
Helena 1
Thresa 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 49
John 44
Thomas 17
James 16
Henry 12
Charles 11
Richard 8
Benjamin 7
George 7
Albert 5
Edwin 5
Frederick 4
Alfred 3
Christopher 3
Fredrick 3
Samuel 3
Ernest 2
Thos.A. 2
Arthur 1
Bruce 1
Caleb 1
David 1
Earnest 1
Ed.John 1
Edward 1
Fred 1
Fredk. 1
Gordon 1
Harry 1
Henery 1
Herbert 1
Howard 1
Jacob 1
Jno. 1
Jonathan 1
Joseph 1
Lem 1
Lucius 1
M. 1
Nicholas 1
Peter 1
Philimon 1
Reubin 1
Robert 1
Simon 1
Stephen 1
Thos. 1
Vivian 1
Wm. 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Pellow surname: questions and answers

How common was the Pellow surname in 1881?

In 1881, 510 people were recorded with the Pellow surname. That placed it at #6,678 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Pellow surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 671 in 2016. That gives Pellow a modern rank of #7,978.

What does the Pellow surname mean?

A surname derived from the Cornish place name Pellow.

What does the Pellow map show?

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