NameCensus.

UK surname

Row

An occupational surname referring to a person who lived near or worked in a hedgerow or row of houses.

In the 1881 census there were 1,519 people recorded with the Row surname, ranking it #2,766 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 594, ranked #8,788, down from #2,766 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Topsham, London parishes and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cornwall, Purbeck and Exeter.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Row is 2,368 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 60.9%.

1881 census count

1,519

Ranked #2,766

Modern count

594

2016, ranked #8,788

Peak year

1851

2,368 bearers

Map years

6

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Row had 1,519 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,766 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 594 in 2016, ranked #8,788.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,368 in 1851.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Row surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Row surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Row 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 2,368 #1,260
1881 historical 1,519 #2,766
1891 historical 23 #32,389
1901 historical 1,133 #4,282
1997 modern 593 #8,219
1998 modern 627 #8,132
1999 modern 633 #8,132
2000 modern 588 #8,524
2001 modern 582 #8,461
2002 modern 618 #8,282
2003 modern 571 #8,609
2004 modern 566 #8,685
2005 modern 541 #8,900
2006 modern 532 #9,053
2007 modern 554 #8,854
2008 modern 569 #8,742
2009 modern 584 #8,761
2010 modern 591 #8,884
2011 modern 576 #8,955
2012 modern 552 #9,138
2013 modern 586 #8,883
2014 modern 588 #8,936
2015 modern 582 #8,931
2016 modern 594 #8,788

Geography

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Where Rows are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Topsham, London parishes, St Pancras, Stewkley and St Mary Islington. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Cornwall, Purbeck, Exeter, North Lincolnshire and East Lindsey. 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 Topsham Devon
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Stewkley Buckinghamshire
5 St Mary Islington London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cornwall 061 Cornwall
2 Purbeck 005 Purbeck
3 Exeter 015 Exeter
4 North Lincolnshire 023 North Lincolnshire
5 East Lindsey 001 East Lindsey

Forenames

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First names often paired with Row

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Row

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

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Row is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

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

Row 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

Row falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Row

The surname Row originated in England during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word 'row', which referred to a row or line of houses or buildings. The name likely originated as a topographic name, given to someone who lived in a row of dwellings or near a row of buildings.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Row can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a survey of landholdings in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The Domesday Book mentions a person named Godric de la Rowe, which is an early spelling variation of the name.

During the 13th and 14th centuries, the name Row began to appear more frequently in various historical records and documents. For instance, William de la Rowe was mentioned in the Hundred Rolls of Oxfordshire in 1273. Another early bearer of the name was John atte Rowe, who was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex in 1327.

In the 15th century, the surname Row was often associated with various place names in England. For example, there was a village called Rowe in Wiltshire, and several other places with similar names, such as Rowton in Shropshire and Rowley in Staffordshire.

One notable person with the surname Row was John Row (c. 1568-1646), a Scottish Presbyterian minister and reformer. He was a prominent figure in the Scottish Reformation and played a significant role in the establishment of Presbyterianism in Scotland.

Another historical figure with the name Row was Thomas Row (1786-1853), an English painter and engraver. He was known for his landscapes and portraits and was a member of the Royal Academy.

In the 19th century, the surname Row was also associated with several literary figures. For instance, George Row (1807-1888) was an English novelist and playwright, best known for his novel "The Lamplighter".

Another notable person with the surname Row was Henry Row (1851-1926), an English composer and organist. He was the organist at London's St. Paul's Cathedral for over 40 years and composed numerous works for the organ and choir.

Finally, one of the most famous people with the surname Row was Jessie Row (1865-1945), an Australian feminist and social reformer. She was a prominent advocate for women's rights and played a significant role in the establishment of the Women's Service Guilds in Australia.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Row families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Row 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. Middlesex leads with 261 Rows recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.74x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 261 1.74x
Devon 212 6.78x
Cornwall 85 5.00x
Surrey 84 1.15x
Hertfordshire 72 6.95x
Suffolk 71 3.88x
Kent 69 1.35x
Lancashire 69 0.39x
Durham 54 1.21x
Northumberland 48 2.15x
Yorkshire 36 0.24x
Lincolnshire 33 1.37x
Essex 32 1.08x
Norfolk 32 1.39x
Hampshire 27 0.88x
Pembrokeshire 25 5.24x
Somerset 25 1.03x
Buckinghamshire 24 2.64x
Glamorgan 22 0.84x
Dorset 18 1.83x
Monmouthshire 17 1.57x
Nottinghamshire 16 0.79x
Staffordshire 16 0.32x
Warwickshire 16 0.42x
Berkshire 15 1.33x
Cambridgeshire 13 1.37x
Derbyshire 13 0.55x
Bedfordshire 11 1.41x
Northamptonshire 11 0.78x
Lanarkshire 10 0.21x
Sussex 10 0.39x
Cumberland 9 0.70x
Huntingdonshire 9 3.02x
Gloucestershire 7 0.24x
Wiltshire 7 0.53x
Angus 6 0.43x
Shropshire 6 0.46x
Worcestershire 6 0.31x
Anglesey 5 1.88x
Cheshire 5 0.15x
Oxfordshire 5 0.54x
Rutland 5 4.53x
Channel Islands 3 0.67x
Royal Navy 3 1.68x
Westmorland 3 0.91x
Cardiganshire 2 0.55x
Midlothian 2 0.10x
Nairnshire 2 4.36x
Renfrewshire 2 0.17x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.07x
Ayrshire 1 0.09x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.16x
Herefordshire 1 0.16x
Montgomeryshire 1 0.29x
Perthshire 1 0.15x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Islington London in Middlesex leads with 31 Rows recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.13x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 31 2.13x
Stoke Damerel 31 14.16x
Plymouth St Andrew 26 10.79x
St Pancras London 23 1.90x
Lancaster 22 20.74x
Kensington London 19 2.27x
Limehouse London 18 10.91x
Newington 17 3.06x
Topsham 17 115.18x
Dartmouth Townstall 16 125.59x
Tottenham 16 6.69x
Musbury 15 547.45x
Wigginton 15 410.96x
Great Massingham 14 307.02x
Hammersmith London 14 3.78x
Narberth South 14 398.86x
West Ham 14 2.14x
Chelsea London 13 2.87x
Hackney London 13 1.54x
Lambeth 13 0.99x
Milton In Gravesend 13 16.91x
Northchurch 12 108.50x
Stevenage 12 74.77x
Bow London 11 5.75x
Bradworthy 11 241.23x
Camberwell 11 1.15x
Harborne 11 6.77x
Hertford St Andrew 11 86.00x
St Veep 11 400.00x
Stewkley 11 159.19x
Tiverton 11 20.42x
Aston 10 0.96x
Barrow In Furness 10 4.12x
Bermondsey 10 2.24x
Heworth 10 11.35x
Seaton 10 82.99x
Sunbury 10 55.43x
Braintree 9 33.80x
Cheddar 9 73.95x
Clapham 9 4.79x
Elswick 9 5.05x
Nettleham 9 182.56x
Salford 9 1.72x
St Giles In The Wood 9 193.13x
St Just In Penwith 9 27.27x
Wootton Fitzpaine 9 782.61x
Bedwellty 8 4.17x
Hougham 8 26.25x
Monewden 8 701.75x
Oystermouth 8 39.53x
Alton 7 30.16x
Bishopwearmouth 7 1.82x
Drypool 7 30.72x
Greenwich 7 2.93x
Harrow On The Hill 7 23.33x
New Sleaford 7 45.48x
Paddington London 7 1.27x
Pegswood 7 139.44x
South Gosforth 7 269.23x
South Lynn 7 26.85x
Stoke Hammond 7 372.34x
Bromsgrove 6 9.09x
Cardiff St Mary 6 4.16x
Clerkenwell London 6 1.69x
Conside Knitsley 6 17.27x
Fletton 6 62.96x
Harworth 6 212.01x
Kelsale 6 118.11x
Litchurch 6 6.34x
Madron Penzance 6 9.70x
Manea 6 100.00x
Middlesbrough 6 3.10x
Newcastle On Tyne St John 6 20.42x
Perranarworthal 6 105.63x
Poplar London 6 2.12x
Rimpton 6 447.76x
Shoreditch London 6 0.92x
St Marylebone London 6 0.75x
Whitechapel London 6 4.05x
Woolwich 6 3.17x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 99
William 99
George 63
Thomas 47
Henry 41
James 41
Charles 36
Robert 22
Edward 16
Joseph 15
Alfred 13
Walter 13
Arthur 12
Albert 11
Frederick 11
Samuel 11
Benjamin 9
Richard 9
Francis 8
Edwin 6
Fred 5
Harry 5
Edmund 4
Matthew 4
Stephen 4
Ernest 3
Isaac 3
Peter 3
Thos. 3
Andrew 2
Chaplin 2
Edgar 2
Eli 2
Fredrick 2
Gilbert 2
Jephthah 2
Jesse 2
Josiah 2
Lawrence 2
Morris 2
Patrick 2
Percy 2
Philip 2
Rian 2
Sidney 2
Sydney 2
Whitfield 2
Willam 2
Willie 2
Wm. 2

FAQ

Row surname: questions and answers

How common was the Row surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,519 people were recorded with the Row surname. That placed it at #2,766 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Row surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 594 in 2016. That gives Row a modern rank of #8,788.

What does the Row surname mean?

An occupational surname referring to a person who lived near or worked in a hedgerow or row of houses.

What does the Row map show?

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