NameCensus.

UK surname

Thurlow

From the Old English words for "thorn" and "hill," referring to someone who lived on or near a thorny hill.

In the 1881 census there were 1,443 people recorded with the Thurlow surname, ranking it #2,885 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,059, ranked #3,140, down from #2,885 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Stonham Aspel and Palgrave. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Allerdale, East Riding of Yorkshire and Tendring.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Thurlow is 2,330 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 42.7%.

1881 census count

1,443

Ranked #2,885

Modern count

2,059

2016, ranked #3,140

Peak year

1998

2,330 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Thurlow had 1,443 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,885 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,059 in 2016, ranked #3,140.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,145 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Thurlow surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Thurlow surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Thurlow 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 898 #3,065
1861 historical 663 #4,039
1881 historical 1,443 #2,885
1891 historical 1,576 #2,815
1901 historical 1,913 #2,759
1911 historical 2,145 #2,342
1997 modern 2,256 #2,751
1998 modern 2,330 #2,774
1999 modern 2,294 #2,834
2000 modern 2,293 #2,814
2001 modern 2,231 #2,831
2002 modern 2,268 #2,848
2003 modern 2,205 #2,857
2004 modern 2,204 #2,860
2005 modern 2,122 #2,919
2006 modern 2,128 #2,918
2007 modern 2,142 #2,921
2008 modern 2,156 #2,934
2009 modern 2,159 #3,006
2010 modern 2,163 #3,065
2011 modern 2,129 #3,069
2012 modern 2,075 #3,089
2013 modern 2,117 #3,080
2014 modern 2,128 #3,089
2015 modern 2,091 #3,107
2016 modern 2,059 #3,140

Geography

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Where Thurlows are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Stonham Aspel, Palgrave and Framsden. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Allerdale, East Riding of Yorkshire, Tendring and Ribble Valley. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 Stonham Aspel Suffolk
4 Palgrave Suffolk
5 Framsden Suffolk

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Allerdale 003 Allerdale
2 East Riding of Yorkshire 011 East Riding of Yorkshire
3 Tendring 001 Tendring
4 Ribble Valley 006 Ribble Valley
5 Allerdale 001 Allerdale

Forenames

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First names often paired with Thurlow

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Thurlow

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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Thurlow is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Thurlow is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Thurlow 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 Thurlow 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 Thurlow, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Thurlow

The surname THURLOW originated in England, deriving from the Old English words "þurru" meaning "dry" and "hlaw" meaning "hill" or "mound". It is believed to have been initially used as a topographic name for someone who lived on or near a dry hill or elevated ground.

The earliest recorded instance of the name dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Turlau" in Suffolk. This spelling variation highlights the evolution of the name over time.

In the late 12th century, the name was documented as "Thurlow" in the Pipe Rolls of Norfolk, indicating its association with the village of Thurlow in Suffolk. This village likely derived its name from the same Old English roots as the surname.

One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Roger de Thurlow, mentioned in the Curia Regis Rolls of Hertfordshire in 1201. Another notable figure was John Thurlow, who served as a Member of Parliament for Suffolk in 1382.

During the 16th century, the surname THURLOW gained prominence with Edward Thurlow (1531-1595), an English merchant and member of the Company of Merchant Adventurers. His grandson, Edward Thurlow (1616-1683), was a prominent lawyer and served as Lord Chancellor of England from 1778 to 1792.

Another significant individual with this surname was Thomas Thurlow (1737-1811), who served as Bishop of Lincoln from 1779 to 1787 and later as Bishop of Durham until his death in 1811.

In the literary world, Edward Hovel Thurlow (1781-1829) was an English poet and author, known for his works such as "The Wandering Jew" and "The Fairy Favour".

The THURLOW surname has also been associated with notable military figures, such as Sir Edward Thurlow (1814-1890), a British Army officer who served in the Crimean War and was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Thurlow families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Thurlow 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. Suffolk leads with 317 Thurlows recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.49x.

County Total Index
Suffolk 317 18.49x
Middlesex 238 1.69x
Yorkshire 210 1.51x
Norfolk 165 7.62x
Essex 81 2.92x
Kent 68 1.42x
Durham 67 1.60x
Surrey 63 0.92x
Cambridgeshire 38 4.26x
Huntingdonshire 27 9.66x
Lancashire 20 0.12x
Hertfordshire 19 1.96x
Warwickshire 14 0.39x
Buckinghamshire 13 1.53x
Cumberland 13 1.07x
Northamptonshire 12 0.91x
Pembrokeshire 12 2.68x
Hampshire 10 0.35x
Nottinghamshire 10 0.53x
Sussex 7 0.30x
Lincolnshire 6 0.27x
Midlothian 4 0.21x
Berkshire 3 0.28x
Cheshire 3 0.10x
Derbyshire 3 0.14x
Devon 3 0.10x
Leicestershire 3 0.19x
Staffordshire 3 0.06x
Gloucestershire 2 0.07x
Worcestershire 2 0.11x
Bedfordshire 1 0.14x
Cornwall 1 0.06x
Dorset 1 0.11x
Oxfordshire 1 0.12x
Rutland 1 0.97x
Somerset 1 0.04x
Wiltshire 1 0.08x

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 46 Thurlows recorded in 1881 and an index of 3.37x.

Place Total Index
Islington London 46 3.37x
Leeds 32 4.06x
Stonham Aspall 32 914.29x
Framsden 30 789.47x
Bethnal Green London 23 3.76x
Mile End Old Town 22 9.90x
Roydon In Guiltcross 20 677.97x
Bishopwearmouth 18 5.01x
Lambeth 17 1.39x
St Andrewthe Less 17 16.69x
Ipswich St Mathew 16 33.30x
Lowestoft 16 19.76x
Battersea 15 2.90x
Great Yarmouth 15 8.37x
Spexhall 15 1530.61x
St Pancras London 15 1.32x
Hammersmith London 13 3.75x
Harwich St Nicholas 13 60.58x
St Marylebone London 13 1.73x
West Ham 13 2.12x
Hampstead London 12 5.47x
Helmingham 12 731.71x
Birmingham 11 0.93x
Easington In Guisbrough 11 354.84x
Enfield 11 11.91x
Ipswich St Margaret 11 18.91x
Middlesbrough 11 6.06x
Stowmarket 11 55.53x
Thornham Parva 11 1692.31x
Chatham 10 7.57x
Gedling 10 319.49x
Great Driffield 10 34.93x
Molesworth 10 980.39x
Pulham St Mary Magdalen 10 184.16x
Tittleshall 10 403.23x
Copford 9 282.13x
Crossgate 9 49.15x
Hilgay 9 110.57x
Ossett Cum Gawthorpe 9 18.06x
Palgrave 9 250.00x
Plumstead 9 5.62x
St George In East 9 9.40x
Wissett 9 473.68x
Etton 8 334.73x
Hopton 8 188.68x
Ipswich St Clement 8 18.36x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 8 12.31x
Lund 8 360.36x
Southwark St George Martyr 8 2.82x
Spitalfields London 8 7.56x
Swanscombe 8 37.07x
Bygrave 7 608.70x
Bythorn 7 569.11x
Crowfield 7 406.98x
Hackney London 7 0.89x
Ixworth 7 144.63x
Lofthouse 7 33.61x
North Dalton 7 297.87x
North Lopham 7 207.72x
Ormesby 7 18.67x
Peterborough 7 7.30x
Ruston Parva 7 1129.03x
Sibton 7 296.61x
Skelton In Guisbrough 7 18.55x
St Edward Cambridge 7 247.35x
St George Hanover 7 3.81x
Stockton On Tees 7 3.47x
Stow Upland 7 124.11x
Theydon Bois 7 165.88x
West Newton Allonby 7 165.88x
Westminster St John 7 4.08x
Woodbridge 7 31.93x
Ipswich St Mary Stoke 6 37.71x
Kilham 6 102.56x
Leven 6 146.34x
Mundham 6 422.54x
Nunburnholme 6 504.20x
Sculcoates 6 2.71x
Williamston 6 252.10x
Yoxford 6 117.42x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 80
Sarah 50
Elizabeth 35
Emma 31
Alice 24
Ellen 24
Eliza 22
Ann 19
Jane 18
Louisa 16
Martha 16
Kate 14
Ada 13
Annie 13
Hannah 13
Harriet 12
Sophia 11
Susan 11
Caroline 10
Charlotte 10
Emily 10
Florence 10
Margaret 10
Agnes 9
Edith 9
Maria 9
Anna 8
Lucy 7
Amelia 6
Catherine 5
Isabella 5
Jessie 5
Rebecca 5
Amy 4
Bessie 4
Elizth. 4
Ethel 4
Fanny 4
Frances 4
Gertrude 4
Rose 4
Ruth 4
Susannah 4
Beatrice 3
Clara 3
Florance 3
Jemima 3
Julia 3
Laura 3
Rachel 3

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 88
John 65
George 59
James 55
Thomas 39
Robert 38
Charles 34
Henry 29
Alfred 27
Arthur 21
Edward 21
Frederick 15
Harry 15
Albert 14
Joseph 12
Samuel 12
Walter 9
Herbert 8
Ernest 5
Frank 5
Christopher 4
Edmund 4
Hugh 4
Jacob 4
Jonathan 4
Richard 4
Edgar 3
Francis 3
Fredk. 3
Fredrick 3
Henery 3
Amos 2
Benjamin 2
Bertie 2
David 2
Edwd. 2
Elijah 2
Fred 2
Frederic 2
Job 2
Matthew 2
Maurice 2
Nathaniel 2
Thos. 2
Wm. 2
Alexander 1
Anthony 1
E. 1
Edis 1
Zackiel 1

FAQ

Thurlow surname: questions and answers

How common was the Thurlow surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,443 people were recorded with the Thurlow surname. That placed it at #2,885 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Thurlow surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,059 in 2016. That gives Thurlow a modern rank of #3,140.

What does the Thurlow surname mean?

From the Old English words for "thorn" and "hill," referring to someone who lived on or near a thorny hill.

What does the Thurlow map show?

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