NameCensus.

UK surname

Trow

A topographic surname referring to someone living near a narrow valley or pass.

In the 1881 census there were 755 people recorded with the Trow surname, ranking it #4,890 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,285, ranked #4,663, up from #4,890 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Churchstoke and Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Powys, Shropshire and County Durham.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Trow is 1,324 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 70.2%.

1881 census count

755

Ranked #4,890

Modern count

1,285

2016, ranked #4,663

Peak year

1999

1,324 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Trow had 755 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,890 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,285 in 2016, ranked #4,663.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,081 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Trow surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Trow surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Trow 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 577 #4,415
1861 historical 475 #5,480
1881 historical 755 #4,890
1891 historical 830 #4,894
1901 historical 968 #4,866
1911 historical 1,081 #4,294
1997 modern 1,250 #4,557
1998 modern 1,304 #4,557
1999 modern 1,324 #4,525
2000 modern 1,319 #4,507
2001 modern 1,288 #4,519
2002 modern 1,320 #4,509
2003 modern 1,302 #4,481
2004 modern 1,294 #4,502
2005 modern 1,273 #4,515
2006 modern 1,285 #4,486
2007 modern 1,298 #4,492
2008 modern 1,297 #4,521
2009 modern 1,306 #4,589
2010 modern 1,317 #4,654
2011 modern 1,311 #4,607
2012 modern 1,309 #4,546
2013 modern 1,317 #4,604
2014 modern 1,317 #4,619
2015 modern 1,296 #4,648
2016 modern 1,285 #4,663

Geography

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Where Trows are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), Churchstoke, Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall, Much Wenlock, Harley and Kerry. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Powys, Shropshire and County Durham. 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 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 Churchstoke Montgomeryshire
3 Stoke-on-Trent, Bucknell-cum-Bagnall, Caverswall Staffordshire
4 Much Wenlock, Harley Shropshire
5 Kerry Montgomeryshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Powys 010 Powys
2 Shropshire 030 Shropshire
3 Powys 003 Powys
4 County Durham 046 County Durham
5 Shropshire 010 Shropshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Trow

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Trow

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

Trow 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

Trow falls in decile 7 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.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Trow

The surname TROW has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "trog," which referred to a trough or a boat-shaped vessel used for carrying goods or materials. This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational name for someone who worked with troughs or boats.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the TROW surname can be found in the Pipe Rolls of Nottinghamshire from 1176, where a person named William Trow was mentioned. The name also appeared in the Curia Regis Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1221, with a reference to a Robert Trow.

During the 13th century, the TROW surname was prevalent in various parts of England, particularly in counties like Norfolk, Suffolk, and Essex. Some of the earliest recorded examples include John Trow from Harleston, Norfolk, in 1273, and Walter Trow from Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, in 1286.

In the 14th century, the TROW surname appeared in various historical records, such as the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1327, where a person named William Trow was listed. The name was also found in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of Somerset from 1334, with a reference to a John Trow.

One notable individual bearing the TROW surname was Sir Thomas Trow (c. 1530-1612), an English merchant and diplomat who served as the Lord Mayor of London in 1592. He played a significant role in the Levant Company and was instrumental in promoting trade between England and the Ottoman Empire.

Another prominent figure was Samuel Trow (1674-1711), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Nottingham from 1701 until his death. He was also a successful businessman and landowner.

In the 18th century, the TROW surname continued to be found in various parts of England, with records showing individuals like John Trow (1715-1785), a farmer from Oxfordshire, and William Trow (1738-1808), a prominent merchant from Bristol.

The TROW surname has also been associated with various place names in England, such as Trow Green in Worcestershire and Trow Farm in Somerset. These place names may have been derived from the Old English word "trog" or influenced by individuals bearing the TROW surname who lived or worked in those areas.

Throughout its history, the TROW surname has been borne by several notable individuals across various fields, including merchants, politicians, and landowners. While its origins can be traced back to the medieval period in England, the name has since spread to other parts of the world due to migration and exploration.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Trow families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Trow 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. Montgomeryshire leads with 159 Trows recorded in 1881 and an index of 94.34x.

County Total Index
Montgomeryshire 159 94.34x
Lancashire 97 1.11x
Shropshire 90 14.16x
Staffordshire 86 3.46x
Worcestershire 67 6.98x
Warwickshire 49 2.64x
Yorkshire 36 0.49x
Gloucestershire 29 2.01x
Middlesex 26 0.35x
Surrey 16 0.45x
Wiltshire 16 2.46x
Essex 15 1.03x
Flintshire 9 4.55x
Durham 8 0.37x
Cheshire 6 0.37x
Cumberland 6 0.95x
Glamorgan 6 0.47x
Herefordshire 6 1.99x
Somerset 5 0.42x
Sussex 5 0.40x
Hampshire 3 0.20x
Merionethshire 3 2.23x
Berkshire 2 0.36x
Isle of Man 2 1.46x
Lincolnshire 2 0.17x
Brecknockshire 1 0.68x
Denbighshire 1 0.36x
Derbyshire 1 0.09x
Kent 1 0.04x
Norfolk 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kerry in Montgomeryshire leads with 50 Trows recorded in 1881 and an index of 986.19x.

Place Total Index
Kerry 50 986.19x
Churchstoke 32 1006.29x
Newtown 24 222.63x
Aston 20 3.92x
Stoke Upon Trent 19 7.22x
Birmingham 18 2.91x
Salford 18 7.01x
Wavertree 18 64.42x
Barrow In Furness 14 11.79x
Painswick 14 137.25x
Dudley 13 11.13x
Great Lever 13 140.39x
West Ham 13 4.06x
Wootton Bassett 12 212.01x
Wolverhampton 11 5.76x
Brompton Rhiston 10 2439.02x
Kidderminster Borough 10 17.79x
Pool 10 78.68x
Wednesbury 10 16.12x
Aspull 9 43.84x
Gloucester Barton St 9 106.51x
Llandyssil 9 497.24x
Ribbesford 9 112.64x
Warrington 9 8.70x
Ash Normandy 8 164.27x
Much Wenlock 8 136.52x
Rawmarsh 8 31.07x
Stottesdon 8 277.78x
Walsall Foreign 8 6.24x
Worthen 8 118.52x
Bromsgrove 7 21.65x
Castle Church 7 46.92x
Hackney London 7 1.70x
Hawarden Saltney 7 253.62x
Madeley 7 30.04x
Sutton Coldfield 7 35.90x
Bow London 6 6.41x
Llanwnog 6 170.45x
Skerton 6 83.68x
St Cuthbert W O 6 19.44x
Wednesfield 6 16.42x
Wombwell 6 28.24x
Battersea 5 1.85x
Berkeley Hamfallow 5 191.57x
Berriew 5 107.53x
Bettws 5 362.32x
Brightside Bierlow 5 3.50x
Chirbury 5 133.69x
Churchill 5 833.33x
Clent 5 198.41x
Dowles 5 1562.50x
Easthope 5 1785.71x
Elmley Lovett 5 574.71x
Kidderminster Foreign 5 36.82x
Lower Penn 5 588.24x
Montgomery 5 166.11x
Shifnal 5 28.99x
Tipton 5 6.58x
Wichenford 5 520.83x
Wolstanton Chatterly 5 196.08x
Brandon Byshottles 4 14.59x
Chetton 4 320.00x
Chippenham 4 29.33x
Llanllwchaiarn 4 54.79x
Llansamlet Higher 4 41.88x
Oswestry Town 4 19.66x
Gateshead 3 1.83x
Idle 3 8.88x
Leeds 3 0.73x
Leintwardine 3 303.03x
Linthorpe 3 6.90x
Mile End Old Town 3 2.58x
Newhaven 3 29.79x
Shepton Mallet 3 22.59x
West Bromwich 3 2.11x
Wortley In Bramley 3 5.20x
Cookham 2 11.62x
Litherland 2 10.96x
Paddington London 2 0.74x
St Marylebone London 2 0.51x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 51
Sarah 37
Elizabeth 29
Ann 26
Jane 22
Emma 16
Eliza 13
Annie 12
Alice 10
Margaret 8
Martha 8
Edith 7
Ellen 6
Hannah 6
Charlotte 5
Maria 5
Minnie 5
Rose 5
Emily 4
Florence 4
Harriet 4
Harriett 4
Louisa 4
Amelia 3
Catherine 3
Elizth. 3
Fanny 3
Kate 3
Laura 3
Ruth 3
A.M. 2
Ada 2
Agnes 2
Anne 2
Frances 2
Lenora 2
Lilly 2
Mercy 2
Amy 1
Blanch 1
C. 1
Caroline 1
Esther 1
Ethel 1
Eva 1
Jessie 1
Lily 1
Linda 1
Lizzie 1
Truth 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 57
William 39
Thomas 31
Edward 26
George 22
James 18
Richard 17
Joseph 16
Charles 12
Alfred 9
Samuel 9
Francis 8
Henry 8
Walter 7
Albert 6
Robert 6
Arthur 5
Stephen 5
Pryce 4
Aaron 3
David 3
Frank 3
Frederick 3
Isaac 3
Maurice 3
Wm. 3
Cornelius 2
Edwd. 2
Edwin 2
Ernest 2
Geo. 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Jason 2
Mathew 2
Reuben 2
Thos. 2
Andrew 1
Archibald 1
C.L. 1
Chas.W. 1
Claude 1
Emlyn 1
Ephraim 1
Evan 1
F. 1
Fred. 1
Frederic 1
Jacob 1
Wm.H.W. 1

FAQ

Trow surname: questions and answers

How common was the Trow surname in 1881?

In 1881, 755 people were recorded with the Trow surname. That placed it at #4,890 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Trow surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,285 in 2016. That gives Trow a modern rank of #4,663.

What does the Trow surname mean?

A topographic surname referring to someone living near a narrow valley or pass.

What does the Trow map show?

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