NameCensus.

UK surname

Warlow

From a low-lying place where alders grow near a stream or marsh.

In the 1881 census there were 508 people recorded with the Warlow surname, ranking it #6,704 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 668, ranked #8,003, down from #6,704 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), St Mary and London parishes. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Pembrokeshire and Swansea.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Warlow is 724 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 31.5%.

1881 census count

508

Ranked #6,704

Modern count

668

2016, ranked #8,003

Peak year

1911

724 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Warlow had 508 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,704 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 668 in 2016, ranked #8,003.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 724 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Warlow surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Warlow surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Warlow 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 309 #7,449
1861 historical 370 #6,899
1881 historical 508 #6,704
1891 historical 530 #7,073
1901 historical 615 #6,942
1911 historical 724 #5,910
1997 modern 682 #7,394
1998 modern 704 #7,445
1999 modern 708 #7,452
2000 modern 709 #7,420
2001 modern 693 #7,433
2002 modern 694 #7,564
2003 modern 685 #7,516
2004 modern 683 #7,554
2005 modern 671 #7,593
2006 modern 633 #7,967
2007 modern 657 #7,798
2008 modern 670 #7,731
2009 modern 688 #7,744
2010 modern 693 #7,842
2011 modern 690 #7,773
2012 modern 675 #7,838
2013 modern 681 #7,908
2014 modern 675 #8,007
2015 modern 662 #8,077
2016 modern 668 #8,003

Geography

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Where Warlows are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), St Mary, London parishes, Cosheston and Camrose. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Pembrokeshire and Swansea. 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 St Mary Pembrokeshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 Cosheston Pembrokeshire
5 Camrose Pembrokeshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Pembrokeshire 008 Pembrokeshire
2 Pembrokeshire 009 Pembrokeshire
3 Pembrokeshire 012 Pembrokeshire
4 Pembrokeshire 010 Pembrokeshire
5 Swansea 021 Swansea

Forenames

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First names often paired with Warlow

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Warlow

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

Warlow is most concentrated in decile 3 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.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Warlow falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Warlow

The surname Warlow is believed to have originated in England during the Middle Ages. It is thought to derive from the Old English words "wearg" meaning "felon" or "criminal" and "hlaw" meaning "hill" or "mound." This suggests the name may have referred to a person who lived near a hill or mound associated with criminals or outlaws.

The earliest recorded spelling of the name appears to be Warlow in the Hundredorum Rolls of Oxfordshire from 1273. This entry suggests the name was already established in that region by the 13th century. Similar early spellings include Warlegh in the Assize Court Rolls of Staffordshire from 1344 and Werlawe in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from 1379.

In the 14th century, a Thomas Warlow is recorded as being a landowner in the village of Warlow near Nottingham. This place name, from which the surname likely originated, reinforces the connection to the Old English root words.

The Warlow surname also appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, though the specific entry is unclear. Some Warlows are thought to descend from Norman settlers who arrived in England after the Norman Conquest of 1066.

Notable people with the surname Warlow include John Warlow (1633-1684), an English Puritan minister and author of religious works. Henry Warlow (1776-1859) was a British naval officer who served in the Napoleonic Wars. Mary Warlow (1844-1920) was a English philanthropist and social reformer active in the temperance movement.

Other historical figures bearing this name are Richard Warlow (1602-1675), a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses in the American colonies, and Thomas Warlow (1756-1809), an English landscape painter known for his depictions of rural scenes.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Warlow families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Warlow 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. Pembrokeshire leads with 228 Warlows recorded in 1881 and an index of 144.78x.

County Total Index
Pembrokeshire 228 144.78x
Glamorgan 61 7.07x
Middlesex 48 0.97x
Carmarthenshire 26 12.45x
Gloucestershire 26 2.68x
Lancashire 26 0.44x
Monmouthshire 17 4.75x
Anglesey 14 15.94x
Surrey 12 0.50x
Hampshire 7 0.69x
Kent 6 0.35x
Staffordshire 6 0.36x
Cheshire 5 0.46x
Denbighshire 5 2.67x
Northumberland 5 0.68x
Norfolk 4 0.53x
Derbyshire 3 0.39x
Yorkshire 3 0.06x
Caernarfonshire 2 1.00x
Cumberland 2 0.47x
Herefordshire 1 0.49x
Somerset 1 0.13x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Pembroke St Mary in Pembrokeshire leads with 45 Warlows recorded in 1881 and an index of 221.89x.

Place Total Index
Pembroke St Mary 45 221.89x
Steynton 22 432.22x
Llanelly 18 38.27x
Camrose 17 1133.33x
Marloes 16 2285.71x
Tenby St Mary In 14 174.56x
Westminster St John 13 21.54x
Cosheston 12 1250.00x
Llangwm 12 810.81x
Llantwit Vairdre 10 103.09x
Burton 9 569.62x
Loughor 9 196.51x
Bristol St Michael 8 96.04x
Ealing 8 18.07x
Llantrisant 8 36.78x
Manor Bier 8 747.66x
Merthyr Tydfil 8 9.65x
Ormskirk 8 71.11x
Talbenny 8 2222.22x
West Derby 8 4.65x
Cheltenham 7 9.34x
Llanbadrig 7 388.89x
Monckton 7 249.11x
Paddington London 7 3.84x
Poplar London 7 7.49x
Upper Llanvrechva 7 125.67x
Holyhead 6 36.65x
Horfield 6 61.35x
Liverpool 6 1.68x
Llansamlet Lower 6 76.82x
Llanstadwell 6 116.50x
Nolton 6 2307.69x
Swansea Town 6 8.48x
Trevethin 6 17.74x
Wiston 6 491.80x
Battersea 5 2.74x
Bethnal Green London 5 2.32x
Bristol St Augustine 5 31.89x
Egham 5 33.74x
Freystrop 5 769.23x
Llangennech 5 149.70x
Milton In Gravesend 5 19.72x
St Ishmaels 5 625.00x
St John Near Swansea 5 46.86x
Wrexham Abbot 5 106.16x
Banham 4 206.19x
Haverfordwest St Mary 4 176.99x
Llanwonno 4 12.90x
Longbenton 4 12.81x
St Brides 4 1250.00x
Toxteth Park 4 2.01x
Wednesbury 4 9.57x
Glyncorrwg 3 137.61x
Haverfordwest St Martin 3 102.74x
Herbrandston 3 491.80x
Monmouth 3 31.58x
Portsea 3 1.51x
Alton 2 26.14x
Bangor 2 10.35x
Eckington 2 10.61x
Furzey Park Portfield 2 434.78x
Handsworth 2 4.85x
Harroldston West 2 869.57x
North Rode 2 444.44x
Pembroke St Michael 2 87.72x
Roch 2 219.78x
Rosemarket 2 344.83x
Sheffield 2 1.28x
St Martin In Fields 2 6.74x
St Pancras London 2 0.50x
Swansea St Thomas 2 23.07x
Whitehaven 2 8.80x
Camberwell 1 0.32x
Fownhope 1 56.18x
Kensington London 1 0.36x
Llangathen 1 68.03x
Llanynghenedl 1 119.05x
Minster In Sheppey 1 3.57x
Southampton All Sts 1 5.74x
St Woollos 1 2.50x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 48
Elizabeth 32
Sarah 17
Ann 12
Jane 10
Margaret 10
Martha 9
Alice 7
Eliza 7
Emma 6
Annie 5
Clara 5
Ellen 4
Harriet 4
Amy 3
Anne 3
Catherine 3
Edith 3
Emily 3
Florence 3
Lettice 3
Louisa 3
Rebecca 3
Ada 2
Esther 2
Francis 2
Hannah 2
Jessie 2
Kate 2
Maria 2
Phebe 2
Catharine 1
Charlotte 1
Dinah 1
E.G. 1
Elizth. 1
Elsie 1
Ethel 1
Flo 1
Flora 1
Harriett 1
Hilda 1
Isabella 1
Jen 1
Jennie 1
Katie 1
Letisha 1
Lettuce 1
Lilia 1
Violet 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 39
William 38
Thomas 29
George 20
James 17
Joseph 9
Robert 8
Charles 7
Henry 6
Benjamin 5
Richard 5
Arthur 4
Albert 3
Alfred 3
Edward 3
Philip 3
Cornelius 2
David 2
Harry 2
Walter 2
Wm. 2
Ernest 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Geo. 1
Gilbert 1
Howell 1
Hubert 1
Hugh 1
Isaac 1
J.H. 1
Jas. 1
Jno. 1
Levitt 1
Luke 1
Matthew 1
Maximillan 1
Owen 1
Percy 1
Peter 1
Robt. 1
Rowland 1
Samuel 1
Sidney 1
Stanley 1
Sydney 1
Thos. 1
Washington 1

FAQ

Warlow surname: questions and answers

How common was the Warlow surname in 1881?

In 1881, 508 people were recorded with the Warlow surname. That placed it at #6,704 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Warlow surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 668 in 2016. That gives Warlow a modern rank of #8,003.

What does the Warlow surname mean?

From a low-lying place where alders grow near a stream or marsh.

What does the Warlow map show?

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