FARLOW
The surname Farlow is of purely English origin, first recorded in the mid‑thirteenth century and firmly rooted in the geography of the British Isles.
Its derivation can be traced to the Old English words fearn, meaning “fern”, and hlaw, meaning “hill” or “mound”. Consequently the literal translation of the name is “Fern Hill”, indicating a locational identity for a person residing upon or near a hill covered with ferns.
Evidence of the name is preserved in the Domesday Book of 1086, where the place of Farlow is recorded as “Fernelau” and the related locality of Fairley as “Fernelege”. Both entries confirm the combination of “fern” with a topographic feature, either a hill (hlaw) or a clearing (leah). The first concrete appearance of the family name itself is in the Hundred Rolls of Shropshire dated 1255, where a man named Philip de Farlaw is listed. Subsequent ecclesiastical records also document individuals bearing the name, for example the christening of Henry Farlow’s son at St. Michael Bassishaw, London on 7 February 1585, and the marriage of Katheren Farlow to Thomas Robinson at St. Dunstan’s, Stepney, London on 29 August 1596.
The name has since dispersed beyond its original localising function. In the United Kingdom it is most common in northern England and Scotland, whilst in the United States the surname is found most frequently in the Mid‑Atlantic and Midwest, with higher concentrations in Pennsylvania, Iowa, New York and Washington. Beyond these two countries, records indicate a presence in France, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and a number of African, Latin American and Pacific nations, demonstrating the global reach of the family name while maintaining its English roots.
Over the centuries the spelling of Farlow has varied. Accepted variants include Farlowe, Farla, Fairlow, Farloe, Burrill, Faullou, Farulla, Farlau, Farlaw, and Ffarlow. These forms are often found in historical documents, census data and genealogical records, reflecting phonetic and orthographic adjustments over time while preserving the core identity of the surname.
In contemporary usage the surname Farlow continues to function as a marker of heritage, linking bearers to a specific topographical landmark in the English landscape and to a lineage that extends back to the Domesday era. Its endurance and breadth of distribution provide a striking example of how place‑derived surnames persist and evolve, offering a concrete thread through the tapestry of family history.
Typical given names associated with the Farlow surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- Gary
- George
- Mark
- Matthew
- Robert
- Scott
- Stephen
- William
Female
- Alison
- Barbara
- Heather
- Jennifer
- Jill
- Kerrie
- Linda
- Margaret
- Mary
- Melanie
- Michelle
- Patricia
- Susan
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Farlow in...
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There are approximately 367 people named Farlow in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around six in a million people in Britain are named Farlow.
Surname type: Location or geographical feature
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
