SHALLOW
Shallow
Shallow is a British surname with a long history that can be traced back to medieval times. The name is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is believed to have been derived from the Old English word "sceald," which means shallow or not deep. The surname Shallow was likely used to describe someone who lived near a shallow water source, such as a stream or a river.
The first recorded instance of the surname Shallow dates back to the 11th century in the Domesday Book, a comprehensive survey of England and Wales commissioned by William the Conqueror. Over the centuries, the Shallow family name spread throughout the British Isles, with individuals bearing this surname recorded in various historical documents and parish registers.
One of the most famous bearers of the surname Shallow is the fictional character Sir John Falstaff's companion, Master Robert Shallow, in William Shakespeare's play Henry IV, Part 2. The character is a country magistrate and justice of the peace, and Shakespeare's portrayal has contributed to the enduring interest in the surname Shallow.
Today, individuals with the surname Shallow can be found across the United Kingdom and in other parts of the world where British descendants have settled. The name continues to be passed down through generations, maintaining a connection to its medieval origins and historical significance.
There are approximately 260 people named Shallow in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around four in a million people in Britain are named Shallow.
Surname type: Nickname
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Typical given names associated with the surname
Male
- Christopher
- David
- Envis
- James
- John
- Joseph
- Lennox
- Mark
- Martin
- Michael
- Nicholas
- Paul
- Tony
Female
- Anne
- Deborah
- Fiona
- Heather
- Helen
- Joanna
- Judith
- Kristal
- Laura
- Mary
- Pamela
- Siobhan
- Susan
- Velma
- Victoria
Similar and related surnames
- Chaillou
- Chall
- Challo
- Challon
- Challos
- Challow
- Chelew
- Chellew
- Chellow
- Chillew
- Chilow
- Chlew
- Cholawo
- Cholewa
- Sallow
- Schall
- Schalow
- Schill
- Shaal
- Shaelos
- Shail
- Shaill
- Shal
- Shale
- Shall
- Shalla
- Shallen
- Shalley
- Shalli
- Shallie
- Shallo
- Shalloe
- Shallon
- Shalloo
- Shally
- Shalo
- Shaloe
- Shalu
- Shalz
- Shaul
- Shawl
- Sheal
- Sheally
- Sheell
- Shell
- Shelle
- Shellon
- Shiell
- Shill
- Shillaw
- Shylaw
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.