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Harlow History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Canada Australia New Zealand

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Suggested Reading Citations

Harlow History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Scotland

Etymology of Harlow

What does the name Harlow mean?

The ancestors of the name Harlow date back to the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from their residence in Harlow, a parish, in the union of Epping, hundred of Harlow, S. division of the county of Essex. 1 The parish dates to pre-Conquest times when it was first recorded as Herlawe in 1045. 2 A few years later after the Norman Conquest, the parish was recorded as Herlaua in the Domesday Book of 1086. 3 Literally the place name means "mound of hill associated with an army (perhaps Viking)," from the Old English words "here" + "Hlaw." 2

Harlow-Hill is "a township, in the parish of Ovingham, union of Castle ward, E. division of Tindale ward, S. division of Northumberland," and has a similar origin, having derived from "a corruption of Hare-law, 'the hill or station of the army,'" 1 In this later case, this township dates back to 1242 when it was known as Hirlawe. 2

Early Origins of the Harlow family

The surname Harlow was first found in Essex where Richard de Herlawe was listed in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. The same rolls listed Nicholas de Herlawe, Northamptonshire. 4

While Essex is the generally accepted place of origin of the name, we did find an earlier entry at Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, Osbern de Herlaue in 1121. The same surname was also found in Hertfordshire in 1205, Thomas de Herlaue. Up to the north in Yorkshire, Walter de Harlow was listed there in the Subsidy Rolls of 1327 and in 1442, Thomas Harlowe was found in the Assize Rolls for London in 1442. 5

The Harlaw variant was typical of Scotland and there, it was "of territorial or local origin from some place named Harlaw near the Border. There is a Harlaw Muir in Peeblesshire, and there appears to have been a Harlawbanks there also. A vill and lands of Hairlaw in Midlothian is recorded in 1565 (Retours). William de Harlau witnessed a charter in favor of the Abbey of Scone c. 1204-1241, and Richard de Harlau and William de Harlau were on an inquest held at the chapel of St. Katherine, Bavelay, near Edinburgh, in 1280. William de Harlau was on an assize at Berwick in 1296, and Matthew de Harlawe rendered homage in the same year." 6

This noted author points toward a possible linkage the the Essex and Northumberland families with the variant Harle in Scotland: "probably derived his name from Kirkharle in Northumberland. The Harles of Kirkharle owned much property in Northumberland." 6 The reader should note the "Kirk" prefix for this last entry denotes "church" in Scottish Gaelic.

Early History of the Harlow family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Harlow research. Another 146 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1528, 1566, 1599, 1601, 1604, 1609, 1647, 1689, 1690, 1692, 1741 and 1795 are included under the topic Early Harlow History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Harlow Spelling Variations

Harlow has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Harlow have been found, including Harlow, Harlowe and others.

Early Notables of the Harlow family

Notables of the family at this time include

Thomas Harlowe (d. 1741), English Captain in the Navy who on 19 March 1689-1690 appointed to command the Smyrna Merchant, hired ship, and took post from that date. In the following year he commanded t...

Harlow Ranking

In the United States, the name Harlow is the 2,987^th most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 7

Harlow migration to the United States +

In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Harlows to arrive on North American shores:

Harlow Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

John Harlow, aged 28, who landed in Virginia in 1619 aboard the ship "Sampson" 8
John Harlow, who arrived in Virginia in 1619, before the "Mayflower"
John Harlow, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 8
Anthony Harlow, who landed in Virginia in 1623 8
Anthony Harlow, who arrived in Jamestown, Va in 1624 8
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Harlow Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Mary Harlow, who settled in Maryland in 1722

Harlow Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

John P Harlow, who landed in Arkansas in 1869 8

Harlow Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Ernest James Alfred Harlow, who arrived in California in 1902 8

Harlow migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Harlow Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

William Harlow, who landed in Quebec in 1784

Harlow Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Robert Harlow, who arrived in Canada in 1831

Harlow migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Harlow Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. George Harlow, (b. 1811), aged 20, English labourer who was convicted in Warwick, Warwickshire, England for life for burglary, transported aboard the "Elizabeth" on 3rd October 1831, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 9
John Harlow, aged 21, a bricklayer, who arrived in South Australia in 1849 aboard the ship "Sir Edward Parry" 10
John Harlow, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Sir Edward Parry" in 1849 10
George Harlow, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Pestonjee Bomanjee" in 1851 11

Harlow migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Harlow Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Charles Harlow, (b. 1850), aged 24, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Peter Denny" arriving in Port Chalmers, Dunedin, Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 26th July 1874 12

Contemporary Notables of the name Harlow (post 1700) +

Bryce Harlow (1916-1987), American corporate lobbyist adviser to American presidents, recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom
Jean Harlow (1911-1937), born Harlean Harlow Carpenter, American film actress and top sex symbol of the 1930s also known as the "Blonde Bombshell" and "Platinum Blonde"
Jules Harlow (1931-2024), American Conservative Jewish rabbi and liturgist
Larry Harlow (1939-2021), American salsa music performer, composer and producer, recipient of the Latin Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (2008)
Mary Harlow, American jurist, magistrate for the Superior Court, Family Division in Chittenden and Orange Counties, Vermont
Joel Harlow, American Academy Award winning makeup artist, known for his work on the Pirates of the Caribbean movies
Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force Donald L. Harlow (1920-1997), American second Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force
Bob Harlow (1899-1954), American golfer, founder of Golf World magazine in 1947, inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1988
Richard Cresson "Dick" Harlow (1889-1962), American football player and coach, inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame (1954)
Larry Duane Harlow (b. 1951), retired American Major League Baseball outfielder
... (Another 21 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Citations +

Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 9th March 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/elizabeth
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) The SIR EDWARD PARRY 1849. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1849SirEdwardParry.htm
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) PESTONJEE BOMANJEE 1851. Retrieved http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1851Marion.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html