Skip Ancestry navigation Skip to Footer Ancestry Home
  • Home
  • Trees
  • Search
  • Memories
  • DNA
  • Subscribe
  • Cart
  • Sign In
Home
Loading

Trees you own

    Shared with you

      Tree tools

      • My Trees
      • First Name Meanings
      • Last Name Meanings
      • Individual Records Search
      • Family Trees Support
      • Start a New Tree
      • Upload a GEDCOM
      Loading
      • Search All Records
      • Census & Electoral Rolls
      • Birth, Marriage & Death, including Parish
      • Military
      • Wills & Probate
      • Immigration & Travel
      • Schools, Directories & Church Histories
      • Public Member Trees
      • Card Catalogue
      • Member Search
      Memories
      Loading
      • Register a kit
      • AncestryDNA® Learning Hub
      • Traits Learning Hub
      • AncestryDNA®
      • AncestryDNA® Support
      Loading
      • Support Centre
      • Ancestry Academy
      • Community
      • Hire an expert
      • Site Status
      Loading
      • Support Centre
      • Ancestry Academy
      • Community
      • Hire an expert
      • Site Status
      Discover More Family Names with an Ancestry 14-day Free Trial* 
      • Support Centre
      • Ancestry Blog
      • About Us
      • Site Map
      • Gift Memberships
      • Careers
        • Ancestry Corporate
        • Fold3.com
        • ForcesWarRecords.com
        • Geneanet.org
        • Newspapers.com
        • ProGenealogists.com
        • RootsWeb.com
      • © 2002-2026 Ancestry
      • Privacy
      • Cookies
      • Terms and Conditions
      • Operated by Ancestry Ireland Unlimited Company
      Group of people

      Meaning of the first name Sparrow

      Origin

      English

      Meaning

      Small bird in the Finch family

      Variations

      Farrow, Yarrow, Arrow
      The name Sparrow has its origins in the English language and is derived from the Old English word spearwa. It was initially used to describe a small bird belonging to the Finch family, renowned for its quickness and agility. The name Sparrow gained popularity as a name during medieval times, particularly in England and Scotland, where occupations or traits often served as the basis for names. It is likely that individuals who worked as bird catchers or hunters, or who were associated with the bird in some way, adopted Sparrow as their family name.

      Throughout history, the name Sparrow has appeared in various contexts. In literature, the sparrow symbolized qualities such as freedom, simplicity, and perseverance. It captured the imagination of artists and writers who saw in it a representation of the delicate, yet resilient nature of life. Moreover, Sparrow has been used as a given name, though less frequently than as a name. In recent years, it has gained some attention due to its association with popular culture, notably through the character Captain Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series. The name Sparrow continues to be used today, both as a name and as a unique first name, reflecting the enduring fascination with this small bird and its symbolic meaning.

      Based on our records...

      Snow

      Snow

      This is the most common surname associated with Sparrow.
      Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. - © Mapbox - © OpenStreetMap - Improve this map

      What are you curious about?

      Ready to learn more about your own family? Here are two ways to begin.
      Start a free trial
      Order AncestryDNA
      calendar.webp
      Based on our records...

      Did you know?

      1799 is when there were the most people born with the first name Sparrow.

      Explore the origins of another name.