This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Harlow family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Harlow Family History

Harlow Surname Meaning

English: habitational name from Harlow (Essex), Harlow in Mayfield (Staffordshire), Great Harlow in Clapham (Yorkshire), Harlow Hill in Pannal (Yorkshire), or Harlow Hill in Ovingham (Northumberland).

The Essex and Northumberland placenames probably derive from Old English here ‘army’ + hlāw ‘mound hill’.

The other placenames probably derive from Old English hār ‘gray hoar’ + hlāw.

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Harlow family from?

You can see how Harlow families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Harlow family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Harlow families were found in USA in 1880. In 1891 there were 439 Harlow families living in Kent. This was about 25% of all the recorded Harlow's in United Kingdom. Kent had the highest population of Harlow families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Harlow surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Harlow ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Bricklayer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Harlow. 9% of Harlow men worked as a Bricklayer and 72% of Harlow women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Harlow were Incapacitated and Domestic Duties.

View Census Data for Harlow | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1939

  • Bricklayer
    9%
  • General Labourer
    7%
  • Builders Labourer
    7%
  • Incapacitated
    6%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    72%
  • Unpaid Domestic
    4%
  • Housewife
    3%
  • Domestic Duties
    3%

What Harlow family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 100,000 census records available for the last name Harlow. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Harlow census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Harlow

Passenger Lists

There are 7,000 immigration records available for the last name Harlow. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the UK, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Harlow immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 15,000 military records available for the last name Harlow. For the veterans among your Harlow ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Harlow military records

You've only scratched the surface of Harlow family history

Discover More

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Harlow family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial