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 Yarrow family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Yarrow Family History

Yarrow Surname Meaning

English and Scottish (Borders): habitational name from any of the places called Yarrow (in Selkirkshire, Northumberland, and Lancashire) which take their names from the rivers on which they stand. The river names are probably related to Welsh garw ‘rough, tempestuous’.

The English word yarrow (Old English gear(e)we) denotes a herb used in herbal medicine and this may lie behind some cases of the surname.

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 Yarrow family from?

You can see how Yarrow families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Yarrow family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Yarrow families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1891 there were 121 Yarrow families living in London. This was about 24% of all the recorded Yarrow's in United Kingdom. London had the highest population of Yarrow families in 1891.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Yarrow 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 Yarrow ancestors do for a living?

In 1939, Farmer and Unpaid Domestic Duties were the top reported jobs for men and women in the United Kingdom named Yarrow. 19% of Yarrow men worked as a Farmer and 77% of Yarrow women worked as an Unpaid Domestic Duties. Some less common occupations for Americans named Yarrow were Carpenter and Household Duties.

View Census Data for Yarrow | 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

  • Farmer
    19%
  • General Labourer
    14%
  • Railway Clerk
    7%
  • Carpenter
    7%

Top Female Occupations In 1939

  • Unpaid Domestic Duties
    77%
  • Unpaid Household Duties
    3%
  • Domestic Duties
    3%
  • Household Duties
    3%

What Yarrow family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 21,000 census records available for the last name Yarrow. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Yarrow census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search UK census records for Yarrow

Passenger Lists

There are 2,000 immigration records available for the last name Yarrow. 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 Yarrow immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 1,000 military records available for the last name Yarrow. For the veterans among your Yarrow ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Yarrow military records

You've only scratched the surface of Yarrow family history

Discover More

What is the average Yarrow lifespan?

Between 1959 and 2004, in the United States, Yarrow life expectancy was at its lowest point in 1976, and highest in 1993. The average life expectancy for Yarrow in 1959 was 60, and 59 in 2004.

View Social Security Death Index (SSDI) for Yarrow

An unusually short lifespan might indicate that your Yarrow ancestors lived in harsh conditions. A short lifespan might also indicate health problems that were once prevalent in your family. The SSDI is a searchable database of more than 70 million names. You can find birthdates, death dates, addresses and more.

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Yarrow family tree

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