Callow
A surname deriving from Old English referring to someone who was bald or bare-headed.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 1,371 Americans carry the last name Callow. That puts it at #22,026 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.40 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 250,003 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Callow surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
1.4K
1 in 250,003
Census rank
#22,026
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.4
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
1.2K
rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 1,177 bearers of the surname Callow in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.40 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 22026th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Callow, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%) and Two or More Races (1.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Callow
The surname Callow is of English origin, derived from the Old English word 'calu' or 'calwe,' meaning bald or bare. It likely originated as a descriptive nickname referring to someone with a bald or thinning head of hair. The name is thought to have first emerged in the regions of Yorkshire and Lancashire in northern England during the medieval period.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the Callow surname appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, a survey of landowners commissioned by William the Conqueror after the Norman invasion of England. The name is listed as 'Caluo,' a variant spelling from that era.
In the 13th century, records show a Robert Callow living in the county of Yorkshire. Callow was also the name of a small village in Derbyshire, which may have contributed to the surname's development and spread.
Notable individuals throughout history bearing the Callow surname include:
1. John Callow (1822-1878), an English landscape painter known for his depictions of rural scenes and coastal views.
2. William Callow (1812-1908), a British watercolor painter and illustrator, renowned for his detailed cityscapes and architectural works.
3. Sir Henry Callow (1856-1935), a British civil engineer who oversaw the construction of numerous railways and infrastructure projects in India.
4. Elizabeth Callow (1833-1905), an English writer and poet who contributed to several literary journals and published collections of her works.
5. Edward Callow (1887-1952), a British actor and theater performer who appeared in numerous West End productions in the early 20th century.
The Callow surname has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Callow Hill in Shropshire and Callow End in Worcestershire, which may have influenced the spelling and distribution of the name over time.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Callow
Among Census respondents with the surname Callow, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%) and Two or More Races (1.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Callow bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Callow surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White94.7%
- Hispanic or Latino1.9%
- Two or more races1.4%
- Black or African American0.9%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Callow surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #22,026 | #22,026 | 0.0% |
| Count | 1,177 | 1,177 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.40 | 0.40 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Callow bearers went from 1,177 to 1,177 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #22,026 to #22,026.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Callow
FAQ
Callow surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Callow?
The surname Callow holds position #22,026 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 1,371 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.40 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Callow surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Callow, the largest self-reported group is White at 94.7%. The next largest groups are Hispanic (1.9%) and Two or More Races (1.4%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.