Find out how popular the last name Harlow is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Harlow.

Harlow, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Harlow surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Harlow in America

Harlow is the 3060th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Harlow surname appeared 11,726 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 4 people would have the surname Harlow.

We can also compare 2010 data for Harlow to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Harlow

The surname Harlow is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "hara" meaning hare and "hlaw" meaning hill or mound. It is believed to have originated as a place name referring to a location where hares were commonly found on a hill or mound.

The earliest recorded instances of the name Harlow can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is listed as "Herlaua" and "Herlawe" in Essex and Hertfordshire respectively. These entries suggest that the name was already well-established in these areas during the 11th century.

During the medieval period, the name appeared in various forms, including Herlawes, Herlawe, and Harlowe, reflecting the variations in spelling and pronunciation common at the time. Several places in England were also named Harlow, further solidifying the name's geographical roots.

One notable historical figure bearing the surname Harlow was John Harlow (c. 1512-1554), an English Protestant martyr who was burned at the stake in Stratford-le-Bow during the Marian Persecutions for his religious beliefs.

In the 17th century, Richard Harlow (1625-1688) was a prominent English painter known for his portraits and landscapes. His works can be found in various collections throughout England.

The 18th century saw the birth of George Henry Harlow (1787-1819), an English painter renowned for his historical and literary subjects. His most famous work, "The Trial of Queen Katharine," depicting a scene from Shakespeare's Henry VIII, is housed in the National Gallery in London.

In the 19th century, Jean Harlow (1911-1937), born Harlean Carpenter, was an iconic American film actress and sex symbol. Despite her short life, she became one of the most celebrated stars of the 1930s and a lasting icon of Hollywood's Golden Age.

More recently, Heather Harlow (born 1970) is an American singer-songwriter and musician known for her work in the indie rock and folk genres, contributing to the vibrant music scene of the Pacific Northwest.

Throughout its history, the surname Harlow has maintained a strong connection to its English roots, with many individuals bearing the name leaving their mark across various fields, from art and literature to religion and entertainment.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Harlow

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Harlow.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Harlow was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Harlow has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Harlow was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Harlow, please contact us.

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