Surname Furlow - Meaning and Origin

Furlow: What does the surname Furlow mean?

The last name Furlow is a surname of English Origin. The earliest occurrence of the name is found in records dating back to the 1200s. The origin of the name Furlow is not definitively known, however, some scholars believe that it may have been derived from the Old English personal name Furu, combined with the suffix ‘hlaw’, which is meant to signify a tomb or hillock.

The Furlows who appear in early records were scattered among the English countryside—in the counties of Hampshire, Shropshire, Worcestershire, and Somerset. It is believed that settlers may have had a hand in spreading the name, and that perhaps some family members remain in areas once settled by the original Furlows.

The Furlow surname is still relatively common today, particularly in the western Midlands counties of England. In the United States, several Furlow families migrated to the colonial region of Georgia in the early 1800s, and from there, spread throughout the southeastern United States.

Generally, Furlows are thought to be tenacious, sturdy people with a strong entrepreneurial spirit and an appreciation for the outdoors. They often have a colorful sense of style and a love of music—traits that likely harken back to their time as early settlers in frontier America.

Furlow: Where does the name Furlow come from?

The last name Furlow is quite common in the United States. In fact, according to an online database of last names, nearly 5,000 people in the U.S. share this name.

The most heavily concentrated areas include parts of California, Oklahoma, Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee. The number of Furlows in these states range from 880 in Georgia to 326 in California. Other states, such as Florida, have a lower number with only 168 Furlows.

When looking at the entire population in the United States, the distribution of the Furlow name is widespread. Nationwide, roughly one in every 27,369 individuals is a Furlow.

The Furlow name has begun to spread internationally as well. The United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand all have a few hundred Furlows living in them.

The Furlow name is thus common throughout the United States and expanding to other countries. With its spread, however, the number of people bearing the name in any particular area is typically low. It is fair to conclude, therefore, that the population of Furlows with any one location is relatively low.

Variations of the surname Furlow

The variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the surname Furlow are Faulkner, Favel, Favell, Favelle, Fecalo, Foster, and Furrell.

Furlow is a surname of English and Dutch origin. It is believed to be derived from the Middle English word "fevrerel," meaning "homestead by the marsh." The surname could have evolved from a place-name, meaning a house situated near a marsh or bog.

The variants of this surname include Faulkner (an Old English variation of "falconer," meaning "falcon trainer"), Favel, Favell (an English variant of "Favel"), Favelle (a variant with French influence), Fecalo, Foster, and Furrell. All of these surnames likely had their origin in the "fevrerel" variation; however, their eventual appearances in their respective languages give them their unique spellings.

Furlow has also given rise to many surnames in some parts of the world. These include German surnames such as Furlinger, Falke, Foester, and Fuger. It is also present in the Irish surnames MacPharlain and Faoláin, and in the Scottish MacFarlan and MacFarlane.

Furlow remains popular in areas that were formerly a part of the British Empire, including United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. It is difficult to determine the exact location of its origin, as the various spellings indicate that the surname could have come from different places and different language influences. However, the shared root word, “fevrerel,” suggests that they all share a common history.

Famous people with the name Furlow

• Carlton Furlow, American professional soccer player
• Winston Furlow, American golfer
• Graham Furlow, British botanist
• Kerri Furlow, American architect
• Greg Furlow, American television writer
• Jesus Furlow, American baseball pitcher
• Clint Furlow, American film director
• Justine Furlow, American artist
• Ryan Furlow, British DJ
• Shelby Furlow, American basketball player

Other surnames

Furlong