Barlow is a surname of English origin. It is derived from the Old English word "beorg," which means "hill" or "mound." The name was originally given to someone who lived on or near a hill, and it has been in use as a surname since at least the Middle Ages.
The earliest record of the name Barlow appears in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, where it is listed as a surname in Cambridgeshire. Throughout history, there have been many notable individuals with the surname Barlow. For example, the American poet Sylvia Plath was born as Sylvia Louise Hughes, but she changed her name to Sylvia Plath Barlow after marrying the poet Ted Hughes.
Today, Barlow is still primarily found in English-speaking countries such as England and the United States. According to some sources, it is more commonly used as a surname than a given name, although there are certainly people named Barlow today who use it as their first name. Overall, Barlow is an interesting and historic surname with a clear meaning and origin.
Based on the statistics provided, the name Barlow has been used inconsistently over time in the United States. The peak years for the name were 1917 and 1953, with eight births each year. However, there was a significant decline in its popularity from the 1940s to the 1960s, with only five or six births per year during that period.
Interestingly, there has been a slight resurgence in recent years, with six births in 2021 and five births in both 2019 and 2023. This suggests that while Barlow may not be as popular as it once was, it is still being used today.
Overall, the total number of births for the name Barlow in the United States is 103 over the years specified. While this is a relatively low number compared to other names, it indicates that Barlow has been chosen for at least one child each year on average during these periods.