Barlow is an English

surname In many societies, a surname, family name, or last name is the mostly hereditary portion of one's personal name that indicates one's family. It is typically combined with a given name to form the full name of a person, although several give ...

Origins and variants

One theory suggests that the surname is related to the place of the same name in Derbyshire and mean "

ives on Ives is both a surname and a given name. Notable people with the name include: Surname * Alice Emma Ives (1876–1930), American dramatist, journalist * Burl Ives (1909–1995), American singer, author and actor * Charles Ives (1874–1954), Amer ...

the bare hill". At the time of the British census of 1881, Retrieved 23 January 2014 the frequency of the surname Barlow was highest in

Cheshire Cheshire ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in North West England. It is bordered by Merseyside to the north-west, Greater Manchester to the north-east, Derbyshire to the east, Staffordshire to the south-east, and Shrop ...

(4.4 times the British average), followed by

Lancashire Lancashire ( , ; abbreviated ''Lancs'') is a ceremonial county in North West England. It is bordered by Cumbria to the north, North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire to the east, Greater Manchester and Merseyside to the south, and the Irish Sea to ...

Nottinghamshire Nottinghamshire (; abbreviated ''Notts.'') is a ceremonial county in the East Midlands of England. The county is bordered by South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west. Th ...

Staffordshire Staffordshire (; postal abbreviation ''Staffs''.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the West Midlands (region), West Midlands of England. It borders Cheshire to the north-west, Derbyshire and Leicestershire to the east, ...

Buckinghamshire Buckinghamshire (, abbreviated ''Bucks'') is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England and one of the home counties. It is bordered by Northamptonshire to the north, Bedfordshire to the north-east, Hertfordshir ...

Derbyshire Derbyshire ( ) is a ceremonial county in the East Midlands of England. It borders Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire, and South Yorkshire to the north, Nottinghamshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south-east, Staffordshire to the south a ...

Berkshire Berkshire ( ; abbreviated ), officially the Royal County of Berkshire, is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in South East England. It is bordered by Oxfordshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the north-east, Greater London ...

Rutland Rutland is a ceremonial county in the East Midlands of England. It borders Leicestershire to the north and west, Lincolnshire to the north-east, and Northamptonshire to the south-west. Oakham is the largest town and county town. Rutland has a ...

and

Warwickshire Warwickshire (; abbreviated Warks) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the West Midlands (region), West Midlands of England. It is bordered by Staffordshire and Leicestershire to the north, Northamptonshire to the east, Ox ...

People with the surname

Ambrose Barlow Ambrose Edward Barlow, O.S.B. (1585 – 10 September 1641) was an English Benedictines, Benedictine monk. He is one of a group of saints canonized by Pope Paul VI who became known as the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales. Early life and educa ...

(1585–1641), English Roman Catholic martyr *André Barlow (born 1953), South African minister from the

Dutch Reformed Church The Dutch Reformed Church (, , abbreviated NHK ) was the largest Christian denomination in the Netherlands from the onset of the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century until 1930. It was the traditional denomination of the Dutch royal famil ...

* Andrew Barlow (1899–1961), Australian cricket umpire * Andrew Henry Barlow (1837–1915), politician in Queensland, Australia * Andy Barlow (footballer) (born 1965), English football player *

Andy Barlow (producer) Andy Barlow is a British record producer and musician best known for his work as a founding member of the band Lamb. Biography Later in life, during a hiatus from Lamb, Barlow released solo work as Hip Optimist and LOWB. His debut album as ...

, English musical producer, member of band Lamb * Barriemore Barlow (born 1949), English drummer, former member of Jethro Tull *Ben Barlow (born 1994), Welsh vocalist with pop punk band

Neck Deep Neck Deep are a Welsh pop-punk band formed in Wrexham in 2012. They released a pair of EPs, ''Rain in July'' (2012) and '' A History of Bad Decisions'' (2013), before signing with Hopeless in August 2013. Neck Deep was founded after vocalist ...

Bill Barlow William Walter Barlow (February 20, 1931 – July 5, 2020) was a Canadian politician in Ontario, Canada. He served in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 1981 to 1987, as a member of the Progressive Conservative Party. Background Barlow w ...

(1931–2020), Canadian politician *

Billy Barlow William McKenzie Barlow (November 2, 1870 – February 14, 1963) was a Canadian amateur ice hockey player in the late 19th century. He played for the Montreal Hockey Club, champions of the Amateur Hockey Association of Canada (AHAC) from 18 ...

(1871–1963), Canadian ice hockey player *

Bryan Alwyn Barlow Bryan Alwyn Barlow (born 1933) is an Australian botanist. He was a member of Committee of the "Flora of Australia" 1982–1984, and 1986–1988. He is a former director of the Australian National Herbarium (1981-1988). He authored many Myrtacea ...

(born 1933), Australian botanist, former director of the Australian National * Calvin S. Barlow (1856–1920), Washington state pioneer, businessman, and politician * Celia Barlow (born 1955), British Labour Party politician * Charles Sydney Barlow (1905–1979), South African conservationist, for whom Barlow's lark is named *

Chloe Barlow Chloe T. Barlow is a contemporary romance novelist. She has authored two full-length novels and one short story. Her debut novel, ''Three Rivers'', was featured in the September 7, 2014, edition of the ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette''. Her second no ...

, author *

Clarence Barlow Clarence Albertson Barlow (also Klarenz; 27 December 1945 – 29 June 2023) was a British composer of classical and electroacoustic works. He was an academic teacher internationally, at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague from 1990 and at the ...

(1945–2023), composer of classical and electroacoustic works * Colby Barlow (born 2005), Canadian ice hockey player * Colin Barlow (1935–2018), English football player *

David Barlow (disambiguation) David Barlow may refer to: * David Barlow (basketball) (born 1983), Australian basketball player * David Barlow (Coronation Street), a fictional character in the British soap ''Coronation Street'' * David Barlow (judge) (born 1971), United State ...

, multiple people * Denise P. Barlow (1950–2017), British geneticist *

Dick Barlow Richard Gorton Barlow (28 May 1851 – 31 July 1919) was a cricketer who played for Lancashire and England. Barlow is best remembered for his batting partnership with A N Hornby, which was immortalised in nostalgic poetry by Francis Thompson. H ...

(1851–1919), Lancashire and England cricketer *

Eddie Barlow Edgar John Barlow (12 August 1940 – 30 December 2005) was a South African cricketer (an all rounder). Barlow was born in Pretoria, Transvaal, South Africa, and played first-class cricket for Transvaal and Eastern Province from 1959–60 to 1 ...

(1940–2005), South African cricketer * Eeben Barlow, founder of Executive Outcomes * Elmer E. Barlow (1887–1948), American jurist *

Emilie-Claire Barlow Emilie-Claire Barlow (born June 6, 1976) is a Canadian singer, arranger, record producer, and voice actress. She has released several albums on her label, Empress Music Group, and has voiced characters for animated television series. She perform ...

(born 1976), Canadian jazz singer, voice actress * Erasmus Darwin Barlow (1915–2005), British psychiatrist *

Francis Barlow (artist) Francis Barlow (c. 1626 – 1704) was an English painter, etcher, and illustrator. He ranks among the most prolific book-illustrators and printmakers of the 17th century, working across several genres: natural history, hunting and recreati ...

(est. 1626–1704), British painter, etcher, and illustrator * Francis C. Barlow (1834–1896), US lawyer, politician, and general *

Frank Barlow (disambiguation) Frank Barlow may refer to: * Frank Barlow (footballer) (born 1946), British football coach and manager *Frank Barlow (historian) Frank Barlow (19 April 1911 – 27 June 2009) was an English historian, known particularly for biographies of medi ...

, several people * Ferdinand Barlow (1881–1951), French classical composer *

Gary Barlow Gary Barlow (born 20 January 1971) is an English singer, songwriter, record producer, and television personality. He is the lead singer of the pop group Take That. Barlow is one of the United Kingdom's most successful songwriters, having writ ...

(born 1971), English singer-songwriter, best known for being a member of the boy band Take That *

George Barlow (disambiguation) George Barlow may refer to: * George Barlow (MP), Member of Parliament (MP) for Haverfordwest (UK Parliament constituency), Haverfordwest * George Barlow (English poet) (1847–c. 1913), English poet, who sometimes wrote under the pseudonym James H ...

, several people *

Sir George Barlow, 1st Baronet Sir George Hilaro Barlow, 1st Baronet, (20 January 1763 – 18 December 1846) served as Acting Governor-General of India from the death of Lord Cornwallis in 1805 until the arrival of Lord Minto in 1807. Career He was appointed to the Beng ...

(1763–1846), Acting Governor-General of India from 1805 to 1807 *

George Hilaro Barlow (physician) George Hilaro Barlow (1806–1866) was a British physician. He was a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians, the first editor of '' Guy's Hospital Reports'', and the principal author of ''A Manual of the Practice of Medicine.'' The son of ...

(1806–1866), Royal College of Physicians, first editor of Guy's Hospital Reports * Graham Barlow (born 1950), English Test and county cricketer (Middlesex CCC) * Haven J. Barlow (1922–2022), American politician * Henry Clark Barlow (1806–1876), English writer on Dante * Horace Barlow (1921–2020), Cambridge physiologist, neuroscientist, vision scientist *

Iman Barlow Iman Barlow (born 14 April 1993) is a retired professional English female kickboxer and Muay Thai fighter. She is the former two time Enfusion 54 kg World champion with six successful title defenses, the former WRSA World champion, form ...

(born 1993), English martial artist * Jack Barlow (1924–2011), American country music singer-songwriter * James A. Barlow (1923–2015), American geologist and politician * James Barlow Hoy (1794–1843), Irish-born politician * Joe Barlow (born 1995), American baseball player *

Joel Barlow Joel Barlow (March 24, 1754 – December 26, 1812) was an American poet, diplomat, and politician. In politics, he supported the French Revolution and was an ardent Jeffersonian republican. He worked as an agent for American speculator William ...

(1754–1812), American poet and diplomat *

John Barlow (disambiguation) John Barlow may refer to: Politicians *John Barlow (died 1718), MP for Haverfordwest *John Barlow (died 1739), MP for Pembrokeshire (UK Parliament constituency) *Sir John Barlow, 1st Baronet (1857–1932), British businessman and Member of Parliame ...

, several people * John Barlow (1815–1856), veterinary scientist at the University of Edinburgh * John Henry Barlow (1855–1924), Quaker statesman, pacifist and co-founder of the Friends Ambulance Unit *

Ken Barlow (basketball) Kenneth Barlow (born September 20, 1964) is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. Early years Barlow attended Cathedral High School. As a senior, he led the school t ...

(born 1964), American former professional basketball player * Kevan Barlow (born 1979), NFL running back *

Kim Barlow Kim Barlow (born March 10, 1969) is a Canadian folk singer and musician. Biography Barlow was born in Montreal, Quebec, and raised in rural Nova Scotia, she is of Anglo-Quebecker descent. She studied classical guitar at Florida State University ...

(born 1969), a Canadian folk singer * Leonard Monteagle Barlow (1898–1918), British World War I flying ace * Lillian Barlow (1876–1942), American Shaker eldress, woodworker *

Lou Barlow Louis Knox Barlow (born July 17, 1966) is an American alternative rock musician and songwriter. A founding member of the groups Dinosaur Jr., Sebadoh and The Folk Implosion, Barlow is credited with helping to pioneer the lo-fi style of rock ...

(born 1966), musician, member of the bands Dinosaur Jr and Sebadoh * Marcus Barlow (1890–1955), Australian architect * Martin T. Barlow (born 1953), British mathematician *

Matt Barlow Matthew Barlow (born March 10, 1971) is an American heavy metal singer. He is the lead singer for Ashes of Ares and former lead singer of Iced Earth and Pyramaze. He is Jon Schaffer's brother-in-law. History Barlow joined Iced Earth after th ...

(born 1970), vocalist of the heavy metal band Iced Earth *

Maude Barlow Maude Victoria Barlow (born May 24, 1947) is a Canadian author and activist. She is a founding member and former board chair of The Council of Canadians, a citizens' advocacy organization with members and chapters across Canada. She is also the ...

(born 1947), Canadian author and activist * Michael Barlow (born 1987), Australian rules footballer *

Micah Barlow Micah Yates Barlow (6 February 1873 – 13 January 1936) was an English first-class cricketer. The son of Micah Barlow and his wife, Martha Mary Barlow, he was born at Bury in February 1873. He was educated at Harrow School, before going up t ...

(1873–1936), English cricketer * Mike Barlow (born 1948), American Major League Baseball player * Milt G. Barlow (1843–1904), American vaudeville and minstrel player *

Patrick Barlow Evan George Patrick Barlow (born 18 March 1947) is an English actor, comedian and playwright. His comedic alter ego, ''Desmond Olivier Dingle'', is the founder, artistic director and chief executive of the two-man National Theatre of Brent, whic ...

(born 1947), British actor and dramatist *

Peter Barlow (disambiguation) Peter Barlow may refer to: *Peter Barlow (mathematician) (1776–1862), English writer on pure and applied mathematics *Peter W. Barlow (1809–1885), English civil engineer and son of the mathematician *Peter W. Barlow (author) (1847-1890), engine ...

, several people *

Phyllida Barlow Dame Phyllida Barlow (4 April 1944 – 12 March 2023) was a British visual artist. She studied at Chelsea College of Art (1960–1963) and the Slade School of Art (1963–1966). She joined the staff of the Slade in the late 1960s and taught th ...

(1944–2023), British sculptor and art academic *

Randy Barlow Randy Barlow (March 29, 1943 – July 30, 2020) was an American country music recording artist. Between 1976 and 1983, he released four albums, including three for Republic Records. In the same time span, he charted twenty singles on the ''Billbo ...

(1943–2020), American country music singer *

Reginald Barlow Reginald Harry Barlow (June 17, 1866, – July 6, 1943) was an American stage and screen character actor, author, and film director. He was a busy performer in Hollywood films of the 1930s. Early life A native of Cambridge, Massachusetts ...

(1866–1943) American soldier and stage and screen actor * Richard Barlow (intelligence analyst), CIA whistleblower *

Robert Barlow (disambiguation) Robert Barlow may refer to: * Robert Barlow (Royal Navy officer) (1757–1843), Royal Navy officer * Robert Barlow (cartographer) (1813–1883), Canadian cartographer * Robert Barlow (cricketer) (1827–1907), English cricketer and British Army offi ...

, several people *

Sam Barlow (disambiguation) Sam Barlow may refer to: * Sam Barlow (rugby league) (born 1985), rugby league player for Halifax R.L.F.C. * Samuel L. M. Barlow I (1826–1889), American lawyer * Samuel L. M. Barlow II (1892–1982), American composer * Sam Barlow (game desig ...

, several people *

Scott Barlow (disambiguation) Scott Barlow may refer to: * Scott Barlow (baseball) Scott Alen Barlow (born December 18, 1992) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Kansas ...

, several people *

Stephen Barlow (disambiguation) Stephen Barlow may refer to: *Stephen Barlow (conductor) (born 1954), British conductor *Stephen Barlow (director) (born 1973), Australian opera director *Stephen Barlow (Pennsylvania politician) (1779–1845), member of the U.S. House of Represent ...

, several people *

Thelma Barlow Thelma Barlow (''née'' Pigott; born 19 June 1929) is an English television actress and writer, known for her roles as Mavis Wilton in the long-running ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'' and as Dolly Bellfield in the BBC One sitcom '' dinne ...

(born 1929), British actress *

Thomas Barlow (disambiguation) Thomas Barlow may refer to: Politicians * Thomas Barlow (merchant) (1788–1844), New Brunswick merchant, banker and politician * Thomas Barlow (New York politician) (1805–1896), New York lawyer and politician * Thomas Barlow (Kentucky politician ...

, several people *

Tim Barlow Michael John Leigh Barlow (18 January 1936 – 20 January 2023) was an English actor who performed many small roles in a variety of films, television programmes, and plays, under the stage name Tim Barlow or Timothy Barlow. Life and career B ...

(1936–2023), English actor * Walter Jarvis Barlow (1868–1937), founded Barlow Sanatorium in 1902, now Barlow Respiratory Hospital, in Los Angeles *

William Barlow (disambiguation) William Barlow may refer to: Religious figures *William Barlow (bishop of Chichester) (c. 1498–1568), English cleric *William Barlow (bishop of Lincoln) (died 1613), Anglican priest and courtier, served as Bishop of Rochester and Bishop of Lincol ...

, several people

Fictional characters

*Charles Barlow, a police inspector in the British crime dramas ''

Z-Cars ''Z-Cars'' or ''Z Cars'' (pronounced "zed cars") is a British television police procedural series centred on the work of mobile uniformed police and CID detectives in the fictional town of Newtown, based on Kirkby, near Liverpool. Produced by ...

'', '' Softly, Softly'', ''

Barlow at Large ''Barlow at Large'', later ''Barlow'', is a British police procedural television programme broadcast in the 1970s, starring Stratford Johns in the titular role. Johns had previously played Barlow in the ''Z-Cars'', '' Softly, Softly'' and '' ...

'' and ''

Second Verdict ''Second Verdict'' is a six-part BBC television series from 1976. It combines the genres of police procedural and docudrama, with dramatised documentaries in which classic criminal cases and unsolved crimes from history were re-appraised by fict ...

'' *

Kurt Barlow Kurt Barlow is a fictional vampire and the main antagonist of Stephen King's 1975 horror novel Salem's Lot''. The character is a powerful vampire who moves to the Maine town of Jerusalem's Lot with the intent to form a vampire colony of its r ...

, character in Stephen King's novel ''Salem's Lot'' *

Nora Barlow Emma Nora Barlow, Lady Barlow (née Darwin; 22 December 1885 – 29 May 1989), was a British botanist and geneticist. The granddaughter of the British naturalist Charles Darwin, Barlow began her academic career studying botany at Cambridge unde ...

, a character in the book series ''Leviathan'' * Kate Barlow, a character in the movie ''Holes'' * Elder Joseph Barlow, a character in August Wilson's play '' Radio Golf'' *Barlow (no first name), Sherlock Holmes's dentist in ''

How Watson Learned the Trick "How Watson Learned the Trick" is a Sherlock Holmes parody written by Arthur Conan Doyle in 1924. It concerns Doctor Watson attempting to demonstrate to Holmes how he has learned the latter's "superficial trick" of logical deduction by giving a ...

'', by Arthur Conan Doyle *Maxine Barlow, character in '' Waterloo Road''

''Coronation Street''

The British soap opera ''

Coronation Street ''Coronation Street'' (colloquially referred to as ''Corrie'') is a British television soap opera created by ITV Granada, Granada Television and shown on ITV (TV network), ITV since 9 December 1960. The programme centres on a cobbled, terraced ...

'' has featured the Barlow family since its inception in 1960, and had therefore featured multiple characters with the surname, who are listed alphabetically below. * Adam Barlow * Amy Barlow * Carla Barlow * David Barlow (''Coronation Street'') *

Deirdre Barlow Deirdre Barlow (also Hunt, Langton and Rachid) is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'', played by Anne Kirkbride. She made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 20 November 1972. Her ...

* Frank Barlow (''Coronation Street'') * Ida Barlow *

Irma Barlow ''Coronation Street'' is a British soap opera, initially produced by Granada Television. Created by writer Tony Warren, ''Coronation Street'' first broadcast on ITV on 9 December 1960. The following is a list of characters introduced in the sho ...

* Janet Barlow (''Coronation Street'') * Jessica Barlow *

Ken Barlow Kenneth "Ken" Barlow is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'', played by William Roache. He was created by Tony Warren as one of ''Coronation Street''s original characters and December 2020 marked Ken' ...

* Leanne Barlow * Lucy Barlow * Peter Barlow (''Coronation Street'') * Sarah Barlow * Shelley Barlow *

Simon Barlow Simon Barlow is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'' and was played by Alex Bain between 2008 and 2024. The character was originally played by twins, Jake and Oscar Hartley, on his birth in 2003. Simon is ...

Susan Barlow Susan Barlow (also Baldwin) is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street''. She made her debut screen appearance on 5 April 1965. Susan has been portrayed by four actresses since her introduction. Katie Heanue wa ...

Tracy Barlow Tracy Barlow (also Langton, Preston and McDonald) is a Television in the United Kingdom, fictional character from the Television in the United Kingdom, British ITV (TV network), ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street''. She was born on-screen durin ...

* Valerie Barlow

References

{{surname, Barlow English-language surnames English toponymic surnames

Origins and variants

People with the surname

Fictional characters

''Coronation Street''

See also

References