Surname Oxborrow - Meaning and Origin
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Oxborrow: What does the surname Oxborrow mean?
The surname Oxborrow is of Old English origin, deriving from two words: "oxa" meaning "ox" and "bearu" meaning "grove." Thus, the surname can be interpreted to mean "ox grove" or "place where oxen are kept." It's a locational surname, suggesting that the family probably lived in or was associated with an area where there was a grove of oxen. Surnames were often used to identify where a person came from, especially during the Middle Ages, and considering many people in these times were farmers or associated with agriculture, it's likely the original bearers of this name had some connection to oxen or farming. As with many old surnames, variations can occur, due to regional dialects and changes over time. Some other recorded spellings of the name include Oxborough, Oxburgh, and Oxberrow.
Order DNA origin analysisOxborrow: Where does the name Oxborrow come from?
The last name Oxborrow is primarily associated with the United Kingdom. According to records from the General Register Office of England and Wales, the surname has appeared in the region for centuries, with the earliest documentable record of an Oxborrow appearing as early as 1563. The last name appears to have originated in the English county of Essex, though its precise origins are unclear.
Today, the last name Oxborrow remains common in the United Kingdom. Records from the United Kingdom's 2011 census show that the last name was predominantly located in the region of East Anglia, with the highest concentrations located in Essex and its neighboring counties. While smaller numbers of the surname appear in London, Scotland, and elsewhere in the UK, overall, the prevalence of the name remains suppressed in comparison to some of the country's more widely used surnames such as Smith.
Outside of the United Kingdom, very few instances of the last name Oxborrow appear. Records from the US, Australia, and India indicate that the name is practically ubiquitous in the region, with the last name appearing to English immigrants from the 1920s onwards.
Overall, the last name Oxborrow appears to be common today, particularly in the United Kingdom, though its distribution beyond the region remains limited.
Variations of the surname Oxborrow
Oxborrow is a surname with a few variants, spellings and associated surnames.
Oxbarrow and Oxbrough are two of the most common variants and alternate spellings of the name Oxborrow. The Anglicized form of this name is Oxborough, and other variants include Oxbarrow, Oxbrough, Oxeburgh, Oxburgh, Oxborough, Oxberrow, Oxbarr, Ocberg and Oxeburrow.
Other surnames of similar origin are Oxenberry, Oxley, Oxspring, Oxendine and Oxberry. These surnames may also derive from a place name, such as Oxborough in Norfolk, England, which would have been spelled Oxeburgh at the time of the name's origin.
Oxborrow is derived from the Old English words ‘oxa’, meaning ox or cow, and ‘burg’, meaning fortification, borough or fort. Together, these words mean ‘fortification of a cow’, suggesting that the family who took this name was involved in cattle herding or similar animal-related activities.
Variants of this surname can be found in countries all over the world, but the Oxborrow family is most strongly associated with the counties of Norfolk, Cornwall, Devon and Yorkshire in England. Oxborrow is most common in the U.S., where records of the family can be traced back to the 1600s.
While the surname Oxborrow may seem foreign, its variants may be familiar. Even the less common variants of the name, such as Oxberry and Oxenberry, still bear a close resemblance to the original form.
Famous people with the name Oxborrow
- Sydney Oxborrow: Australian netball player who played for both Queensland Firebirds and Melbourne Vixens in the Suncorp Super Netball league.
- Thomas Oxborrow: English Jesuit priest and the fourth Superior of the English Province of the Society of Jesus.
- Richard Oxborrow: Award-winning British television and film producer, best known for his work on BAFTA award-winning documentaries.
- Todd Oxborrow: Former professional hockey player who played in the NHL for the Chicago Blackhawks.
- Steve Oxborrow: English actor and writer best known for his roles in British television, films and theatres.
- Anna Oxborrow: English actress and theatre director, best known for her work in the West End.
- Mary Oxborrow: British actress, best known for her role in the British TV show ‘Eldorado’ (1992-1993).
- Daisy Oxborrow: English stage actress, most recently seen in the adaptation of ‘The Return of Sherlock Holmes’.
- Ed Oxborrow: British artist and illustrator, best known for his work on Smokey Robinson's album "Just to See Her".
- Maggie Oxborrow: Australian singer-songwriter, best known for her hits ‘Everywhere You Look’ and ‘Ready to Fly’.