Surname Wardlow - Meaning and Origin

Wardlow: What does the surname Wardlow mean?

The last name Wardlow is of English origin, and it is believed to be a habitation name, which originated from a location where a person resided or held land. This could have been a house, estate, or farm. The area from which the Wardlow name derives is located in Lancashire near the English and Scottish borders.

Wardlow is likely an Anglicised version of the Scottish Gaelic term ‘Fadhlaimh’, which means ‘rounded hill’ or ‘mound’. The Wardlow family may have chosen this particular surname to describe the lands they owned.

The Wardlow family can trace its roots to Baron Eumi de Wardlowes, who was a prominent figure in medieval England, and his descendants were granted substantial landholdings in Lancashire. Over the centuries, the Wardlow family continued to accumulate wealth, and the family name spread throughout the United Kingdom.

Today, the Wardlow surname is an enduring reminder of the family’s long and powerful history. It suggests nobility, ambition, and financial security, and the name remains a source of pride for many members of the Wardlow family.

Wardlow: Where does the name Wardlow come from?

The surname Wardlow is most commonly found in the United States, particularly in parts of the Midwest. One of the states with the highest numbers of Wardlows is Missouri, where the name was among the top 7,000 surnames in the 2000 US Census. The other states with the highest numbers of Wardlows are Arkansas, Mississippi, Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, New York, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

The origin of the Wardlow surname is uncertain, but scholars agree that it derives either from the Old English words "weard" and "hlāw," probably meaning that the original bearer of the name was a watchman or a guardian. The Wardlow name may also be related to a location name derived from the Old English words for "pool" and "hill" combined to form "pool on the hill."

The first Wardlows in America arrived in colonial Massachusetts between 1630 and 1635. Over the years, the surname spread throughout the United States and can now be found in all fifty states. Given the history of the Wardlow name, it is likely that people with this name may have common ancestors but have become scattered throughout the country.

Variations of the surname Wardlow

Wardlow is a surname of English origin, which is believed to have derived from a topographical name meaning “in the woods”. It is believed to have first gained prominence in the county of Lancashire, in the North West of England and it is likely that the ancestors of many of the current bearers of the name originally lived there.

Variants and other spellings of the surname Wardlow include Wardlowe, Waudlowe, Wardlowe, Wallo, Wahloe, Wallo, Waulo, Warde, Wordelow, Wordelowe, and Wardell.

It is likely that the earliest forms of the surname derived from a nickname given to a person who lived or worked in a wood or forest, particularly in Lancashire. It is from this that the surnames 'in the wood' or 'by the wood' developed.

In some cases, the spelling of the surname has been altered over time, usually due to misreading or spelling errors in documentation. For example, the surnames Wardell and Wordelow originate from the same source but are believed to have arrived at by different pathways.

The surname Wardlow is found in many parts of the United Kingdom as well as in some parts of the United States, Australia, and Canada. It is generally believed that all forms of the surname, regardless of the origin, descended from the same family and share a common ancestor.

Famous people with the name Wardlow

• David Wardlow: Award-winning filmmaker, documentary producer, and journalist
• Jennifer Wardlow: ESPN reporter and broadcaster
• Kelsee Wardlow: Miss Arkansas USA 2016
• Maredith Wardlow: Former MLB player and coach
• Vi-An SWardlow: Host of the Netflix original series, The Crazy Ones
• Kim Wardlow: Professional mountain biker and endurance athlete
• Chris Wardlow: Professional football player
• Terry Wardlow: Award-winning jazz musician
• Lindsey Wardlow: Record-breaking distance runner and triathlete
• Michael Wardlow: Professional basketball player
• Stephen Wardlow: Music producer and songwriter
• Roger Wardlow: Former US Navy Seal
• Phil Wardlow: Professional power-lifter
• Dick Wardlow: Radio personality and talk-show host
• Gavin Wardlow: Professional golfer
• Cody Wardlow: Professional poker player
• Scott Wardlow: Radio DJ and Music Producer
• Kim Wardlow: Musician and Songwriter
• Liane Wardlow: Professional dancer and choreographer
• Seth Wardlow: Award-winning mixologist and recipe developer

Other surnames

WardlawWardle