Furlow
A surname of uncertain origin, likely a variant of Furlong or another name built on an old word for “furrow” or “long strip of land.”
The #9,966 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 95,380 Americans shares it.
Etymology
The historical record for Furlow is thin, and the excerpts do not provide a direct explanation of the name’s origin. It is most plausibly an English surname formed by spelling variation from a similar-sounding name such as Furlong, or from an older land-related word tied to a furrow, strip, or linear feature. Because early surname spelling was flexible, Furlow may have developed as a local pronunciation or altered spelling of an established surname rather than as a wholly separate creation.
History
The name appears in 19th-century American records, including Philadelphia and other U.S. references, but the excerpts do not trace it back to a specific British or Irish source line. Its low modern frequency in the United States suggests it remained a relatively uncommon family name. Without stronger documentary evidence, the safest conclusion is that it spread through ordinary English-speaking migration and spelling variation.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
A 19th-century writer listed Furlow alongside a run of surnames that sound like weapons, tools, and actions, showing how memorable surname forms could become a topic of amusement.
From the historical record
“In Philadelphia are families of Warder, Sapper, Cornett, Furlow, Pass, Arrow, Dart, Dager, Mus- ket, Bigonet (i.e., " bayonet "), Blade, Atack, and two families of Conquest. The case of Bullet vs. NAMES FROM WAR. 379”
— Suffolk Surnames (3rd ed.)