Scarbrough
A locational surname likely referring to someone from Scarborough, the old Yorkshire town name.
The #4,256 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 37,078 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Scarbrough is a spelling variant of Scarborough, a surname taken from the English place name Scarborough in North Yorkshire. The place name is usually explained as containing an Old Norse personal name, likely "Skarthi," plus the Old Norse element "borg" meaning "fortress" or "fortified place." In surname use, it simply meant "from Scarborough" or "of Scarborough."
History
The surname arose when people who had moved away from Scarborough were identified by their place of origin. Over time, the spelling shifted in records, producing forms such as Scarbrough and Scarborough. The name is found in Britain and later in North America, especially where English and Scots-Irish naming patterns were carried abroad.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
The town name Scarborough is much older than the surname and was already established in medieval records before hereditary surnames became common.