Darlow - Name

This is a topographical name which derives from one of several areas in England formerly "Deor-Hlaw" or Deerhill in the modern translation. The origin is Olde English or even Ancient British i.e. pre Roman (55 A.D.) and it is possible that a village called Darlowe or Dearlow once existed. The name has never been common although it is well recorded from the 17th Century, these recordings include Roger Darlow 1582, St. Margarets, Westminster, Precylla Darloe who married Richard Thornell 1650, St. Margaret Pattens, London and Mary Darlow who married Sypriel Neave on October 2nd, 1711 at Histon, Cambridge and Thomas Darlo recorded at Bourn on February 1st 1702. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Richard Darlowe, which was dated 1560, christened at St. Martins in the Field, Westminster, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.