Surname Hallow - Meaning and Origin
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Hallow: What does the surname Hallow mean?
The last name Hallow is of English origin and is a habitational surname which is derived from the Old English words “halh” and “halig” which mean “nook” or “corner” and “holy” respectively.
Originally, this surname was given to someone who lived in or near a hollow area or a creek. Over time, the last name Hallow evolved, and its meaning began to be associated more with places that were considered sacred or holy. It often served to distinguish a family name from those of other families in the same area who shared the same surname.
Today, the surname Hallow continues to be popular especially in England and Wales. In England and Wales there are approximately 2742 people with the Hallow surname. It is not as commonly used in other English-speaking countries, but the name can still be found worldwide.
The Hallow name also has several variations due to families changing their last name over the years to make themselves easier to identify. Common variations include Hallaw, Halow, Halew and Hallowed.
Despite its simple origin, the Hallow surname is associated with many notable figures throughout British history. This includes prominent military figures such as Major George Hallow, who served during World War I, and Major Robert Hallow who served in World War II. Other famous people with the Hallow surname are British actor John Hollaw, Olympic sailor Graham Halew, and former Prime Minister of Canada John Hallow.
Overall, the meaning of the last name Hallow is closely associated with the word holy and holiness. This surname is deeply rooted in British history, and many notable figures share this surname.
Order DNA origin analysisHallow: Where does the name Hallow come from?
The last name Hallow is most common in the United States today, particularly in the Midwest and Southeast regions. According to forensic genealogist and surname expert, William B. Hollingsworth, the name Hallow is of English origin derived from the Old English word “hallowing” meaning “saints” or “holy”.
The Census Bureau reports the top states with significant populations of Hallow include Tennessee, Wisconsin and Indiana with the most sizable concentration in Tennessee’s Bradley County. Other sizable populations are in Texas, Georgia, Missouri, and Virginia.
The distribution of the Hallow surname is reflective of the pattern of settlement of English people in America. It is likely that the first people to use the Hallow surname in America were English Quakers from the Midlands region of England. They followed William Penn to Pennsylvania in 1682 and, over time, moved south and west through the colonies.
By tracking the spread of the Hallow family, one can assume they encountered and married into other surnames along the way, most notably those of French, Dutch, German, Scottish and other English descent. Thus, the surname Hallow would have been naturally adopted by the families of others that spread to the states where the surname is most common today.
Variations of the surname Hallow
The surname Hallow can vary in spelling, based on various factors such as the spelling conventions of different countries and regions, as well as the unpredictability of the English language over time. The exact origin of the name is also unclear, with some records referring to it as German, English, Hebrew and Scottish.
The most commonly used variant of the Hallow surname is Hallows or Hallo, although there are other forms that are seen less often. These include Halloway, Hallaway, Halloow, Hallowy, Hallou, Hallye, Hallaw, Halloue, Hallowes, Hallss, Hallas and Hallasoe. In addition to this, Hallo can be found in biblical surnames such as Elijah (Elyah) Hallo, or in compound names such as Hallo-Neur.
There are also variations of Hallow which are of a similar origin, such as Halloran, Haloran or Halvorsen. The Halloran surname is a combination of the Irish words ‘hallor’ and ‘an’, meaning ‘lord of the marsh’, while Halvorsen is a Norwegian name which combines ‘halv’ and ‘orsen’, meaning ‘son of Hal’.
Finally, there is evidence of the name Hallow being confused with or substituted for the surname Holloway, which is of British origin derived from ‘holh’ and ‘leah’, meaning ‘hollow meadow’.
In conclusion, the possible variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin for the Hallow surname are varied and numerous. Depending on regional spelling conventions and trends over time, the surname may also be written in a variety of ways. Furthermore, some records may even suggest the presence of a completely different surname, although this is usually down to confusion or a misinterpretation of the original name.
Famous people with the name Hallow
- Tami Hallow, an American actress.
- Samuel Hallow, an Alaskan politician.
- Julian Hallow, a British actor.
- Patricia Hallow, an Australian journalist.
- Alexander Hallow, a Swiss businessman.
- Mary Hallow, an American philanthropist.
- Carl Hallow, a Canadian politician.
- Leo Hallow, a Dutch scientist.
- Charles Hallow, an English writer.
- Lorelei Hallow, a Swedish fashion designer.
- Victoria Hallow, a French photographer.
- Lisa Hallow, an Italian singer.
- David Hallow, an Indian explorer.
- Dianne Hallow, a Spanish artist.
- Michael Hallow, a South African economist.
- Sarah Hallow, a Norwegian athlete.