Surname Offlow - Meaning and Origin
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Offlow: What does the surname Offlow mean?
The surname Offlow is derived from the old Anglo-Saxon language and its meaning is uncertain. It is likely a toponymic name referencing a place of origin, with suggestions that it could be a reference to the English town of Olford, which now goes by the name Uphill. The town historically was divided into two parts which were known as the "Offlowe Mear" and the "Offlowe Heysch".
Additionally, the surname Offlow often appears as part of other surnames such as Offlowe, Offley, and Offladen. It might also be a reference to the Anglo-Saxon currency, the Offlian, which was used in Northamptonshire. Off and Low in German could roughly be translated as "below".
Overall, the meaning of the surname Offlow is uncertain. However, various theories about its origin exist and range from geographical origins to references to currency.
Order DNA origin analysisOfflow: Where does the name Offlow come from?
The surname Offlow is thought to originate from the English language. It may have come from either one of two places, either north-eastern England or East Anglia. The earliest records of the surname are found in Norfolk, England in 1603 and it is believed to be a variation of the surname Olfleet, which derives from the Old English word “Cliffleote” – meaning ‘residing near a steep hillside’.
The Offlow surname is not particularly common today. According to the 2019 census, less than 80 people in England and Wales listed ‘Offlow’ as their surname, and a much smaller handful of individuals with this surname can be found in other major English-speaking countries such as the United States and Canada.
Despite the rarity of the name, many families bearing the Offlow surname have created strong and stable lineages. The earliest records of this surname come from Norfolk and so it is likely that the name has persisted in the same area, particularly in East Anglia, for centuries.
Today, the Offlow name is most commonly encountered in the United Kingdom. In England, small pockets of individuals bearing the Offlow surname can be found spread throughout the country, but they are most common in East Anglia. In Wales, it is rarer, although the Offlow name is still sometimes encountered. Other English-speaking countries, including the United States and Canada, have only a mini-microscopic percentage of people with this surname.
Variations of the surname Offlow
The surname Offlow has several variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin. These include Offlowe, Offley, Offloe, Offlee and Ofloe.
Offlowe is the oldest variant spelling of the name, with the earliest record from the 13th century. Offley is a more modern variant, appearing in records from the 15th century. The spelling of Offley is possibly a pronunciation of Offlowe. Offlee is another form, likely derived from the pronunciation of Offlowe. Ofloe is the youngest variant spelling, with the first recorded instance appearing in the 17th century.
The surname Offlow is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is believed to be derived from the Olde English pre 7th Century personal name "Æþelflæd", which itself derived from the elements "æþele", which means noble and "flaed", which means beauty or splendour. There is a place name record of "Aethilflaeda", and a charter recorded in the 1086 Domesday Book for Bedfordshire.
Variants of the name Offlow include Offlowe, Offley, Offloe, Offlee and Ofloe, spread across England, as well as other countries. Some of the first records of the family surname may have been found in 1210 in Hertfordshire, England. The Offlowe spelling record is recorded by the name Richard Offlowe from Kent in 1332 in the Calendar of Patent Rolls. William Offley appeared in the Calendar of Patent Rolls in 1340. The spelling of Offlee is recorded in the Oxfordshire Hundred Rolls in 1279.
The surname Offlow/Offlowe is also found in other countries, such as Wales, Scotland and Ireland. In Wales, the surname spellings may be Offlowe and Offloe. In Scotland, the surname appears as Offlow and Oflea. In Ireland, the spellings may be Offlow and Offley.
Overall, the surname Offlow has many variants, spellings and surnames of the same origin, such as Offlowe, Offley, Offloe, Offlee and Ofloe. These variants are found across countries, and have records from centuries past.
Famous people with the name Offlow
- Miles Offlow: British athlete who specialises in the 400m hurdles.
- Kari Offlow: American jazz and soul musician.
- Ron Offlow: Former U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania.
- Barbara Offlow: Retired Canadian Baseball player.
- Julian Offlow: English historian and biographer.
- Jules Offlow: American philanthropist and political activist.
- David Offlow: German professor of quantum field theory.
- Adrienne Offlow: British contemporary artist.
- Siobhan Offlow: English songwriter and producer.
- Lewis Offlow: American real estate tycoon.