Surname Mallow - Meaning and Origin
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Mallow: What does the surname Mallow mean?
The surname Mallow is of English and Irish origin and appears to predominantly derive from geographical names. In the English context, Mallow can trace its roots back to the Old English term "mælwe," which is the name for the mallow plant. As a topographical surname, it was likely used to identify individuals who lived near a significant growth of these plants.
In the Irish context, Mallow is an Anglicized version of the Gaelic "Mhaille" which means 'bald.' It has been suggested that it could also be a reduced Anglicized form of Gaelic Ó Maoileoin, ‘descendant of Maoileoin’, a personal name meaning ‘ devotee of John’.
The name could also derive from the town of Mallow in County Cork, Ireland. Therefore, it's often classified as a habitation surname, given to people who hailed from this location. Please note that human migration can cause a surname to have multiple roots that don't necessarily relate to each other.
Please note the use of surnames is variable across cultures; in some, it even changes upon marriage or indicates membership in a specific lineage or clan.
Order DNA origin analysisMallow: Where does the name Mallow come from?
The last name Mallow is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is derived from when the family resided in Mallow, a place in County Cork, Ireland. The name originally comes from the Old English word 'malwe' which meant the mallow plant. This ancient botanical name indicated that the initial bearer lived in an area where this plant grew abundantly. It was a nickname surname which belongs to the category of hereditary surnames.
Today, the surname Mallow is more commonly found in the United States, England, and Canada. It is also present to some extent in Australia, South Africa and other parts of the world. It is less common in its country of origin, Ireland, possibly due to emigration events during Ireland's history. The highest concentration of people with the Mallow surname are found in Washington D.C., followed by Idaho and North Dakota in the United States.
Variations of the surname Mallow
The surname Mallow is of English origin and derived from a topographic name for someone who lived by a plot of arable land. The surname Mallow may be spelled in various ways and still refer to the same lineage. Variants and spellings include Mallo, Malloe, Mallew, Mallows, Mallowes, Malloes, Mallou, Malow, Malloz, Mallot, and Malloux.
In addition, Mallow could also be linked to Irish origin from the name Ó Meallóid which was anglicized as Mallough and later corrupted to Mallow. In this case, variants might include Meallóid, Mallough, or Mallon.
Overall, surnames can vary significantly over time and location, especially considering factors like regional dialects and illiteracy in the past. Some of these variants might have evolved further into distinct surnames today. Please note that researching individual ancestry or using genetic testing can provide more specific details or confirmations about family names and lineage.
Lastly, certain variations might have originated from areas where a place is named Mallow, like the town in County Cork, Ireland. In these cases, the surname could indicate geographic origin or residency in these regions.
Famous people with the name Mallow
- Brendan Mallow: American film and television actor
- Liz Mallow: American general manager of theater and music events
- Jeff Mallow: Canadian drag queen and reality television personality
- Tony Mallow: English musician and songwriter, formerly of The La's
- Harry Mallow: Austrian-Australian architect, designer and planner
- Paul Mallow: American venture capitalist
- Gary Mallow: American-born painter and sculptor
- Helen Mallow: American writer and poet
- Marcel Mallow: German microbiologist and biochemist
- Rosemary Mallow: English actress and playwright