Surname Glascow - Meaning and Origin
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Glascow: What does the surname Glascow mean?
The last name Glasgow is generally understood to be of Scottish origin, referring to the city of Glasgow. The city was originally founded by the Britons in the 6th century and was later incorporated into the Kingdom of Scotland.
The root of the surname Glasgow comes from two Gaelic words: “glas,” meaning “green” (as in a lush, green land) and “cau,” meaning “ravine” or “corner” (referring to the section of land near the river Clyde). Thus, the name literally translates to “green corner,” referring to the geography of the region.
Over time, Glasgow has been a hub of activity, from trade to industry to culture. The city is believed to have begun under the rule of Kenneth MacAlpin and prospered during the Victorian era. It developed into a busy port and trading metropolis. Some of the most prominent Glaswegians in history include Andrew Carnegie, one of the wealthiest men in the world at the start of the 20th century, and renowned Scottish economist Adam Smith.
Today, the name Glasgow is still associated with the city itself and is a common surname found throughout Scotland and the United States. It continues to represent a proud history of success and resilience with a hint of green.
Order DNA origin analysisGlascow: Where does the name Glascow come from?
The last name Glasgow is most commonly found in the English-speaking world. It is slightly more common in the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom, but it can also be found in Scotland, Canada, and other English-speaking countries.
In the United States, as of the 2020 census the last name Glasgow was the 85th most popular surname, with just over 0.4% of the population having it.
The name "Glasgow" is derived from the Gaelic word "Glaschu" which means "green hollow." It is likely that these places served as an area where people would gather.
The most common locations today for the last name Glasgow are North Ayrshire and the Glasgow City Council in Scotland. The surname is also relatively popular in parts of England, including Cheshire, Manchester, and Yorkshire.
In Northern Ireland, the Glasgow name is fairly rare, likely due to the effects of the Irish potato famine of the mid-1840s which drastically reduced the population of the county.
Today, the last name Glasgow continues to be one of the most popular last names in the English-speaking world. Its origin traces back hundreds of years, and its prevalence to many countries and regions speaks to its rich history.
Variations of the surname Glascow
Most variations of the surname Glasgow stem from the Gaelic name Glaschu, which was derived from the old British glas cau meaning “the green hollow.” Variations of the name include:
Glascow, Galsgow, Glascough, Glasco, Glascock, Glaskow, Glaskill, Glaz Gow, Glassgow, Glesgow, and Gluesgow.
In Scotland the surname is most commonly spelled Glasgow, but in England and Ireland it is more likely to appear as Glascow. In the United States, the name is often spelled with an “o” instead of an “u”, such as Glaskow, Glassgow or Glaskill.
Often surnames of the same origin will have several spelling variations, due to a number of factors such as language, dialect, and misspellings. As a result, there are several surnames related to the Glascow surname, such as:
Glascutt, Glasscutt, Glascut, Glascutt, Glaskett, Glazebrook, Glazebrooke, Glazing, Glegg, Gleg, Glennan, Glenny, Glenny, Glinn and Gleason.
The Glascow surname is an ancient lineage, originating in the Scottish Highlands. It is thought that the surname likely first appeared in the region of Perthshire, Scotland, during the 12th century. The earliest known recording of the name is Walter de Glasgu in 1296, who was described as the Regent of Scotland.
Famous people with the name Glascow
- Charles Glascow: American actor, best known for his work in the hit television series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.
- Anne Glascow: Canadian model and actress who has appeared in a number of blockbuster films such as The Hangover Part II and The Amazing Spider-Man.
- Hugh Glascow: Canadian hockey player who won the Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens in 1986.
- Lori Glascow: American singer and songwriter who has released three solo albums.
- David Glascow: British actor known for his roles in Mumford & Sons, A Christmas Carol, and The X-Files.
- Alan Glascow: Scottish Lord Advocate and politician who served in the Cabinet of the United Kingdom during the 1980s.
- Raymond Glascow: American composer and arranger who wrote the popular songs “Birthday Party” and “Chica Boom”.
- Albert Glascow: Canadian illustrator and cartoonist who worked in silent films and animation.
- Jack Glascow: Australian comedian and actor who starred in the sitcom Neighbours from 1998 to 2004.
- Eric Glascow: Canadian Olympic diver who won two bronze medals at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.