Surname Greenlaw - Meaning and Origin

Greenlaw: What does the surname Greenlaw mean?

Greenlaw is a Scottish surname of Anglo-Saxon origin. The last name Greenlaw is considered as a habitation surname derived from a place-name, primarily in Scotland. "Greenlaw," derived from the Old English words "grene" and "hlaw", meaning "green hill," was a place in old Berwickshire, Scotland. It was a notable market town as well as an administrative and judicial center during the Middle Ages. People bearing the surname often lived or worked near a green hill. The name also has connections to Border Clan Kerr in the Scottish borders region. Thus, generally, the surname Greenlaw references geographic locations and familial links to individuals or families residing or originating from these areas. Today, people with the last name Greenlaw can be found in many countries worldwide, especially English-speaking countries like the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The variations in the spelling of the surname include Greenlow, Grenlaw, and Grynlaw.

Greenlaw: Where does the name Greenlaw come from?

The surname Greenlaw is of Scottish origin. It is said to have been first used in Berwickshire, an ancient county in south-eastern Scotland, near the border with England. The name is derived from the Old English words "grene," which means "green," and "hlaw," which means "hill," so it essentially means "green hill." Historically, it was used to identify individuals who lived near a green hill.

The surname is has also spread to other parts of the United Kingdom and the United States due to immigration over the centuries. However, it is not considered a particularly common surname. According to Forebears surname directory, the last name Greenlaw ranks as the 112,249th most common surname in the world and it is now most prevalent in the United States. Within the US, it's the most common in the state of Maine. The name may also be found in moderate numbers in Canada and Australia. There continue to be individuals with the Greenlaw surname in Scotland, keeping the lineage of the name alive in its land of origin.

Variations of the surname Greenlaw

The surname Greenlaw originates from the ancient Scottish-English border region. The name is derived from the Old English words "grene" meaning green, and "hlaw" meaning hill or mound. This indicates that the original bearers of the surname resided near a green hill.

Variations of the surname Greenlaw include Greenlow, Greenlawe, Greinlaw, Grinlaw, Grynlaw, among others. Sometimes the surname may also be spelled as Greenloch, Grienlaw, Greenlaugh, or Greenlees. Greenlaws and Greenlay are other alternate spellings seen.

The surname has possibly evolved or branched out into various other surnames like Grenlow, Greenlough, Greinlow, Grenlaw, and Greenland amongst others due to regional accents and various dialects.

However, it is essential to note that the existence of a surname does not necessarily mean it is a variant of Greenlaw. Each of these surnames might have different histories and origins unrelated to the surname Greenlaw. To determine the connection between different surnames, genealogical research, including DNA testing, would be needed. Therefore, these should be considered possible variations, not definitive ones.

Famous people with the name Greenlaw

• Emma Greenlaw: British actress who starred in the film 'Vera Drake'
• Dick Greenlaw: Former major league baseball pitcher
• Earl Greenlaw: Canadian football player and Grey Cup winner
• George Greenlaw: Record holds for most home runs by a Canadian in Major League Baseball
• Matthew Greenlaw: English rugby union player
• Henrik Greenlaw: Swedish IT entrepreneur and investor
• Will Greenlaw: American muscian and vocalist
• Abigail Greenlaw: American actress, known for her role in the film 'Arlecchino's Courtship'
• Lewis Greenlaw: British Impressionist painter
• Mark Greenlaw: Professional bass fisherman from the United States and winner of several major bass fishing tournaments

Other surnames

GreenlandGreenleaf