Surname Stow - Meaning and Origin
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Stow: What does the surname Stow mean?
The last name Stow is of English origin and derives from the Old English term "stow" meaning "place or location". It was often used to refer to a specific place such as a holy place, a meeting place, or an assembly place within a settlement. The surname was typically assigned to individuals who lived near or were associated with such places. The name could also be metonymic for a keeper of such meeting places or holy places. As with many surnames, particularly in Europe, it would have originally been used to identify someone based on their location, occupation, or even a significant personal characteristic. Thus, someone bearing the last name Stow could trace their lineage back to individuals who had a strong connection to important places within their community. Over time, the name, like many others, would have become hereditary and passed down through generations.
Order DNA origin analysisStow: Where does the name Stow come from?
The surname Stow is a toponymic name that derives from the Old English word "stōw," meaning "place." It is a name that is most commonly found in England, along with other countries with large populations of people who trace their lineage back to the British Isles. In England, the last name is particularly common in the southern part of the country, particularly in Devon and Kent, which are both historically associated with early Stow families. It has also been historically present in Scotland.
In terms of modern countries, Australia and the United States have the highest populations of people with the last name Stow. It has been argued that the prevalence of Stow in the United States is due to the fact that New England was a popular destination for English settlers in the 17th and 18th centuries. Canada is another popular home for people with the last name Stow, as well as New Zealand and South Africa.
More generally, the Stow surname is relatively common across the English-speaking world, and can be found in many other countries with a significant diaspora of British immigrants. Examples include Ireland, India, and Chilen.
Variations of the surname Stow
The surname Stow can be spelled in various ways, including Sto, Stowe, Stough, Stowes and Stoe. The origins of the surname are uncertain, and may be derived from a number of sources. The most likely origin of the surname is Old English, where it can refer to one who lives near a stowe or an enclosure, or someone who lives near a sacred grove or temple. It has also been suggested that the surname could be a corruption of the old English word meaning ‘place’ or ‘place of assembly’.
The surname Stow is common in many English-speaking countries, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and England. In the United States, Stow is the 521st most common surname, while in Canada it is the 249th most common surname.
Variations on the spelling of the surname Stow can be found in other European languages. In Dutch, the surname is written as Stouw, while in German it is spelt as Stoeh. In the Scandinavian countries, the surname is commonly spelt as Stow, and in some cases as Store. In Ireland, the spelling has been changed to Stowes.
There are also many ‘sto’ surnames that have become anglicized to Stow. This includes Stouffer, Stoutermire, and Stoianoff. All of these surnames are derived from the original Old English spelling of the surname.
Finally, the surname Stow has been historically found in Scotland, where the spelling has been changed to Stowes and Stowe. In Scotland, it is one of the most common surnames, with more than 4000 people listed in the latest census.
Famous people with the name Stow
- Tom Stow: British business entrepreneur.
- William Stow: one of the founders of Harvard University in the United States.
- Harry Stow: English composer and pianist of the 19th century.
- Edward Stow: English composer, conductor and organist.
- Susannah Stow: Award-winning author and political journalist.
- John Stow: English chronicler and antiquarian.
- Wooden Stow: English Railways engineer of the 19th century.
- Priscilla Stow: English portrait painter and draughtsman of the late 18th century.
- Simon Stow: Welsh international footballer of the 1990s.
- James Stow: an eighteenth-century English cartographer and publisher.
- Sarah Stow: English artist and draughtsman.
- William Stow: English landscape painter of the Victorian era.
- Edward Stow: British poet of the Romantic period.
- Stuart Stow: New Zealand cricketer from the 1980s.
- Robert Stow: American Biblical illustrator of the 19th century.
- William Stow: British Liberal politician and Member of Parliament during the 1800s.
- Thomas Stow: English-born Australian cartographer and explorer.
- Eric Stow: British-born Australian adventurer, soldier and cavalryman.
- Peter Stow: Australian museum conservator and sculptor.
- George Stow: British illustrator of the late 19th century.