Show ContentsCatlow History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancestors of the Catlow surname lived among the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. The name comes from when they lived in Catlow, in the county of Lancashire. This place-name is traceable to the Old English terms hlaw, which means a low hill, and catt, which means cat.

Early Origins of the Catlow family

The surname Catlow was first found in Lancashire, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Catlow family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Catlow research. Another 191 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1332, 1500 and 1642 are included under the topic Early Catlow History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Catlow Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Catlow include Catlow, Catlowe, Cathlow, Cathlowe, Cautlow, Catloe, Cattlow and many more.

Early Notables of the Catlow family

Notables of the family at this time include

  • Robert de Catlowe, a prominent 14th century landholder in Lancashire


United States Catlow migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Catlow Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • T. Catlow who arrived in Philadelphia in 1875
  • Watson Catlow, aged 22, who immigrated to America, in 1895
Catlow Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Charles Catlow, aged 53, who settled in America from Denton, England, in 1907
  • Elizabeth Catlow, aged 44, who immigrated to the United States from Denton, England, in 1907
  • Alfred Catlow, aged 24, who landed in America from Denton, England, in 1912
  • Jane Catlow, aged 16, who landed in America from Denton, England, in 1912
  • Lena Catlow, aged 20, who settled in America from Denton, England, in 1912
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Australia Catlow migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Catlow Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Edward Jones Catlow, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Thomas Lowry" in 1848 1

New Zealand Catlow migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Catlow Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. William Catlow, British labourer travelling from London aboard the ship "Victory " arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 17th October 1863 2

Contemporary Notables of the name Catlow (post 1700) +

  • Wright Catlow, American businessman who opened The Catlow Theater, a historic single-screen movie theater Barrington, Illinois in 1927, designed in the Tudor Revival style complete with sculpted gargoyle-like heads, now listed on the National Register of Historic Places
  • Claire Catlow OBE, Lady Macdonald of Macdonald, English cookery writer, teacher and hotelier from Lancashire, wife of Godfrey Macdonald
  • Charles Stanley Catlow (1908-1986), English cricketer, a right-handed batsman, born in Darwen, Lancashire
  • Thomas Catlow (1892-1976), English footballer who played for Swansea Town and Rochdale, as well as non-league football for other clubs
  • Ruth Catlow (b. 1968), English artist-theorist and curator, co-Director of the Furtherfield gallery
  • Agnes Catlow (1806-1889), British science writer best known for a popular book on conchology from Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
  • Richard "Charles" Arthur Catlow FRS (b. 1947), British chemist, Director of the Davy-Faraday Laboratories of the Royal Institution of Great Britain and Head of the Department of Chemistry of University College London


  1. State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) THOMAS LOWRY 1848. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848ThomasLowry.htm
  2. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html


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