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Show ContentsLowe History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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Lowe is a name that was carried to England in the great wave of migration from Normandy following the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Lowe family lived in Worcestershire. The earliest instances of the name in England appear for the most part to be of local origin; that is, derived from the name of the place where an original bearer lived or where he once held land, the place in this instance being a hlaw, the Old English word for a hill. Any individual case may also be of nickname origin, deriving from loup, the Old French word for a wolf, or from one of the pet-names for Lawrence, such as Law or Low. 1

Exploring the Norman (French) connection more, we found Richard Lowes was listed in Normandy 1180-95 (Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae.) 2

Early Origins of the Lowe family

The surname Lowe was first found in Worcestershire. Later, a branch of the family was found at Alderwasley in Derbyshire. " The Le Foune or Fawne family held lands here in the reign of Henry III., and their heiress intermarried with the Lowes, who obtained a grant of the manor from Henry VIII." 3

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 include: Ralph de la Lowe, Salop (Shropshire); and Hugh de la Lowe, Herefordshire. 4

In Somerset, Crist atte Lowe was listed there 1 Edward III (during the first year of King Edwar III.) 5

In Cheshire, the family has a long history of serving as Mayors of Macclesfield: Thomas del Lowe, 1430; Thomas Lowe, 1448; and George Lowe, 1607. 4

In Gloucestershire, John le Luv was listed in the Pipe Rolls for 1207 and later, Robertus Lupus and Robert le Lu were listed in the Assize Rolls for Warwickshire in 1221. Walter le Lou was found in Devon in 1242 and later again, William le Low was listed in the Assize Rolls for Lancashire in 1284. In London, Martin le Low was found there in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1275. In the same year, Robert de la Lowe was listed in the Subsidy Rolls for Worcestershire and later, Roger del Lowe was found in the Assize Rolls for Cheshire in 1288. 6

"Essentially a name of the midlands and adjacent north - west counties, being most numerous in Derbyshire, Warwickshire, and Cheshire. Lowes is the north of England form, occurring in Northumberland and Durham, and in the North and East Ridings in the form of Lowish. In Scotland Low has an independent home in Aberdeenshire." 7

Taking time to explore Scotland in more detail, we found the name is more commonly in the form Lowes and is: "from old lands of the name near the Loch of Lowes in Selkirkshire. Lowys, Lowis, Lowes, is a Lowland surname the first record of which appears to be in 1318. In that year Walter Lowys witnessed a charter to lands in the earldom of Dunbar. Patrick de Lowis appears as burgess of Edinburgh, 1447, and in 1449 as Patrick Lowis (without 'de') attested a renunciation by Walter Scott of Bukcleuch. There was a family of Lowis of Mener in Peeblesshire in record 1463-1464, and the family is to be traced beyond the year 1622. Thomas of Lowis in record, 1473. Families of the name were also long tenants under the see of Glasgow in Eddleston parish. Margaret Lowyss held half the lands of Burnetland, Peeblesshire, 1557. " 8

Early History of the Lowe family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Lowe research. Another 221 words (16 lines of text) covering the years 1275, 1318, 1428, 1432, 1433, 1439, 1443, 1467, 1517, 1524, 1550, 1565, 1588, 1589, 1594, 1596, 1598, 1599, 1601, 1602, 1603, 1607, 1612, 1613, 1618, 1628, 1640, 1644, 1661, 1667, 1680, 1682, 1689, 1690, 1694, 1720, 1724, 1790 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Lowe History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Lowe Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, Norman French and other languages became incorporated into English throughout the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Lowe include Lowe, Lowes, Lowis, Lowse, Low, McLoy and others.

Early Notables of the Lowe family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was

  • Humphrey Lowe, High Sheriff of Shropshire; George Lowe (c. 1594-1682), an English politician, Member of Parliament for Calne (1640-1644), a Royalist supporter; John Lowe (1628-1667), an English politi...
  • John Lowe (d. 1467), bishop successively of St. Asaph and Rochester, is said to have been a native of Worcestershire. Nash (Worcestershire, ii. 95) connects him with the Lowe family of the Lowe in Lin...
  • Edward Lowe (d. 1682), the English composer and organist, was probably son of John Lowe, who is described in Harley MS. 1443 as 'of New Sarum and the Middle Temple,' and received a grant of arms in 16...

Lowe World Ranking

In the United States, the name Lowe is the 273rd most popular surname with an estimated 96,993 people with that name. 9 However, in Canada, the name Lowe is ranked the 462nd most popular surname with an estimated 10,373 people with that name. 10 And in Australia, the name Lowe is the 186th popular surname with an estimated 17,151 people with that name. 11 New Zealand ranks Lowe as 230th with 2,543 people. 12 The United Kingdom ranks Lowe as 163rd with 33,214 people. 13

Ireland Migration of the Lowe family to Ireland

Some of the Lowe family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 87 words (6 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

United States Lowe migration to the United States +

In England at this time, the uncertainty of the political and religious environment of the time caused many families to board ships for distant British colonies in the hopes of finding land and opportunity, and escaping persecution. The voyages were expensive, crowded, and difficult, though, and many arrived in North America sick, starved, and destitute. Those who did make it, however, were greeted with greater opportunities and freedoms that they could have experienced at home. Many of those families went on to make important contributions to the young nations in which they settled. Early immigration records have shown some of the first Lowes to arrive on North American shores:

Lowe Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Jan Bastiansen Lowe, who landed in New Netherland(s) in 1620-1664 14
  • Jon Lowe, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 14
  • Miss Dorothie Lowe, (b. 1622), aged 13, British settler traveling aboard the ship "Truelove" arriving in Massachusetts Bay in 1635 15
  • Tho Lowe, who landed in Virginia in 1636 14
  • Alister Lowe, who settled in Boston in 1652
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Lowe Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Clemans Lowe, who landed in Virginia in 1701-1702 14
  • Abraham Lowe, who landed in Maryland in 1716 14
  • Henry, Lowe Sr., who landed in Maryland in 1731 14
  • Freiderich Lowe, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1749 14
  • Johannes Lowe, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1750 14
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Lowe Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Elizabeth Lowe, aged 28, who landed in America in 1810 14
  • John Lowe, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1820 14
  • George S E Lowe, who arrived in New York, NY in 1826 14
  • Hugh Lowe, who landed in Maryland in 1828 14
  • F Lowe, who arrived in North America in 1832-1849 14
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Lowe migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Lowe Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • John Lowe, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749
  • Mr. John Lowe U.E. who settled in Sissiboo, Nova Scotia c. 1784 listed on the Muster Roll at Gulliver's Hole, St. Mary's Bay and Sissiboo 16
  • Mr. William Lowe U.E. who settled in Sissiboo, Nova Scotia c. 1784 listed on the Muster Roll at Gulliver's Hole, St. Mary's Bay and Sissiboo 16
Lowe Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Richard Lowe, who landed in Canada in 1841
  • Mrs. Ann Lowe, aged 65 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "John Jardine" departing 4th June 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 16th July 1847 but she died on board 17
  • Mr. Lawrence Lowe, aged 28 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Larch" departing 11th July 1847 from Sligo, Ireland; the ship arrived on 20th August 1847 but he died on board 17
  • Mrs. Mary Lowe, aged 29 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Larch" departing 11th July 1847 from Sligo, Ireland; the ship arrived on 20th August 1847 but she died on board 17

Australia Lowe migration to Australia +

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

Lowe Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century
  • Mr. James Lowe, English convict who was convicted in Middlesex, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 18
  • Mr. William Lowe, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 18
Lowe Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Anthony Lowe, British convict who was convicted in Lancashire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Calcutta" in February 1803, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 19
  • Mr. James Lowe, English convict who was convicted in Chester, Cheshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Fanny" on 25th August 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 20
  • Mr. Joseph Lowe, (b. 1795), aged 20, English labourer who was convicted in Derbyshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Fanny" on 25th August 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 20
  • Mr. John Lowe, English convict who was convicted in Essex, England for life, transported aboard the "Fame" on 9th October 1816, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 21
  • Mr.John Lowe, (b. 1801), aged 18, Irish servant who was convicted in Dublin, Ireland for 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the "Bencoolen" on 24th April 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia before being transferred to Tasmania via the "Admiral Cockburn" 22
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Lowe 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:

Lowe Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • A G Lowe, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship "Bolton"
  • Griffiths Lowe, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840
  • Richard Godfrey Lowe, aged 29, a doctor, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bolton" in 1840
  • Griffith Lowe, aged 36, a farm labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bolton" in 1840
  • Ann Lowe, aged 35, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Bolton" in 1840
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Lowe Settlers in New Zealand in the 20th Century
  • Robert Lowe, aged 32, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "S. S. Waimana" in 1926

Contemporary Notables of the name Lowe (post 1700) +

  • Stuart Craig Lowe (1957-2023), American politician, Mayor of Gainesville, Florida from 2010 to 2013
  • Alex Lowe (1958-1999), American mountaineer; he died in an avalanche in Tibet
  • Richard B. Lowe III, American politician, Justice of New York Supreme Court 1st District; Elected 2002 23
  • Robert Hepler "Rob" Lowe (b. 1964), American six-time Golden Globe nominated, two-time Screen Actors Guild Award wining actor
  • James Mundell Lowe (1922-2017), American jazz guitarist
  • William W. Lowe, American Democratic Party politician, Postmaster at Long Beach, California, 1885-87 23
  • William J. Lowe, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Utah, 1924, 1932; Utah Republican State Chair, 1931 23
  • William Manning Lowe (1842-1882), American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Alabama, 1868; Member of Alabama State House of Representatives, 1870 23
  • William Lowe, American politician, Delegate to Indiana State Constitutional Convention, 1816 23
  • William Lowe, American Democratic Party politician, Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Washington, 1996 23
  • ... (Another 108 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Halifax Explosion
  • Miss Florence Audrey  Lowe (1907-1917), Canadian resident from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada who died in the Halifax Explosion (1917) 24
North Sea Flood
  • James Edwin Lowe, BEM, British traveler aboard the ferry "Princess Victoria" killed in the North Sea Flood, a major storm surge in 1953
RMS Titanic
  • Harold Lowe (1882-1944), English fifth officer on the RMS Titanic who survived the sinking 25

The Lowe Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Spero meliora
Motto Translation: I hope for better things.
  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. The Norman People and Their Existing Descendants in the British Dominions and the United States Of America. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing, 1975. Print. (ISBN 0-8063-0636-X)
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  4. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  5. Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
  6. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  7. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  8. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  9. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  10. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  11. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  12. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  13. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  14. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  15. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's. Retrieved October 6th 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  16. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  17. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 84)
  18. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
  19. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/calcutta
  20. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 28th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
  21. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 27th September 2022). https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/fairlie
  22. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th October 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/bencoolen
  23. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, November 2) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  24. Halifax Explosion Book of Remembrance | Maritime Museum of the Atlantic. (Retrieved 2014, June 23) . Retrieved from https://maritimemuseum.novascotia.ca/what-see-do/halifax-explosion/halifax-explosion-book-remembrance
  25. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
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