CALLOW  Genealogy

History of the Surname CALLOW is contracted from Mac Calbach (Calbach's son). CALBACH is pronounced CALWAGH, which is easily softened into CALLOW. It seems to mean "bald", cognate with the Latin "calvus", a word which was adopted into the Teutonic languages at an early date, so that we have old English CALUGH, CALEWE, and Anglo-Saxon CALU = bald. Milton speaks of "callow young" referring to the condition of an unfledged bird. The family name CALLOW emerged following the Norman invasion of the U.K. in 1066 as a notable family name in the county of Worcestershire where they were recorded as a family based at the village of Callow with manor and estates in that shire. Within the next two centuries they branched in Herefordshire and by the 16th century had established an important branch at Warbleton in Sussex where they intermarried with the Husseys of Scotney Castle in Kent. Notable amongst the family at this time was Rev. Roger Callow of Warbleton, Justice Callow of the Common Pleas 1487. "Richard le CALEWE" is in the Paliamentary Writs for A.D. 1313. In 1380, a William CALEWE or CALO was Lord of the Manor of Great Deane, now Mitcheldean, in Gloustershire. Over three hundred years later his descendants were still living in the area, among them a Benjamin Callowe, Vicar of Netherswell and Rector of Stow-on-the-Wold. An East Anglian branch of this family became established in Norfolk and Suffolk in the early 18th century. The Isle of Man was the seat of another branch of the CALLOW family. It is thought that the name there derives from McAlo, or son of Alo, possibly of Viking origin. Allow and Aloe are used as first names in the Isle of Man until the middle of the 17th century. The surname was noted as CALOWE, CALO [1511], CALLOW, MIALOE [1586] and CALOW [1611]. It was particularly common in the northeast parish of Maughold where several strong farming families flourished. An Aleyn McCalo was entered on the Roll in 1511, to be followed by a John McAlo (1567-1593), William Calow (1597-1610) and Robert Callow (1616-1662). The name was also very common in the parish of Bride, common in Jurby, Lezayre, Braddan, Malew, Arbory and Lonan, and uncommon elsewhere on the Isle. There are 100 Callow families currently listed in the Manx telephone book.

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This page was last updated on: February 15, 2008

CALLOW  Surname