Withrow
An English surname of uncertain origin, most likely built from an old place-name or descriptive phrase beginning with “with-.”
The #4,302 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 37,369 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Withrow is a surname whose exact origin is not settled. It is most likely English in form, and may come from a lost or altered place-name, or from an old descriptive phrase built on Middle English elements beginning with with-, a prefix that could relate to “against,” “near,” or a wooded area depending on context. The second element is unclear, so the name’s literal meaning cannot be stated with confidence.
History
The surname appears in English-speaking records and later becomes more familiar in North America, especially in the United States. Because the form is relatively rare and the early documentary trail is thin, it has not attracted a single universally accepted explanation in standard surname dictionaries. In practice, it is treated as a name of uncertain etymology rather than one with a secure occupational or patronymic origin.
Origin
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Fun fact
Withrow is uncommon enough that many bearers may be part of only a few related family lines in North America.