Surname Shardelow - Meaning and Origin

Shardelow: What does the surname Shardelow mean?

The last name Shardelow is of old English origin. It is derived from the pre-seventh century given name 'Sceinfardelowe' – a compound of two elements, 'scean' meaning 'bold' and 'fardelowe' meaning someone who travels. The name was most likely given to someone who was bold and who travelled.

The surname Shardelow was first found in Sussex where the name was recorded in Two Early English Charters, dated 1193 and 1251, respectively. In 1273, Geoffrey Schardelowe was listed in the Hundred Rolls of Bedfordshire and in the same year, Walter Shardelow was recorded in Sussex.

The spelling of the name has varied over centuries and it has appeared as Shardelow, Shardlowe, Sharlow and Sharrold.

Today, there are still plenty of Shardelow's in the UK but their numbers are scattered. The name is also found in smaller numbers in American countries like Australia, Canada and the United States.

Shardelow: Where does the name Shardelow come from?

The last name Shardelow is most commonly found in the United Kingdom, with the majority of those bearing the surname living in England. The largest clusters of Shardelows can be found in Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and Lancashire, while smaller concentrations are also present in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Interestingly, the name Shardelow has its roots in Nottinghamshire, where the surname was first recorded in the 13th century when Ralph de Shardelawe was recorded. This name derives from the Old English elements sceard, meaning "thicket" or "coppice", and hlaw, meaning "mound" or "tumulus".

Shardelow is not a particularly common surname, however in the present day records exist of around 1,000 people bearing the name. Many Shardelows are found concentrated in places such as Nottingham, Mansfield, Derby, Preston, and Lancaster. Those in England still bearing the name today are thought to have descended from these earlier records, indicating a long relationship with the place.

In modern day, those bearing the name are found all over the world in varying numbers. This can likely be attributed to the fact that ancestors of those bearing the surname travelled abroad, finding themselves in places such as Canada, the United States of America, Australia and New Zealand. Many Shardelows have embraced the digital age, with websites devoted to the history of the name and easy access to others bearing the same surname.

Variations of the surname Shardelow

The surname Shardelow is of English and Scottish origin. It is derived from two Anglo-Saxon words, 'sceard', which means sharp, and 'lage', which means a low lying meadow or valley. This surname is found in many spelling variants, most commonly Shardlow, Shardlowe, Shardelow and Shordelow. Less common variants include Sharpelow, Sheardelow, Shardlaw and Sheardlaw.

In England, Shardelow is most common in the East Midlands. The surname is also found in Scotland, particularly in Lanarkshire, Midlothian, Ayrshire and Fife.

In the United States, Shardelow is normally spelled as Shirdlow or Shirdelow and is most common in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, California, Oregon and New Jersey.

In Australia, the surname is most commonly spelled as Shardlow, and is found mainly in New South Wales and Victoria.

Variants and alternative spellings that are of the same origin as Shardelow include Sharpell, Sharplow, Shirdle, Shirdlow and Sheardow. Surnames of similar origins include Sharp, Sharpin, Sharplin, Sharipell and Sharpley.

Famous people with the name Shardelow

• Jamie Shardelow: British newsreader from BBC Midlands who has also contributed to the BBC News Channel.
• Tanya Shardelow: Australian Naval physician and Head of the Maritime Health Unit.
• Leanne Shardelow: Australian comic book artist and illustrator.
• Charlyne Shardelow: English actress who has appeared in numerous television series and films.
• Maxime Shardelow: French actress who is best known for her roles in ‘The Bling Ring’ and ‘Fantômes’.
• Nicholas Shardelow: British photographer and multimedia artist.
• Xavier Shardelow: American video game programmer and graphic artist.
• Guy Shardelow: English actor, comedian and writer.
• Lani Shardelow: New Zealand-born actress who has appeared in films including ‘The Chronicles of Riddick’ and ‘The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King’.
• Adam Shardelow: Australian rugby league player.

Other surnames

Shardelowe