'Barlow' originates from Old English, specifically the elements 'bere' and 'hlaw', where 'bere' meant 'barley' and 'hlaw' meant 'hill' or 'mound'.

'Barlow' developed as a place-name in medieval England from the Old English elements and then became a hereditary surname for people from that place.

Initially, it meant 'barley hill' (a descriptive place-name), but over time it evolved into its current use primarily as a family name and as a toponym.