Orlow

Orlow is a name used as both a geographic toponym and a surname in parts of Central and Eastern Europe. The spelling is an anglicized variant of Slavic forms such as Orlov, and the root is connected to words meaning “eagle” in several languages. The name reflects historical language contact and shifts in border boundaries that influenced how names were rendered in different administrative and cultural contexts.

As a toponym, Orlow has been applied to multiple small settlements in regions that were historically under Polish, Lithuanian, and Russian influence. Over time, the locations bearing a similar name may appear under different spellings in national records, maps, and archives, depending on language, administration, and era. In various gazetteers, contemporary or historical, these places are typically rural or minor settlements rather than major urban centers.

As a surname, Orlow is documented as a variant of Orlov and related forms. It has been found among individuals in Eastern Europe and in diaspora communities across North America and Western Europe. Surnames of this type often reflect patronymic or geographic origins, with spelling adapted to local linguistic conventions.

See also Orlov and Orloff, related surnames that share the same Slavic root and etymology. The name Orlow thus encompasses both place-based and family-name usages, tied together by historical language contact and shifting national borders.