This surname is derived from a geographical locality. 'at the low,' i.e. the hill; v. Law (1).

Ralph de la Lowe, Salop, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

Hugh de la Lowe, Herefordshire, ibid.

Crist, atte Lowe, Somerset, 1 Edward III: Kirby's Quest.

The following occur in the list of mayors of Macclesfield:

Thomas del Lowe, 1430: East Cheshire.

Thomas Lowe, 1448: ibid.

George Lowe, 1607: ibid.

From old lands of the name near the Loch of Lowes in Selkirkshire. Lowys, Lowis, Lowes, is a Lowland surname the first record of which appears to be in 1318. In that year Walter Lowys witnessed a charter to lands in the earldom of Dunbar (Laing, 22). Patrick de Lowis appears as burgess of Edinburgh, 1447 (Egidii, p. 77,114), and in 1449 as Patrick Lowis (without 'de') attested a renunciation by Walter Scott of Bukcleuch (Soltre, p. 319). There was a family of Lowis of Mener in Peeblesshire in record 1463—64 (RMS., II, 781), and the family is to be traced beyond the year 1622 (Retours, Peebles, 58). Thomas of Lowis in record, 1473 (Peebles, 20). Families of the name were also long tenants under the see of Glasgow in Eddleston parish (Buchan, Peeblesshire, II, p. 454). Margaret Lowyss held half the lands of Burnetland, Peeblesshire, 1557. Ninian Lowis was membor of Scots parliament for Peebles, 1603 (Hanna, II, p. 503), and John Lowis of Maner was heir of Thomas of Maner, 1607 (Inquis., 331). There was also a family of Lowis of Merchiston, Edinburgh. Patrick Lowis, notary public, witnessed at Edinburgh, a charter dated 1517 (RMS., III, 173), and in 1524 Stephen Lowyss was witness in Glasgow (LCD., p. 221). James Lowes of Merchistoun was retoured in lands and barony of Hornden parish of Ladiekirk, 1680 (Retours, Berwick, 379,404). Ninian Lowes was an apothecary in Edinburgh 1689 (Inquis., 6972). John Lowse in Carnwath, 1601, and Ninian Lowis in Carstairs, 1790 (Lanark CR.). John Lous in Scotstoun, 1694 (Peebles CR.). The Merchiston family spelled their name Lows in 1689.

Genit., and pl., of Low(e, q.v.

(Scottish) One who came from Lowes (lake), in Selkirkshire.

1. The same as Law-a small rising ground. See Lower. 2. Sometimes perhaps the German lowe, a lion. In some instances, according to tradition, the name is of Norman origin, being one of the various forms of loup, a wolf.

A hill.

Richard Lowes, Normandy 1180-95 (Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae); Robert Loys, Engl. c. 1272 (Rotuli Hundredorum).

Lowe,Lowes. —Essentially a name of the midlands and adjacent north - west counties, being most numerous in Derbyshire, Warwickshire, and Cheshire. Lowes is the north of England form, occurring in Northumberland and Durham, and in the North and East Ridings in the form of Lowish. In Scotland Low has an independent home in Aberdeenshire.

A family of Lowe has been settled in Upton for several hundred years (M.).

The principal home of the Lowes is in Derbyshire and Cheshire, whence they have extended to the adjacent counties of Lancashire and Shropshire, and they are also established in many of the midland counties, as in Warwickshire, Staffordshire, Notts, etc. In Derbyshire, they are numerous in the Chesterfield district. An old Denby family of the name, to whom has belonged a considerable estate in Denby since the 15th century, are said to have come in the reign of Henry VI. from Macclesfield, in Cheshire, where the name is still numerous (G.).