Mucklow

Recorded in several spelling forms including Mucklo, Muckloe, Mucklow, Micklowe, Muckelo, and the very rare Muchslows, this is an English locational surname. It originates from a place in Worcestershire caled Mucklow, which is probably of Olde English pre 7th century origins. The meaning of the name is almost certainly "large hill" from the elements "mucha - hlaw", but this is not proven. Locational surnames were usually given to people after they left their original homes and travelled elsewhere, although "elsewhere" could be the next village. It was in centuries past, and to some extent it remains so in the late 20th century, that the easiest way to identify a "stranger" is to call him or her, by the name of the place from whence they came. In this case the surname in all its various forms is well recorded in the county of Worcestershire, so it would seem that the original nameholders moved by natural choice, rather than being driven off their lands, as was often the case. When that happened they usually headed for the then "big cities" of London, Bristol and Norwich. Early examples of the surname recording include Anne Muckloe, who married Richard Haull, at St Helens church, Worcester, on November 2nd 1562, and Alice Mucklow, who married Gilbert Southall, at Halesowen, Worcestershire, on October 8th 1575. These recordings were during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1st, known as "Good Queen Bess", 1558 - 1603.