Harlow is a shortened form of an English surname of Anglo-Saxon origins that was formed from a geographical name. The name is derived from the Olde English words "hoer," which means "a mound of rocks or stones," and "hlaw," which means "a hill." As a result, the surname evolved to describe someone who lived on or near a rocky hill. In modern times, the name is most commonly found in the United States. The first documented use of the name is as a place name in England. This Harlow came about after Richard I (the Lionheart) granted it to his brother John. The brothers were children of King Henry II of England and their mother was Eleanor of Aquitaine. The siblings were known as the Young Lords because of their age when they took up arms against their father. Although they eventually surrendered, they were never pardoned by their father and had to seek exile in France. After the death of their father, the throne of England was seized by his son Edward II. The new king was only nine years old at the time of his father's death and his uncle, Philip IV of France, had him marry their sister. The marriage ended in tragedy when their daughter died shortly after birth. To make matters worse, the young couple had no say in the matter of her burial because the queen was under the age of ten. They also had two other sisters who did not go to live with their husbands but remained behind in France.