HARRIS Surname Meaning and Origin

Great Britain

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Harris is generally considered to mean "son of Harry." The given name Harry is a derivation of Henry, meaning "home-ruler." Like many patronymic surnames, the surnames HARRIS and HARRISON are often found used interchangeably in early records - sometimes with the same family.

Harris is the 24th most popular surname in the United States according to the 2000 census and the 22nd most common surname in England.

  • Surname Origin: English, Welsh
  • Alternate Surname Spellings: HARRISON, HARIS, HARRIES, HARRISS, HARRYS, HARYS, HERRICE, HERRIES

Fun Facts

The popular Harris Tweed cloth takes its name from the Isle of Harris in Scotland. The cloth was originally handwoven by islanders on the Isles of Harris, Lewis, Uist and Barra in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, using local wool.

Famous People with the Surname HARRIS

  • Arthur Harris - Marshal Arthur "Bomber" Harris, Commander in Chief of the Royal Air Force Bomber Command during World War II
  • Franco Harris - NFL running back, Pittsburgh Steelers. Best known for his immaculate reception during a 1972 AFC divisional playoff game
  • Bernard Harris - 1st African-American to walk in space
  • Jillian Harris - star of the reality TV show The Bachelorette, 5th season
  • Neil Patrick Harris - American actor
  • Mary Harris - early 1900s labor organizer; best known as Mother Jones

Genealogy Resources for the Surname HARRIS

Can't find your last name listed? Suggest a surname to be added to the Glossary of Surname Meanings & Origins.

Sources:

  • Cottle, Basil. Penguin Dictionary of Surnames. Baltimore, MD: Penguin Books, 1967.
  • Menk, Lars. A Dictionary of German Jewish Surnames. Avotaynu, 2005.
  • Beider, Alexander. A Dictionary of Jewish Surnames from Galicia. Avotaynu, 2004.
  • Hanks, Patrick, and Flavia Hodges. A Dictionary of Surnames. Oxford University Press, 1989.
  • Hanks, Patrick. Dictionary of American Family Names. Oxford University Press, 2003.
  • Smith, Elsdon C. American Surnames. Genealogical Publishing Company, 1997.
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Powell, Kimberly. "HARRIS Surname Meaning and Origin." ThoughtCo, Aug. 28, 2020, thoughtco.com/harris-name-meaning-and-origin-1422523. Powell, Kimberly. (2020, August 28). HARRIS Surname Meaning and Origin. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/harris-name-meaning-and-origin-1422523 Powell, Kimberly. "HARRIS Surname Meaning and Origin." ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/harris-name-meaning-and-origin-1422523 (accessed March 19, 2024).