A Fun and Fact-Filled Look at the Harris Surname
Harris Name Meaning
Harris is an English name that means “son of Harry.” It is a variant of the French name Henri. Interestingly, an early form of the Harris surname was Hanry, which was likely a combination of English and French names.
People of Jewish descent who bore the name Herz, Hirsh, or Aaron (known as Haare or Horre in Yiddish) often changed their surnames to Harris when they relocated to English-speaking countries.
Harris Last Name Variations
Virtually all surnames have developed phonetic and spelling variations over many centuries in many countries. A person’s last name was often spelled however it sounded to the person recording it.
When you’re researching your branch of the Harris family tree, you may find that your ancestors used one or more of these variations of the Harris surname: Aharris, Arris, Haarris, Haerris, Hairris, Hajrris, Haris, Harrais, Harreis, Harrgis, Harri, Harries, Harrisc, Harrise, Harrish, Harrisj, Harriss, Harrist, Harrison, Harrois, Harrris, Harruis, Hasrris, Hearris, Hharris, Hjarris, Kharris.
Harris Last Name Origin
While the Harris last name and its many variations can be traced to many different parts of the world, the recorded history of the name is primarily found in England.
The most prominent Harris family in southwest England can be traced back to John I. Harris in the mid-1400s. This is when John acquired Radford Manor in Devon, which became the Harris family seat for many generations. The manor house was renovated in the 18th century and eventually demolished in 1937. However, Radford still retains traces of the estate, including the deer park, which is now known as Radford Park.
In the 1840s, several Devon Harrises migrated to Alderney and Guernsey, in the Channel Islands. Other branches of the family became known as the Harrises of Hayne and were prominent in both Cornwall and Somerset.
In southeast England, a Harris family from Southminster in Essex was recorded around 1500. Sir Arthur Harris (c.1587-1632), a member of this family, was associated with the Virginia Company in London, which played a major role in establishing early settlements in Virginia. Another Harris family, originally from Harlow in Essex, had family members who immigrated and settled in Prince Edward Island, Canada, in the 1850s.
Ireland saw English immigrants with the Harris surname arrive in the 1600s, many of them after the Williamite War. The ranks of Harrises expanded further when some members of the Gaelic O’hEarchadha family in County Mayo adopted the Harris last name.
Harris Surname Geography
The surname Harris is shared by over 1.1 million people from more than 200 countries, making it the 482nd most popular last name globally.
Around 70% of people with the surname Harris reside in the United States, with the majority of them living in Texas (9%), California (7%), and Georgia (6%).
Harris continues to be a common last name in England, with 12% of Harrises residing there. In particular, many Harrises live in the southern regions of Devon and Cornwall. In Wales, Gwent and Cardiff are areas where the Harris surname can frequently be found.
Harris Earls
An earl is a noble title in the British peerage system, ranking below a duke and marquess and above a viscount and baron. It is derived from the Old English word “eorl,” meaning “a man of noble birth or rank.”
Earls are addressed as “Lord” followed by the name of the earldom. There are currently 189 earls in the Peerages of England, Scotland, Great Britain, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.
Earl of Malmesbury
The hereditary title Earl of Malmesbury was created in the Peerage of Great Britain for James Harris (1746-1820) in 1800. James was a diplomat that served as Ambassador to France, Prussia, Spain, and Russia. He was also a representative of Christchurch in the House of Commons. The current holder of the title is James Carleton Harris, 7th Earl of Malmesbury (b. 1946).
Harris Barons
A baron or baroness is a noble title in the British peerage system, ranking below a viscount and above a knight. The title can be a hereditary peerage (the title can be passed down to an heir upon the death of the holder) or a life peerage (the title becomes extinct upon the death of the holder). A baron is addressed as “Lord” and a baroness is addressed as “Lady.”
One hereditary baron and three life barons have been created in the Peerage of the United Kingdom for people with the last name Harris:
Baron Harris of Seringapatam and Mysore in the East Indies, and of Belmont in the County of Kent
This hereditary peerage was created in 1815 for George Harris (1746-1829). George fought in the Battle of Bunker Hill during the American Revolutionary War in 1775 and played an instrumental role in the attack on Seringapatam in the Third Anglo-Mysore War in South India.
The current holder of this title is Anthony Thomas Scott Harris (b. 1942), who is the 8th Baron Harris. Since 1801, the family seat has been Belmont House, located near Faversham in Kent. It is famous for its Georgian architecture and for housing the most extensive private collection of clocks in England.
Baron Harris of Peckham
A life peerage created in 1996 for Philip Harris (b.1942). Phillip is best known for building Carpetright, a carpet and flooring retailer, to a chain of over 400 stores throughout the United Kingdom and Europe. He is also the founder of the Harris Federation, a non-profit educational charity, and contributes to many other causes. In addition to being a baron, he is a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order and has been granted a knighthood.
Barron Harris of Haringey
A life peerage created in 1998 for Toby Harris (b.1953). Toby is known for his leadership of the London Borough of Haringey as well as his contributions to public safety and security. Earlier in his career, he was the chair of the Metropolitan Police Authority and founding chair of National Trading Standards. In 2004, he was appointed a Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (CBE).
Baroness Harris of Richmond
A life peerage created in 1999 for Angela Harris (b.1944). Angela was awarded the title for her services to the legal profession, including serving as a member of the House of Lords and as a judge of the High Court.
Harris Baronets
A baronet is someone who holds a baronetcy, a hereditary title awarded by the British Crown. They rank below barons but above knights, with the exception of Knights of the Garter in England and The Order of the Thistle in Scotland. Baronets are addressed as “Sir (forename)” and their wives are addressed as “Lady (surname).”
Four baronetcies have been created for people with the last name Harris:
Harris Baronetcy of Boreatton in Shropshire
Created in the Baronetage of England in 1622 for Thomas Harris (1550-1628). The title was discontinued when the seventh baronet died in 1693.
Harris Baronetcy of Stowford near Launceston in Devon
Created in the Baronetage of England in 1673 for Arthur Harris (c.1650-1686), a Member of Parliament for Okehampton in Devon from 1671 until 1681. The members of this Harris family resided in Hayne House, Stowford. The title became extinct when Arthur died in 1686.
Harris Baronetcy of Bethnal Green in London
Created in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom in 1932 for Percy Alfred Harris (1876-1952), a Liberal Member of Parliament for Harborough and Bethnal Green South West. The baronetcy is currently held by Sir Andrew Frederick Ashford Harris, 4th Baronet (b.1958).
Harris Baronetcy of Chepping Wycombe in Buckinghamshire
Created in the Baronetage of the United Kingdom in 1953 for Arthur Tavers “Bomber” Harris (1892-1984), who was a World War II commander of Royal Air Force Bomber Command. The title became extinct in 1996 upon the death of the second Baronet.
Harris Surname History
Many people with the surname Harris are noteworthy for contributions that shaped history for better or worse. Here are a few of the more prominent Harrises in history:
John Harris: Editor of the first English Encyclopedia
John Harris (c.1666-1719) was an English writer, scientist, and Anglican priest. He is best known for editing the Lexicon Technicum: Or, A Universal English Dictionary of Arts and Sciences (1704), which was the first English encyclopedia. He also compiled the Collection of Voyages and Travels and authored an unfinished county history of Kent.
Kamala Harris: Vice President of the United States
Kamala Devi Harris (b.1964) currently serves as the 49th vice president of the United States. She is the first female vice president and the highest-ranking female official in the history of the country, as well as the first African-American and Asian-American vice president. She is a Democrat who formerly served as California’s attorney general from 2011 to 2017 and as a United States senator representing California from 2017 to 2021.
Mary G. Harris (aka “Mother Jones”)
Mary G. Harris (c.1837-1930), also known as “Mother Jones,” was an Irish-born activist who left Ireland to escape the Great Famine. She suffered tremendous tragedies, including the deaths of her husband and four children from yellow fever in 1867 and the loss of her dress shop in the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.
Fueled by these experiences, Mary became a labor organizer for the Knights of Labor and the United Mine Workers union, fighting for workers’ rights and against child labor. She co-founded the socialist trade union, Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), and was dubbed “the most dangerous woman in America” due to her success in organizing mine workers and their families. In 1903, Mary organized a children’s march to protest the lenient enforcement of child labor laws in Pennsylvania mines and silk mills, which resulted in a demonstration at President Theodore Roosevelt’s New York home.
“Pee-wee” Harris is a fictional character in several popular boy’s books by Percey Keese Fitzhugh. He often uses scouting skills to solve mysteries.
Paul Harris: Founder of Rotary International
Paul Percy Harris (1868-1947) was an attorney who founded Rotary International in 1905. It is one of the largest service organizations in the world with more than 1.4 million members representing over 46,000 clubs. Collectively, these clubs promote peace; fight disease; provide clean water, sanitation, and hygiene; work with mothers and children; support education; grow local economies; and protect the environment.
Places Named Harris
North America
- Harris, Indiana – community in Marshall County.
- Harris, Iowa – city in Osceola County named after one of its founders, A. W. Harris.
- Harris, Kansas – community in Anderson County.
- Harris, Minnesota – city in Chisago County named after Philip S. Harris, an officer of St. Paul and Duluth Railroad Company.
- Harris, Missouri – city in Sullivan County.
- Harris, New York – hamlet in Sullivan County.
- Harris, North Carolina – community in Rutherford County.
- Harris, Ontario – township in the Canadian province of Ontario.
- Harris, Oregon – community in Benton County.
- Harrisburg, Pennsylvania – state capital and city in Dauphin County named after John Harris, Jr.
- Harris, Saskatchewan – village in the Canadian province of Saskatchewan named after Richard Elford Harris, an early settler in the area.
- Harris County, Georgia – county named after Charles Harris, an early mayor of Savannah, Georgia.
- Harris County, Texas – county named after John Richardson Harris, an early Texas settler.
- Harris Township, Michigan – township in Menominee County.
- Harris, Wisconsin – town in Marquette County named after James Harris, the town’s first postmaster.
Harris DNA Project
A Harris Surname DNA Study is hosted by FamilyTreeDNA. The main goal of the study is to identify and unite the various branches of Harris family trees through DNA test results. It is open to any male descendant with the last name Harris or a variant spelling. Currently, there are 1,567 participants.
Recommended Harris Readings
- Burke, B. (1996). The General Armory of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.
- Burke, J. (2017). Encyclopaedia of Heraldry, or General Armory of England, Scotland, and Ireland.
- Barber, Henry. British Family Names; Their Origin and Meaning, With Lists of Scandinavian, Frisian, Anglo-Saxon and Norman Names. 2018.
- “John Harris’ Ancestors.” John Harris’ Ancestors, jtbullock.com.
- “Glenn Gohr’s Home Page Harris/Harries/Herries/Harriss Genealogy.”
- Description of Harries Family of Priskilly, Heathfield and Tregwynt Papers, 1722-1920. Pembrokeshire Archives and Local Studies / Archifdy Sir Benfro ac Astudiaethau Lleol. GB 213 D/HAR’ on the Archives Hub website.
