Origins of the Harrison surname

What does the name Harrison mean?

The origin of the Harrison surname is believed to be patronymic, and of English origin. Harrison has been found in documents dating back to the 1300s, and even today is the 42nd most prevalent in England. The surname Harrison is believed to derive from a description of someone who was the 'son of Harry/Henry'.

Alternative variations of the name Harrison

Harrison, Harryson, Harison, Haryson, Herrison

Start free trial
“
I’ve managed to trace back to the mid-1500s! I can’t believe it! Utterly engrossing and I have uncovered some quite moving and heartbreaking stories attached to various ancestors. You don’t need any qualifications to start - just time patience, and some information.
SS
Stuart
Trustpilot logoTrustpilot 5 stars
1 of 3

Start your family tree

Trace your family back in time. Make new discoveries and see what other Findmypast family historians in our genealogy community have discovered about the Harrisons.

Sign up to get started

Delve deeper into the Harrison family's history

OrkneyShetlandHighlandsWestern IslesGrampianTaysideCentralStrathclydeFifeLothianBordersDumfriesNorth East 6191North West 3076Isle of Man 258Yorkshire 12768East Midlands 2992West Midlands 4836East 1692London 19445South East 3249South West 998South Wales 444Mid Wales 58West Wales 18North Wales 389Republic of IrelandNorthern Ireland

In 1921, most Harrisons lived in london

Census records trace your ancestors through each generation, so you can follow where your relatives lived through each decade.

96,000 Harrison Travel & migration records
680,000 Harrisons found in all Census records

Interesting facts about Harrison

How common is your surname?

31st most common surname in the UK

We have for the Harrison surname. The oldest one dates back to 1264.

Who were Harrisons most likely to marry?

Our tell us which families married Harrisons.

What are the most common Harrison first names?

John

William

Mary

Elizabeth

Our tell us the names of Harrison family members
Man with milk churns and census card collage
Census records provide incredible detail on names, ages, marital statuses, occupations and more.

Common jobs for Harrisons

Men and women often performed different types of jobs, so these are displayed by gender to maintain their historical accuracy.

Common female occupations for Harrisons in 1921

Dressmaker

2,698

Cotton Weaver

2,164

Domestic Servant

1,438

General Servant Domestic

1,403

Living On Own Means

1,287

Common male occupations for Harrisons in 1921

Coal Miner

3,388

Farmer

2,715

General Labourer

2,195

Agricultural Labourer

1,937

Joiner

1,602

We found over 520,000 family trees with the Harrison surname

Trace your family back in time and see what other Findmypast family historians in our genealogy community have discovered about the Harrisons.

Search for a relative in our family trees

Learn more about the lives of Harrison family members

How rare is your surname?

Have you ever wondered if your family na...

The rise and fall of these disappearing British surnames

Could your surname be on the brink of di...

English surnames explained: The seven types of last names you should know

Ever wondered where our last names come...

How to find the maiden names of women in your family tree

Try these simple tricks to pinpoint your...

4 simple steps to starting your family history journey

Starting your family history journey is...

Share your discoveries

Share to WhatsApp

Share to Facebook

Look for a different surname

Paper tear line

Find out more about your family in our records

    or try an advanced search