Harris (name)

Harris is a (patronymic or paternal) family name of British origins, and has many different spellings, none of which are definitive or 'correct'. These spellings are largely regional which, when combined with the fact that the spelling of modern English would only standardise in the 17th through 19th centuries, has led to different branches of the same families having different spellings of the name. Harris is the 23rd most common surname in England and 21st most common surname in the United States.^[1]

Spellings (in alphabetical order) and their origins

• Haris - common in Bosnia, mythological Greek name Haris, which means "Grace" ^[2] or an origin of the Arabic name Haris, which means "Lion" or "Guardian".
• Harish - quite a common first name and is a combination of Hari and Ishwar and means Vishnu God or Lord.
• Harries - common in West Wales
• Harris - most common spelling originated in East Wales, most of England and some of Scotland
• Harriss - originated in pockets of England, namely West Berkshire, West Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire & Northamptonshire
• Harrys - uncommon
• Harys - rare
• Heriz - medieval spelling of the name, first found in France and also found in Spain
• Herrice - a French spelling
• Herries - a Scottish spelling
• Parry - a contraction of the Welsh patronymic "ap Harry"

Origin

In most cases the Harris surname appears to be British in origin. It was commonly adopted as a surname in south western England, the Midlands, Essex and Wales. As with other similar names it was adopted by most families in England between 1300 and 1400, and later in Wales and Scotland. Very few families used the name prior to 1300.

Some other Harris families originated in Germany, France, etc., and adopted the name Harris upon immigration to Britain or America.

Migration

Irish Harris families probably originate from England, Wales and Scotland and arrived in Ireland during the conquest of Ireland c.1603.

Harrises also began to emigrate to Canada and America in the 17th century, to Australia and New Zealand in the 18th century and to South Africa in the 19th century. Initial numbers of emigrants were small and it was not until the last half of the 19th century that large numbers of Harrises emigrated from Britain.

Distribution

Coats of arms

The current Lord Harris in British Peerage is Philip Harris, Baron Harris of Peckham. Throughout the ages various Harrises have been awarded arms by the College of Arms, London, but very few were hereditary (passed on to successive generations).

As is often the case in heraldry, a tradition has emerged in the design of different Harris coats of arms; one or more hedgehogs are often incorporated into the blazon. The original reason for this has been lost in time, but it is likely that it was originally due to one, or both, of the following explanations:-

• the French name Herrice sounds similar to herison, which is French for hedgehog. Plays on words like this are fairly common in heraldry and arms using the technique are referred to as canting arms.
• the original bearer had spiky hair, resembling a hedgehog.

References