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Harr History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Motto Citations

Harr History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Irish surnames are linked to the long Gaelic heritage of the Island nation. The original Gaelic form of the name Harr is Ó hEaghra, connoting a descendant of Eaghra. Harr is a patronymic surname, which derived from the vernacular given name tradition.

Early Origins of the Harr family

The surname Harr was first found in County Sligo (Irish: Sligeach), in the province of Connacht in Northwestern Ireland, where they held a family seat from ancient times.

Early History of the Harr family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Harr research. Another 111 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Harr History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Harr Spelling Variations

One name was often recorded under several different spellings during the life of its bearer during the Middle Ages. Spelling variations revealed in the search for the origin of the Harr family name include Hara, Harra, O'Hara and others.

Early Notables of the Harr family

More information is included under the topic Early Harr Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Harr Ranking

In the United States, the name Harr is the 4,576^th most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 1

Harr migration to the United States +

North America accepted thousands of Irish immigrants during the 19th century as their homeland suffered under foreign imperialistic rule. Although settlers from the early portion of the century came to North America by choice in search of land, by far the largest influx of Irish immigrants came to North America during the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. Many of these Irish families left the country destitute and in some cases suffering from disease. However, those who survived the long ocean voyage were especially vital to the development of industry in the United States and what would become known as Canada. Research of immigration and passenger lists has shown many early immigrants bearing the name Harr:

Harr Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Josyas Harr, who arrived in Virginia in 1624 2
William Harr, who landed in Virginia in 1655 2

Harr Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Michel Harr, who landed in America in 1752 2
Conrad Harr, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1753 2

Harr Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Gottleib Harr, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1854 2
Jacob Harr, aged 47, who landed in New York NY in 1875 2
Regina Harr, aged 22, who arrived in New York, NY in 1875 2

Harr migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Harr Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Charles Harr, who arrived in Adelaide, Australia aboard the ship "Thomas Lowry" in 1848 3

Harr migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Harr Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mrs. Hedwig Harr, (b. 1827), aged 32, German settler from Germany travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Victory " arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 14th May 1859 4
Mr. Conrad Harr, (b. 1829), aged 30, German farm labourer from Germany travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Victory " arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 14th May 1859 4
Mr. Henry Harr, (b. 1855), aged 4, German settler from Germany travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Victory " arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 14th May 1859 4
Mr. George Harr, (b. 1857), aged 2, German settler from Germany travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Victory " arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 14th May 1859 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Harr (post 1700) +

Lloyd T. "Rosy" Harr, American 6th head college football coach of the College of Emporia Fighting Presbies in Emporia, Kansas in the undefeated season of 1928 season with 8 wins and no losses
Burke Harr (b. 1971), American politician, Member of the Nebraska Legislature (2010-)
Jonathan Harr, American award-winning writer best known for his non-fiction book A Civil Action (1996) which won the National Book Critics Circle Award for nonfiction
Karl Gottlieb Harr Jr. (1922-2002), American defense policy expert
Corporal Harry R Harr (1921-1945), American soldier awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1945
Lee Harr, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Tennessee, 1916 5
David S. Harr, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1916 5
Eva Harr (1951-2024), Norwegian visual artist
Karl Erik Harr (b. 1940), Norwegian painter, illustrator, graphic artist and author

Historic Events for the Harr family +

USS Arizona

Mr. Oliver V. Harr, American Machinist's Mate First Class working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he survived the sinking 6

The Harr Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Virtute et claritate
Motto Translation: By virtue and high repute.

Citations +

"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
State Records of South Australia. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) THOMAS LOWRY 1848. Retrieved from http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/BSA/1848ThomasLowry.htm
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 7) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html