Harras Surname History

Origins Available:
Ireland

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

Early Origins of the Harras family

The surname Harras 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 Harras family

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

Harras 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 Harras family name include Hara, Harra, O'Hara and others.

Early Notables of the Harras family

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

Harras 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 Harras:

Harras Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Gottl Ludw Harras, who landed in America in 1778 1

Citations +

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)