Harness History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
Harness is a name of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from the personal name Agnes, which itself is derived from the Greek name Hagne, which means pure and holy. The name was also used in the Latin phrase Agnus Dei, which means lamb of God. The personal name Agnes was popularized by devotees, the early Christian martyr, Saint Agnes. 1
The name could have been an occupational name as one source notes it was "the old word for body-armour. Hence Lightharness, and the French Beauhamois, or 'fair harness.'' 2
Early Origins of the Harness family
The surname Harness was first found in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 where the name was found as a forename and surname: Robert filius Harneis, Lincolnshire; John filius Hernici, Lincolnshire; Roger Herneys, Norfolk; John Harneys, Cambridgeshire; and Heme' de Stano, Suffolk. 3
The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included: Robert Arnys; Robertus Arnis; Johanna Ernys; and Robert Hernays. 3
The name is a "well-known Lincolnshire surname to-day, and found there six centuries ago." 3
Early History of the Harness family
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Harness research. Another 97 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1384, 1402, 1790, 1804, 1825, 1827, 1828, 1829, 1832, 1834, 1850, 1854, 1855, 1869 and 1883 are included under the topic Early Harness History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Harness Spelling Variations
Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Harness have been found, including Anniss, Anness, Arness, Annison, Arnison, Annes, Ennis and many more.
Early Notables of the Harness family
Notables of the family at this time include
- William Harness (1790-1869), was the author of a 'Life of Shakespeare,' born near Wickham in Hampshire on 14 March 1790, was son of John Harness, M.D., commissioner of transports, and elder brother of...
- Sir Henry Drury Harness (1804-1883), the British general, colonel-commandant royal engineers, son of John Harness, Esq., M.D., Commissioner of the Transport Board, was born in 1804. Harness passed hig...
Harness Ranking
In the United States, the name Harness is the 3,351st most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 4
Migration of the Harness family to Ireland
Some of the Harness family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 45 words (3 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Harness migration to the United States +
Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Among the first immigrants of the name Harness, or a variant listed above to cross the Atlantic and come to North America were :
Harness Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
- William Harness, who arrived in Texas in 1835 5
- William Harness, who landed in Texas in 1835 5
- Nehemiah J Harness, who landed in Mississippi in 1875 5
Harness migration to Canada +
Some of the first settlers of this family name were:
Harness Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
- Christopher Harness, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
Harness 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:
Harness Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
- Joseph Harness, who arrived in Auckland, New Zealand aboard the ship "Sir George Grey" in 1864
- James Harness, aged 21, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Halcione" in 1875 6
- Barlow Harness, aged 19, a labourer, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Halcione" in 1875 6
- Mr. James Harness, (b. 1853), aged 21, British labourer travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Halcione" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand in September 1875 7
- Mr. Barlow Harness, (b. 1855), aged 19, British labourer travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Halcione" arriving in Wellington, New Zealand in September 1875 7
- ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Contemporary Notables of the name Harness (post 1700) +
- Forest Arthur Harness (1895-1974), American politician, U.S. Representative from Indiana
- Charles Leonard Harness (1915-2005), American science fiction writer from Colorado City, Texas
- Wetzel G. Harness, American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1956, 1960 8
- Forest Arthur Harness (1895-1974), American Republican politician, U.S. Representative from Indiana 5th District, 1939-49; Defeated, 1948; Delegate to Republican National Convention from Indiana, 1948 8
- Peter Harness (b. 1976), English playwright, screenwriter and actor
- Wyn Harness (1960-2007), British journalist at The Independent from the newspaper's creation in 1986
Citations +
- Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
- Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
- Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
- "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)
- New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 12th December 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
- New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
- The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 16) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html