Show ContentsHarbron History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The ancient Anglo-Saxon surname Harbron came from the name Rabin or Robin, which are pet forms of the personal name Robert. The name is preceded the Old English prefix har, which means gray. Hence, the surname Harbron literally means gray Rabin or gray Robin. 1

Early Origins of the Harbron family

The surname Harbron was first found in the parish of Taxal, Derbyshire at Horobin. 2

A very rare name, we did find some late entries for the family in Cheshire. The Wills at Chester list John Horabin, of Westhoughton, 1591; Thomas Horabin, of Bolton, 1612; Richard Horrobin, of Bolton, 1633; and William Horrobin, of Little Bolton, 1633. "It will be seen that the Bolton Horobins first became Horrobin, and then Harrobin, as they exist to-day." 2

Early History of the Harbron family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Harbron research. Another 154 words (11 lines of text) covering the years 1591, 1596, 1612, 1618, 1633, 1686, 1696, 1713, 1783 and 1790 are included under the topic Early Harbron History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Harbron Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Harbron has been recorded under many different variations, including Horrobin, Horrabin, Horobin, Horabin, Harrobin, Harrabin, Harobin, Harbin, Harbine, Harbyn, Harbynn, Horbyn and many more.

Early Notables of the Harbron family

Another 42 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Harbron Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Harbron migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Harbron or a variant listed above:

Harbron Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • F.J. Harbron, aged 40, who arrived in America, in 1894
Harbron Settlers in United States in the 20th Century
  • Alfred Harbron, aged 22, who arrived in America from Liverpool, in 1902

Contemporary Notables of the name Harbron (post 1700) +

  • Patrick Harbron, American cameraman, known for his work on Stella (1990), Curtains (1983) and Black Box (2014)
  • Elizabeth Harbron, American Associate Professor of Chemistry at The College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia


  1. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  2. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)


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