Show ContentsHarlin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Harlin belongs to the early history of Britain, it's origins lie with the Anglo-Saxons. It is a product of their having lived in the village of Horlands, that can be traced to numerous places round England, including Harland Edge in Derbyshire and Harland Wood in Sussex. This surname was originally derived from the Old English words har and land, which means that the original bearers of the surname lived in the land that was infested with hares.

Early Origins of the Harlin family

The surname Harlin was first found in Middlesex where they held a family seat from very ancient times, some say well before the Norman Conquest and the arrival of Duke William at Hastings in 1066 A.D.

Early History of the Harlin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Harlin research. Another 89 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1208, 1235, 1330, 1384, 1411, 1425, 1459, 1500 and 1664 are included under the topic Early Harlin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Harlin Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person's name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Harlin include Harland, Hoarland, Hoareland, Hoorland, Hooreland, Horland, Horlands, Harlin, Harlind and many more.

Early Notables of the Harlin family

Notables of this surname at this time include: Hugh Herland (1330-1411), a 14th-century medieval English carpenter, the chief carpenter to King Richard II, best known pieces is the hammer-beam roof at Westminster Hall, regarded as one of the greatest carpentry achievements of the time, worked for William of Wykeham at New College, Oxford (c. 1384), commissioned by royalty to work on...
Another 61 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Harlin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Harlin family to Ireland

Some of the Harlin family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Harlin migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Harlin were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records:

Harlin Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Thomas Harlin who settled in New Jersey in 1773
  • Thomas Harlin, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1773 1
Harlin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Edward Harlin, who landed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1802
  • Matthew Harlin, aged 24, who landed in Missouri in 1840 1
  • George Harlin, aged 27, who arrived in Missouri in 1846 1
  • James, John and Thomas Harlin, who settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania between 1772 and 1847
  • William Harlin, who arrived in Texas in 1850-1906 1

Harlin migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Harlin Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • John Harlin, aged 22, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Madawaska" in 1833
  • Mary Harlin, aged 26, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Madawaska" in 1833
  • Anne Harlin, aged 24, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Madawaska" in 1833
  • James Harlin, aged 22, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Madawaska" in 1833

Contemporary Notables of the name Harlin (post 1700) +

  • John Elvis Harlin (1935-1966), American mountaineer and US Air Force pilot who was killed while making an ascent of the north face of the Eiger
  • Robert H. Harlin, American Republican politician, Mayor of Seattle, Washington, 1931-32; appointed 1931; Defeated, 1932; Candidate for U.S. Representative from Washington 1st District, 1944 2
  • John C. Harlin, American politician, Member of Missouri State Senate 19th District, 1929-32 2
  • Renny Harlin (b. 1959), Finnish film director and producer and 5-time recipient of the famous Golden RaspBerry Award for worst film directing
  • Harlin L. Schram, American Republican politician, Alternate Delegate to Republican National Convention from Kansas, 1964 3
  • Harlin M. Steely Jr., American Republican politician, Delegate to Republican National Convention from Illinois, 1948 4

Flight 191
  • C Harlin (d. 1979), American passenger from USA, who flew aboard American Airlines Flight 191 and died in the crash 5


The Harlin 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: Per juga per fluvius
Motto Translation: Through precipices and torrents.


  1. 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)
  2. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 8) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  3. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 22) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  4. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 21) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
  5. Flight 191's Victims - latimes. (Retrieved 2014, April 16) . Retrieved from http://articles.latimes.com/1985-08-04/news/mn-4349_1_fort-lauderdale-area


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