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Harr History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Citations

Harr History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

The ancestors of the Harr surname lived among the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture. The name comes from when they lived in the village of Harrowden in Northamptonshire and Bedfordshire.

Early Origins of the Harr family

The surname Harr was first found in Bedfordshire (Old English: Bedanfordscir), located in Southeast-central England, formerly part of the Anglo-Saxon kingdom of Mercia, where they held a family seat from ancient times. Harrowden is a one-street hamlet in Bedfordshire. Great Harrowden and Little Harrowden are parishes and villages in Northamptonshire that date back to the Domesday Book of 1086 where collectively they were known as Hargedone. 1 The place name literally means "hill of the heathen shrines or temples," from the Old English words "hearg" + "dun." 2 Ironically "Little" Harrowden has more inhabitants that "Great" Harroweden and that has been the case for more than 100 years. In the 15th century the manors of Great and Little Harrowden were held by Sir William Vaux who was slain at the Battle of Tewkesbury in 1471. Great Harrowden Hall was built between 1716 and 1719. The All Saints Church dates back to Norman times and is famous for its medieval Doom (painting.) There is also a brass to William Harrowden from the 16th century located there.

Early History of the Harr family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Harr research. Another 59 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1086 and 1756 are included under the topic Early Harr History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Harr Spelling Variations

Before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago, spelling variations of names were a common occurrence. Elements of Latin, French and other languages became incorporated into English through the Middle Ages, and name spellings changed even among the literate. The variations of the surname Harr include Harraden, Harradine, Haridine, Harridine, Horoden, Harnden, Herndon and many more.

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. 3

Harr migration to the United States +

A great wave of immigration to the New World was the result of the enormous political and religious disarray that struck England at that time. Families left for the New World in extremely large numbers. The long journey was the end of many immigrants and many more arrived sick and starving. Still, those who made it were rewarded with an opportunity far greater than they had known at home in England. These emigrant families went on to make significant contributions to these emerging colonies in which they settled. Some of the first North American settlers carried this name or one of its variants:

Harr Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Josyas Harr, who arrived in Virginia in 1624 4
William Harr, who landed in Virginia in 1655 4

Harr Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Michel Harr, who landed in America in 1752 4
Conrad Harr, who landed in Pennsylvania in 1753 4

Harr Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Gottleib Harr, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1854 4
Jacob Harr, aged 47, who landed in New York NY in 1875 4
Regina Harr, aged 22, who arrived in New York, NY in 1875 4

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 5

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 6
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 6
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 6
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 6

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 7
David S. Harr, American Democratic Party politician, Alternate Delegate to Democratic National Convention from Pennsylvania, 1916 7
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 8

Citations +

Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
"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