| ![Show Contents]() Harrabin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
- Origins Available:
 England The Harrabin family name is linked to the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. Their name comes 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 Harrabin literally means gray Rabin or gray Robin. 1 Early Origins of the Harrabin familyThe surname Harrabin 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 Harrabin familyThis web page shows only a small excerpt of our Harrabin 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 Harrabin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Harrabin Spelling VariationsUntil 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 Harrabin include Horrobin, Horrabin, Horobin, Horabin, Harrobin, Harrabin, Harobin, Harbin, Harbine, Harbyn, Harbynn, Horbyn and many more. Early Notables of the Harrabin familyAnother 42 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Harrabin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible. Migration of the Harrabin familyThousands 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 Harrabin were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: Peter Harbynn, who settled in Virginia in 1635; Richard Horribynn, who arrived in St. Christopher in 1635; Alexander Harbin, who arrived with his wife in Barbados in 1680.
- Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
- 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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