Harriet History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Early Origins of the Harriet family

The surname Harriet was first found in Midlothian where they held a family seat from early times and held the lands of Heriot, and were found there as early as c. 1164, when Henry of Heriot witnessed confirmation of the church of Karnewid (Carnwath) to Joceline, bishop of Glasgow.

"Laurence de Herryhot witnessed a grant of the lands of Swaynystoun to the Hospital of Soltre c. 1221-1238. The lands of Trabroun in the sheriffdom of Berwick were confirmed to John de Heriot de Trabroun, son and heir of James de Heriot de Nudre Marschele in 1424." 1

Further to the south in England, Richard de Heriett, de Herierd was found in Berkshire and Bedfordshire according to the Feet of Fines of 1197-1198. 2

In Somerset, Walter Henriot was listed there 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III) 3 and in Norfolk Heriot Heringflet (no date). 4

Early History of the Harriet family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Harriet research. Another 264 words (19 lines of text) covering the years 1221, 1424, 1429, 1458, 1468, 1504, 1525, 1537, 1549, 1550, 1560, 1563, 1570, 1580, 1585, 1586, 1588, 1591, 1621 and 1624 are included under the topic Early Harriet History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Harriet Spelling Variations

The name, Harriet, occurred in many references, and from time to time, it was spelt Herriot, Heriot, Harriet, Hariet, Herriott, Harriott and many more.

Early Notables of the Harriet family

Notable amongst the family name during their early history was John of Heriot of Trabrown, Chief of the Clan in 1424.George Heriot (1563-1624), was a Scottish goldsmith and philanthropist. He was "founder of Heriot's Hospital, Edinburgh, was born in that city 15 June 1563. His father, George Heriot, who belonged to the old Haddingtonshire family, the Heriots of Trabourn, settled early as a goldsmith in Edinburgh, which he represented repeatedly in the Scotch parliament. The younger Heriot was brought up in the business of his father, who, on his marriage in 1586 to the daughter of a respectable Edinburgh tradesman, gave...
Another 143 words (10 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Harriet Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Harriet migration to the United States +

The New World beckoned settlers from the Scottish-English borders. They sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. Some called them, less romantically, the "coffin ships." Among the early settlers bearing the Harriet surname who came to North America were:

Harriet Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Mr. Harriet who settled in Charles Town [Charleston], South Carolina in 1820
Roger Harriet, who settled in South Carolina in 1822

Contemporary Notables of the name Harriet (post 1700) +

Lois Harriet Gresh (b. 1956), New York Times Best-Selling author of ten science fiction novels and story collections and seventeen popular science and pop culture books
Mary Harriet Wintle (1834-1876), birth name of Australian watercolourist Mary Gedye, born in Hobart, Tasmania, the second daughter of Samuel James Wintle and Mary Anne, née Magill.
Julia Harriet Tashjian (1938-2013), American Democratic Party politician, Secretary of State of Connecticut, 1983-91; Defeated, 1990 5
Arlene Harriet Gottfried (1950-2017), American photographer, older sister of comedian and actor Gilbert Gottfried
Dame Caroline Harriet Haslett DBE, JP (1895-1957), British electrical engineer and electricity industry administrator. the first secretary of the Women's Engineering Society
Judith Harriet Bumpus (1939-2010), British radio producer for the BBC
Emily Harriet Pelloe (1878-1941), Australian botanical illustrator and author of books
Helen Harriet Beck (1904-1979), birth name of Sally Rand, the burlesque dancer and actress, most noted for her ostrich feather fan dance and balloon bubble dance
Harriet Tubman (1822-1913), born Araminta Ross, an American abolitionist, humanitarian, and Union spy during the American Civil War; she helped John Brown recruit men for his raid on Harpers Ferry
Harriet Pattison (1928-2023), American landscape architect

Citations +

Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Rye, Walter, A History of Norfolk. London: Elliot Stock, 62, Paternoster Row, 1885. Print
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 27) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html