Show ContentsO'Harrow History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

O'Harrow Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of O'Harrow

What does the name O'Harrow mean?

O'Harrow is an Anglo-Saxon name. The name was originally given to a harrower, a person who worked in the fields and was originally derived from the Old English harwen, which meant "to harrow." 1

Harrowing a field is the process of breaking up the earth after plowing so that seeding may take place. In the Middle Ages, this was done with a wooden frame studded with spikes and disks dragged over the field by a team of oxen.

Early Origins of the O'Harrow family

The surname O'Harrow was first found in Essex where Geoffrey Haruer was recorded in 1255. From this earliest entry, we move to the Hundredorum Rolls of 1275, where Geoffrey le Harewere was listed in Norfolk. Later, Ralph le Harewere was recorded in the Subsidy Rolls for Suffolk in 1327, and John Harower was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. 2

Much further to the north in Scotland, Harrower was "a surname common to Fife and district. 'The first of this name is described as a Flemish gunner; it may be a form of Harmwijn.' William Harower or Herwart had a charter of the office of keeper of the king's muirc and cunningare in Crail in liferent in the reign of David II. Robert Harwar was burgess of Perth, 1440, and 'Sir' John Harwar who was vicar of Cortochquhay in 1452 may be the John Harwar, chaplain, mentioned in 1455." 3

Early History of the O'Harrow family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our O'Harrow research. Another 138 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1273, 1379, 1464, 1465, 1506, 1512, 1519, 1524, 1535, 1536, 1561, 1603, 1698 and 1700 are included under the topic Early O'Harrow History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

O'Harrow Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name O'Harrow has appeared include Harrower, Harower, Harewere and others.

Early Notables of the O'Harrow family

More information is included under the topic Early O'Harrow Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the O'Harrow family

At this time, the shores of the New World beckoned many English families that felt that the social climate in England was oppressive and lacked opportunity for change. Thousands left England at great expense in ships that were overcrowded and full of disease. A great portion of these settlers never survived the journey and even a greater number arrived sick, starving, and without a penny. The survivors, however, were often greeted with greater opportunity than they could have experienced back home. These English settlers made significant contributions to those colonies that would eventually become the United States and Canada. An examination of early immigration records and passenger ship lists revealed that people bearing the name O'Harrow arrived in North America very early: John Harrower, who sailed to Virginia in 1774.
  1. Lower, Mark Anthony, Patronymica Britannica, A Dictionary of Family Names of the United Kingdom. London: John Russel Smith, 1860. Print.
  2. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
  3. 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)

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