Harrison Surname: Origin and Coat of Arms
What does Harrison mean, and where does it come from? Here is a brief introduction.
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Origin of the Harrison name
Harrison is an English patronymic meaning "son of Harry", the usual medieval English pronunciation of Henry, from Germanic Heimirich, "home ruler". Like many -son names, it is most common in the north of England, especially Yorkshire, Lancashire and Cumbria. The name also spread to Ulster and was borne by two American presidents.
Our historical archives hold much more on the Harrison name: dates, names and records of early bearers.
This overview covers the Harrison name in England. We also hold records of the name in other countries, such as the United States, Australia and Northern Ireland; your full pack is researched for your family's country of origin.
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Your full Harrison pack adds the researched history, early records and migration. Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Harrison coat of arms for you.
Harrison name FAQ
What does the Harrison name mean?
Son of Harry (Henry). Common variants include Harrisson, Harris, Harison.
Where does the Harrison surname come from?
It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Australia and Northern Ireland.
Is there a Harrison coat of arms?
Arms were granted to individuals, not whole surnames, so there is no single Harrison crest. Herald Lab paints a personalized Harrison coat of arms based on historic heraldry.
Researched by Herald Lab Research Studio, since 1993. Sources: Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames; Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); US Census Bureau 2010.