★ Be on time for a wonderful present this year · Order by Dec 8 (US) · Dec 9 (UK & AU) · All dates ›

Harrell Surname Meaning & Origin

What the Harrell last name means, where the surname began and how it spread.

Order your pack and our heraldry team researches and paints the Harrell coat of arms for you.

Meaning and origin of the Harrell last name

Meaning of the Harrell last name: army ruler. Harrell is mainly an English surname, a form of Harold, from Old Norse and Old English names built on words for "army" and "rule". The spelling Herrell is found in Norfolk. A curious detail: this last name is now far more common in the United States than in England, especially in North Carolina, Georgia and Texas, so its surname origin is English but its home is American.

Arms associated with the Harrell name

In English heraldry a coat of arms belonged to one person at a time, so different Harrell lines used their own versions, each set out in a blazon, the formal heraldic description.

Get your full Harrell family history

This is only a glimpse of the Harrell story. The full Harrell history report goes much deeper into where the name began, who carried it and how the family spread, and it comes with a museum-style painted Harrell coat of arms. Get the full Harrell report.

Harrell name FAQ

What does the Harrell name mean?

Army ruler. Common variants include Herrell, Harrel.

Where does the Harrell surname come from?

It originates in England, and is also found in the United States, Australia and Canada.

Is there a Harrell coat of arms?

Arms were granted to individuals rather than to everyone with a surname. Herald Lab paints a personalized Harrell coat of arms in museum style, based on historic heraldry.

Sources: Dictionary of American Family Names (Oxford); Reaney & Wilson, Dictionary of English Surnames.