Harvester
One who gathers a crop.
Name Census estimates that about 3 living Americans carry the first name Harvester. The name is used almost exclusively for boys. The average person named Harvester today is around 79 years old, and the year with the single highest number of Harvester births was 1947 (5 babies).
This page is the full Name Census profile for Harvester. Below you will find a gender breakdown showing how the name splits between male and female registrations, a year-by-year popularity chart stretching back to 1880, decade-level totals, the top US states for this name, its meaning and etymology, and a set of frequently asked questions with data-backed answers.
Key insights
- • The typical person named Harvester is about 79 years old today, placing it firmly among the names of earlier generations. Most living Harvesters were born before 1957.
- • Fewer than 100 living Americans are believed to carry the name Harvester. It is among the rarest names in the SSA records.
People living today
3
~ 1 in 114,251,446 Americans
Peak year
1947
5 babies that year
Average age
79
years old
1947 SSA rank
#3,961
Tracked since 1947
Popularity
Harvester: popularity over time
Babies born per year
Decades
Harvester by decade
The table below breaks the full SSA timeline into ten-year windows. Each row shows how many male and female babies were given the name Harvester during that decade, along with a combined total. This is useful for spotting eras where the name surged or retreated.
| Decade | Male | Female | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1940s | 5 | 0 | 5 |
Origin
Meaning and history of Harvester
The name Harvester has its roots in the Old English language, originating from the word "hærfest," which means "autumn" or "harvest season." This name is closely tied to the agricultural traditions and practices of ancient Anglo-Saxon communities in Britain, dating back to the 5th century AD.
During the medieval period, the name Harvester was often used as a surname or occupational name for individuals who worked as harvesters, responsible for gathering crops during the autumn months. It was a common practice to assign surnames based on one's occupation or trade, reflecting the importance of agriculture in those times.
The earliest recorded instances of the name Harvester can be found in various historical documents and records from the 12th century onwards. One notable figure bearing this name was Harvester John, a farmer from the village of Wrotham in Kent, England, who lived in the late 13th century and was known for his exceptional skill in managing harvests.
Throughout history, the name Harvester has been associated with individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of agriculture and farming. One such person was Harvester William (1564-1632), an English agricultural writer and innovator who authored several influential works on farming practices and crop rotation methods.
Another notable figure was Harvester Thomas (1705-1778), a Scottish agriculturalist and landowner who pioneered the use of advanced farming techniques and crop rotation systems, leading to increased productivity and yield on his estates.
In the 19th century, Harvester Mary (1822-1904) was a prominent English botanist and horticulturist known for her extensive research on crop cultivation and her work in developing new plant varieties.
Moving into the 20th century, Harvester Robert (1901-1987) was an American agricultural scientist and inventor who revolutionized the harvesting process with his innovative design of the combine harvester, a machine that significantly improved efficiency and productivity in the farming industry.
While the name Harvester is not as commonly used today as it once was, it continues to hold historical significance and serves as a reminder of the rich agricultural heritage and traditions that shaped many societies and cultures around the world.
People
Harvester + last name combinations
How many people share a full name with Harvester as the first name? Click a combination below to see the estimate, or search any pairing.
Related
Other names starting with H
Other first names starting with H with a similar number of bearers.
FAQ
Harvester: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. are named Harvester?
Name Census puts the figure at roughly 3 living Americans. We arrive at this by taking every SSA birth registration for Harvester going back to 1880 and adjusting each cohort for expected survival using CDC actuarial life tables. The result is an age-weighted living-bearer count, not a raw birth total. That works out to about 1 in 114,251,446 US residents.
Is Harvester a common name?
We classify Harvester as "Very Rare". It ranks above 4.9% of all first names in the SSA dataset by living bearers. Across the full history of the data, 5 babies have been registered with this name.
When was Harvester most popular?
The single biggest year for Harvester was 1947, when 5 babies received the name. The fact that the average living Harvester is about 79 years old gives you a rough sense of which era contributed the most bearers who are still alive today.
What does the SSA popularity chart show?
The chart tracks births, not the number of people alive with the name today. Each point shows how many babies were given the name Harvester in that year. That makes it useful for spotting when the name rose, peaked, or faded.
Is Harvester a male name?
Yes, 100.0% of people registered as Harvester in the SSA data are male. You can see the full per-sex comparison in the gender distribution section above, which includes the latest year rank, birth count, and peak year for each sex.
Is Harvester still being used today?
Yes. The SSA still recorded Harvester in 2024, and the page above shows its latest-year rank where available. A name can be well past its peak and still remain in steady use, especially if it built up a large population over earlier decades.
Why can a name have a lot of living bearers even if it is not trendy now?
Because living-bearer counts and current baby-name popularity measure different things. A name like Harvester can build up a very large population over many decades, even if fewer parents are choosing it now than they did at its peak.
Where does this data come from?
First-name figures come from the Social Security Administration's national baby name files, which cover every name on a birth certificate from 1880 to 2024. Living-bearer estimates layer in CDC actuarial life tables broken out by sex to account for mortality. The population baseline (342,754,338) is the Census Bureau's latest national estimate. You can read the full calculation on our methodology page.
Does every first name have Census demographic data?
No. The public Census first-name release only covers names that met the Bureau's publication rules, so many rarer names in the SSA files do not have a published Census demographic snapshot. In those cases, the page still shows the SSA trend, gender history, and state data.
How many people have Harvester as a first name?
HowManyOfMe.org, our sister site, answers that with the living-bearer count in one glance.