Find out how popular the last name Harner is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Harner.

Harner, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Harner surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Harner in America

Harner is the 7761st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Harner surname appeared 4,277 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 people would have the surname Harner.

We can also compare 2010 data for Harner to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Harner

The surname Harner has its origins in England, with the earliest known records dating back to the late 13th century. It is believed to have derived from the Old English word "haern," meaning "heron," and was likely an occupational name given to someone who caught or traded in herons.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name is found in the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire in 1273, which mentions a William le Harnere. This suggests that the name was initially used as a descriptive surname, referring to the person's occupation or association with herons.

By the 14th century, the name had evolved into various spellings such as Harner, Harnor, and Herner. In the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire from 1344, a Robert le Harnere is mentioned, indicating the prevalence of the name in different regions of England.

The Harner surname was particularly common in the counties of Staffordshire, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire, where it is believed the name originated. These areas were known for their abundance of herons, which were prized for their feathers and meat during that time.

One notable historical figure bearing the name Harner was John Harner, a merchant and alderman who lived in the city of Worcester in the late 16th century. He was a prominent figure in the local community and served as the Mayor of Worcester in 1587.

Another individual of note was Thomas Harner, who was born in Warwickshire in 1632. He was a respected clergyman and served as the Rector of St. Mary's Church in Warwick from 1660 until his death in 1702.

In the 17th century, the Harner family had established themselves in the village of Harborne, near Birmingham. This village is believed to have derived its name from the Old English words "har" meaning "hoar" or "grey" and "burna" meaning "stream," potentially indicating a connection between the Harner surname and the place name.

A notable figure from this period was William Harner, born in Harborne in 1675. He was a successful merchant and landowner, and his family played a significant role in the local community for several generations.

As the centuries passed, the Harner surname spread beyond its origins in the Midlands region of England, with families bearing the name found in various parts of the country. However, the name remained relatively uncommon compared to other English surnames.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Harner

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Harner.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Harner was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Harner has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Harner was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Harner, please contact us.

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