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

Harrell, 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 Harrell surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Harrell in America

Harrell is the 671st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Harrell surname appeared 50,837 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 17 people would have the surname Harrell.

We can also compare 2010 data for Harrell 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 Harrell

The surname Harrell is of English origin and is derived from the Old English words "hara" meaning hare and "hyll" meaning hill or slope. It was initially a toponymic name given to someone who lived near a hill frequented by hares.

The earliest recorded instances of the Harrell name date back to the late 12th century. One of the earliest known bearers was Richard de Harehull, mentioned in the Yorkshire Feet of Fines records in 1199. This indicates the name was initially spelled with various forms like Harehull or Harehyll before evolving into Harrell over time.

In the 13th century, the name appeared in several medieval manuscripts and records. A notable entry is that of Walter Harehull in the Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire in 1275. This suggests the name was present in different parts of England during this period.

The Harrell surname is not found in the Domesday Book of 1086, indicating it likely originated after the Norman Conquest. However, it is possible that the name's roots can be traced back to Anglo-Saxon times before the Norman invasion.

Some notable historical figures with the Harrell surname include Sir John Harrell (1562-1637), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament. Another prominent bearer was Captain William Harrell (1608-1680), an English naval officer and explorer who commanded several voyages to the West Indies and the Caribbean.

In the 17th century, the surname is recorded in various spellings such as Harrold, Harrill, and Harrol in parish records across England. This highlights the regional variations and spelling inconsistencies common during that era.

Other notable individuals with the Harrell surname include Thomas Harrell (1786-1858), an American congressman from South Carolina, and Benjamin Harrell (1807-1879), a Baptist minister and educator who co-founded Ouachita Baptist University in Arkansas.

In the 19th century, the Harrell name also gained prominence in the literary world with authors like John Harrell (1805-1880), an English poet and writer known for his works on local history and folklore.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Harrell

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

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 Harrell 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 Harrell 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 Harrell was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

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

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