Harring

The surname HARRING has its origins in England and dates back to the 13th century. It is derived from an Old English word "haring" which referred to a type of fish, the herring. The name likely originated as a nickname for someone who regularly caught or sold herring.

One of the earliest recorded examples of the surname can be found in the Hundred Rolls of 1273, which contain references to a William Harring in Oxfordshire. Similar spellings such as Haring and Harringe were also found in various medieval records and documents from that time period.

The HARRING name was particularly prevalent in the counties of Oxfordshire, Berkshire, and Gloucestershire, where fishing and trade in herring were common occupations. Some early bearers of the name may have lived near or worked in areas associated with the herring trade, such as coastal towns or fishing villages.

Notable individuals with the surname HARRING include John Harring, a merchant from Bristol who lived in the late 15th century, and William Harring, a farmer from Oxfordshire mentioned in the Lay Subsidy Rolls of 1524.

In the 17th century, records show a Thomas Harring who was a member of the Worshipful Company of Fishmongers in London, indicating the family's continued association with the fishing industry.

Another prominent figure was Robert Harring, a wealthy landowner from Gloucestershire who lived during the reign of King Charles II (1660-1685).

Perhaps the most famous bearer of the HARRING surname was Sir John Harring (1675-1741), a renowned explorer and navigator who accompanied Captain James Cook on his voyages to the Pacific Ocean in the late 18th century.