Harrington
Derived from a place name meaning "settlement on stony ground" in Old English.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 77,805 Americans carry the last name Harrington. That puts it at #500 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 22.70 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 4,405 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Harrington surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
78K
1 in 4,405
Census rank
#500
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
22.7
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
67K
uncommon in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 66,959 bearers of the surname Harrington in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 22.70 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 500th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Harrington, the largest self-reported group is White at 82.0%. The next largest groups are Black (12.4%) and Hispanic (2.4%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Harrington
The surname Harrington originates from England, with records dating back to the 11th century. It is a locational name derived from the Old English words "hara" meaning hare and "tun" meaning enclosure or settlement, referring to a place where hares were found in abundance.
The earliest known bearer of the name was William de Harintone, recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, a survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This entry suggests that the name was initially associated with a place called Harington or Harrington in Northamptonshire.
Over the centuries, variations in spelling emerged, including Harington, Haryngton, and Haryngeton. The name was also linked to various place names, such as Harington in Lincolnshire and Harrington in Cumberland (now part of Cumbria).
Notable individuals with the surname Harrington include Sir John Harington (1561-1612), an English courtier, author, and inventor who is credited with introducing the flush toilet to England. Another prominent figure was Henry Harrington (1608-1658), an English civil war soldier and politician who served as a Member of Parliament during the Commonwealth period.
In the 18th century, Robert Harrington (1715-1784) was a British naval officer and colonial administrator who served as Governor of the Leeward Islands from 1771 to 1778. Meanwhile, Reverend Henry Harrington (1727-1816) was an English clergyman and author known for his work on the history of Cheshire.
Moving into the 19th century, Sir John Harrington (1785-1858) was a British naval officer and explorer who conducted surveys in the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. Additionally, Lord Sidney Harrington (1810-1892) was a British nobleman and Conservative politician who served as a Member of Parliament for several constituencies.
Throughout its history, the Harrington surname has been represented across various sectors, including literature, politics, exploration, and military service, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who bear this name.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Harrington
Among Census respondents with the surname Harrington, the largest self-reported group is White at 82.0%. The next largest groups are Black (12.4%) and Hispanic (2.4%).
The bar chart below shows how Harrington bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2010 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Harrington surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White82.0%
- Black or African American12.4%
- Hispanic or Latino2.4%
- Two or more races1.8%
- Asian and Pacific Islander0.7%
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.6%
Year on year
2000 vs 2010 Census
How has the Harrington surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
| Metric | 2000 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #462 | #500 | -8.2% |
| Count | 65,131 | 66,959 | 2.8% |
| Per 100K | 24.14 | 22.70 | -6.0% |
Between the 2000 and 2010 Census, the number of Harrington bearers went from 65,131 to 66,959 (+2.8% change). The surname moved down 38 positions in the national ranking, going from #462 to #500.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Harrington
FAQ
Harrington surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Harrington?
The surname Harrington holds position #500 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 77,805 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 22.70 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Harrington surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Harrington, the largest self-reported group is White at 82.0%. The next largest groups are Black (12.4%) and Hispanic (2.4%). These figures come from the 2010 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Where does this surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These tables list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2010 Census, along with a frequency rate and self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.