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

Harrold, 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 Harrold surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Harrold in America

Harrold is the 6884th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Harrold surname appeared 4,884 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 2 people would have the surname Harrold.

We can also compare 2010 data for Harrold 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 Harrold

The surname Harrold originated in England during the Anglo-Saxon period. It is derived from the Old English words "hara" meaning hare and "hol(d)" meaning hollow or valley, suggesting the name may have referred to someone who lived in a valley where hares were plentiful.

The name can be traced back to the 11th century, with records showing variations like Harehull, Harehulle, and Harowhulle appearing in the Domesday Book of 1086. These early spellings reflect the name's geographical origins, likely referring to specific places inhabited by those who bore the name.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Harrold is found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1191, where a Richard de Harehull is mentioned. This suggests the name was already well-established by the late 12th century.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the name continued to evolve in spelling, with variations such as Harould, Harowold, and Harrold emerging. These changes reflect the gradual shift in pronunciation and spelling norms over time.

Notable individuals who bore the surname Harrold include Sir John Harrold (1470-1554), a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament during the reign of Henry VIII. Another was Francis Harrold (1615-1685), an English clergyman and author who served as Archdeacon of Bedford.

In the 19th century, William Harrold (1808-1882) was a prominent English architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in London, including the Royal College of Chemistry. Emmeline Harrold (1853-1923) was a British writer and activist who campaigned for women's rights and education.

The surname Harrold has also been recorded in various parts of the United States, likely carried over by English immigrants. One notable American bearing the name was Charles Harrold (1856-1926), a businessman and politician from Pennsylvania who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives.

While the surname Harrold has evolved in spelling over the centuries, its origins can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon era, reflecting the name's deep roots in English history and geography.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Harrold

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

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

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

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