Harron
An English surname derived from a place in West Yorkshire, England.
According to the 2010 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 686 Americans carry the last name Harron. That puts it at #37,544 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.20 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 499,642 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Harron 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
686
1 in 499,642
Census rank
#37,544
2010 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.2
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
593
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 593 bearers of the surname Harron in its 2010 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.20 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 37544th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Harron, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.2%. The next largest groups are Black (6.6%) and Hispanic (2.0%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Harron
The surname Harron is believed to have originated in Ireland, where it first appeared in the early 13th century. It is thought to be a variant of the Irish Gaelic surname Ó hArráin, which means "descendant of Arran." Arran is a masculine given name derived from the Old Irish word "arán," meaning "bread."
During the Middle Ages, the name was found primarily in the northern counties of Ireland, particularly in the areas of Ulster and Donegal. It is believed to have been associated with families of Gaelic ancestry in those regions.
Some of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Harron can be found in the Annals of Ulster, a chronicle of medieval Irish history. The name appears in various spellings, such as O'Harran, O'Haran, and Haran, throughout the annals, which cover events from the 5th to the 16th centuries.
One notable bearer of the surname was Donough Harron, a 16th-century Irish chieftain and leader of the Harron clan in County Donegal. He is mentioned in several historical records from the late 1500s, including the Annals of the Four Masters, which document his involvement in conflicts with English forces during the Nine Years' War.
Another historical figure with the surname Harron was Henry Harron, an 18th-century Irish Catholic priest and philosopher. He was born in County Donegal in 1712 and served as a professor of philosophy at the Irish College in Paris. Harron wrote several works on philosophy and theology, including a treatise on the nature of the human soul.
In the 19th century, John Harron (1809-1877) was a prominent Irish-American businessman and politician in Philadelphia. He served as a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate and was involved in various business ventures, including the construction of railroads and canals.
The surname Harron has also been found in other parts of the world, likely due to Irish emigration. One notable bearer was James Harron (1858-1936), a Canadian politician and businessman from Ontario. He served as a member of the Canadian House of Commons and was involved in the development of the mining industry in northern Ontario.
Overall, the surname Harron has a rich history rooted in Irish Gaelic culture, with early instances dating back to the Middle Ages. While primarily associated with Ireland, the name has also spread to other parts of the world through emigration and has been borne by notable individuals in various fields.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Harron
Among Census respondents with the surname Harron, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.2%. The next largest groups are Black (6.6%) and Hispanic (2.0%).
The bar chart below shows how Harron 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 Harron surname at the time of the 2010 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- White89.2%
- Black or African American6.6%
- Hispanic or Latino2.0%
- Two or more races1.2%
- Asian and Pacific Islander1.0%
Year on year
2010 vs 2010 Census
How has the Harron 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 | 2010 | 2010 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #37,544 | #37,544 | 0.0% |
| Count | 593 | 593 | 0.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.20 | 0.20 | 0.0% |
Between the 2010 and 2010 Census, the number of Harron bearers went from 593 to 593 (+0.0% change). The surname held its position in the national ranking, going from #37,544 to #37,544.
Notable bearers
Famous people with the surname Harron
FAQ
Harron surname: questions and answers
How common is the last name Harron?
The surname Harron holds position #37,544 in the US Census Bureau's surname ranking, with an estimated 686 living bearers. It occurs at a rate of 0.20 per 100,000 Americans.
What is the ethnic background of the Harron surname?
Among Census respondents with the surname Harron, the largest self-reported group is White at 89.2%. The next largest groups are Black (6.6%) and Hispanic (2.0%). 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.