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

Harrison, 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 Harrison surname is from the 2000 census data.

Popularity of Harrison in America

Harrison is the 121058th most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Harrison surname appeared 132 times in the 2000 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 0 people would have the surname Harrison.

The history of the last name Harrison

The surname Horrison is believed to have its roots in the British Isles, specifically in England, during the medieval period. The name's origins can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon era, suggesting that it was first used between the 7th and the 11th centuries. The name is thought to have originated in the northern counties of England, areas known for their rugged terrain and Viking influences.

Horrison is likely derived from a compound of Old English elements. The name may combine "hor," an old term that could relate to "mud" or "dirt", and “son,” a common suffix meaning "son of." This etymology suggests that Horrison might have originally referred to "the descendants of someone who lived on or by muddy land" or possibly "Dirty's son." Another hypothesis links it to Norse or Danish origins, given the significant Viking presence in Northern England.

The first recorded instance of the surname Horrison in historical documents dates back to the 12th century. A prominent example is found in the Curia Regis Rolls dated 1182, where a Ricardus Horrisonus is mentioned as a landholder in Yorkshire. The Domesday Book of 1086 does not list the name, although similar-sounding names such as Horret and Horser are found, suggesting a potential evolution of the spelling over time.

Over subsequent centuries, the surname Horrison appeared in various forms in parish registers and legal documents. In the early 1300s, records from Lancashire list a John Horrison, a yeoman farmer whose dealings in land and livestock were well-documented. The name's recurring presence in legal records suggests that members of the Horrison family were generally of some standing in their local communities.

Several notable individuals bearing the Horrison surname emerged through the ages. In the 1500s, Thomas Horrison, born in 1528, was a prominent wool merchant in Lincolnshire, playing a critical role in the region's economy. Another distinguished person was Sir Edmund Horrison, a knight in King Henry VIII's court, born in 1495 and died in 1543, known for his military service and involvement in the English Reformation.

During the 17th century, Captain Robert Horrison gained recognition as a naval officer in the British Royal Navy, serving during the Anglo-Dutch Wars. Born in 1638, he was lauded for his strategic acumen and leadership, and records of his exploits were documented in several maritime logs and journals.

Annie Horrison, a philanthropist born in 1824 and deceased in 1899, made significant contributions to social reforms in Victorian England. Her work in establishing schools and aiding the poor earned her a respected place in the annals of social history.

In the early 20th century, Dr. Samuel Horrison, born in 1876 and passed away in 1956, was a renowned physician and surgeon whose medical advances were published in various scientific journals, contributing to modern medical practices.

The surname Horrison, though not extraordinarily common, has a rich and varied history, reflecting the lives and contributions of those who bore it across centuries.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Harrison

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

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 2000 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Harrison 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.

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

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

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