Harris in my family tree
Another Harris in my family tree
A third Harris in my family tree
Harrison in my family tree
Another Harrison in my family tree
1: English: patronymic from the medieval given name Harry, the vernacular form of Henry (from Germanic haim, heim + ric home + power) with assimilation of the consonantal cluster and vowel change. 2: Jewish: assumed as an anglicized form of various like-sounding Jewish names.
Variants: Harrison (of 1 only): Harries (chiefly Wales).
Both Harris and Harrison are extremely common English surnames; the former tends to be more common in the West Midlands and Southwest England, whereas the latter is commoner in Northern England.
A large and influential American Harrison family are descended from Benjamin Harrison, who emigrated from England to Virginia in 1633 or 1634. Ancestors include another Benjamin Harrison (?1726 - 1791), who was an activist in the American Revolution and a signatory of the Declaration of Independence. His son William Henry Harrison (1773 - 1841) and great-grandson Benjamin Harrison (1833 - 1901) both became president of the United States.
Harris or variants was the 24th most common name in England and Wales according to a survey taken by H.M.Treasury in 1944, with a relative frequency of 0.28%.
Harris in my family tree
Another Harris in my family tree
A third Harris in my family tree
Harrison in my family tree
Another Harrison in my family tree
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