Harris (surname)

Harris is a (patronymic or paternal) family name of British and Irish usage, arising from the bearer or their ancestor being son of a Harry (the Middle English form of Henry). Regional variation and the relatively late standardisation of the spelling of modern English in the 17th through 19th centuries has led to multiple spellings, even in branches of the same family. Harris is the 23rd most common surname in England and 21st most common surname in the United States. There are also similar-appearing names with distinct historical origins in other cultures.
Origin.
Often, the Harris surname appears to be a patronymic surname of British origin, representing "son of Harry". It was commonly adopted as a surname in south western England, the Midlands, Essex and Wales. As with other similar names it was adopted by most families in England between 1300 and 1400, and later in Wales and Scotland. Very few families used the name prior to 1300.
Some other Harris families originated in Germany, France, Ireland etc., and adopted the name Harris upon immigration to Britain or America.
Migration.
Irish Harris families probably originate from England, Wales and Scotland and arrived in Ireland during the plantation of Ulster . In some cases, particularly in families coming from County Mayo in Connacht, Harris can be an anglicized form of the Gaelic surname Ó'hEarchadha meaning noble warrior.
Harrises also began to emigrate to Canada and America in the 17th century, to Australia and New Zealand in the 18th century and to South Africa in the 19th century. Initial numbers of emigrants were small and it was not until the last half of the 19th century that large numbers of Harrises emigrated from Britain.
Distribution.
England.
Statistics for different spellings (2014):
United States.
In 2000 Harris ranked twenty-fourth in the United States Census, down from fifteenth in the 1990 Census.