This surname is derived from the name of an ancestor. 'the son of Harry,' this being the English attempt at pronouncing the French Henri. Thus Harry is not a nick, of Henry, but the English representative form. Hence our endless Harrisons, not Henrysons. All our kings were popularly known as Harry in their own times. The practice of styling them Henry is quite modern. The feminine Henrietta dates only from the Stuart period, while Harriot or Harriet was in use early enough to become a surname. One or two Henriots occur, but they are quite exceptional. The many columns of Harrises and Harrisons in our directories testify to the great popularity of the name six and seven centuries ago. The first Harry was born on English ground, and for that reason was more favourably regarded than the Conqueror's elder sons (v. Freeman's Norman Conq.) It is interesting to note that Hanry was a common early form of entry, being a kind of half-stage between the French Henri and English Harry.

Hanry Carpenter, Oxfordshire, 1273. Hundred Rolls.

John Hanry, Buckinghamshire, ibid.

Henry, or Hanry le Notte, Warwickshire: Henry III-Edward I: Testa de Nevill, sive Liber Feodorum, temp. Henry III-Edward I.

Henry, or Hanry de Rokeley, Warwickshire: ibid.

Reginald Herryerson. History of Norfolk.

John Harris, or Harries: Register of the University of Oxford.

1547-8. Edward Broke and Anne Harrys: Marriage Lic. (London).

'son of Harry,' a form of Henry, which see. A surname more English than Scottish.

'son of Harry (from Henry through the intermediate form Hanry). Sir Laurence Harryson or Herryson, a native of Scotland, had letters of denization in England, 1497 (Bain, IV, 1623, 1629). James Harryson, Scottisheman, was author of "An Exhortacion to the Scottes to conforme themselfes to the honorable, Expedient, & godly Vnion betweene the two Reafmes of Englande & Scotland," published in London, 1547. Magnus Harison in Gillisbrek, parish of Lunnasting, 1613 (Shetland).

Harry’s Son: v. Harry.

English names: usually those Of immigrant families, but see Harrihy, Henry and Horoho

(Welsh, English) The son of Harry, the English version of Henry (home ruler).

From Henry, through Harry, and thence Harrison. "It is in recent times only, that a Saxon Harris, equivalent to Harry's son, has been converted into the etymological mongrel of Fitz-Harris, which is almost as startling as Fitz-Harrison or Fitz-Thompson would be." Edinb. Rev., April, 1855.

The son of Henry, which signifies rich lord.

The son of Henry.

Is, in many cases, merely a translation of Kinry (which see), but, doubtless, many immigrants bore this name when they arrived, as it is constantly found at an early date, and is, moreover, common.

Gilbert and Philip Heriçon, Normandy, 1180 - 98 (Magni Rotuli Scaccarii Normanniae); Henry Harsent, Engl., c. 1272 (Rotuli Hundredorum). The name no doubt includes other families as a patro­nymic. See Harsant.

From the Old Norse, Harri, diminutive of Harald; in the Domesday Book, Har; a personal name.

Haeris,Harrison. —These names, considered together, are distributed over England and Wales. Each, however, has its own area of frequency, Harrison in the north and Harris in the south, whilst they wage a sharp contest for supremacy in the midlands, A line drawn across England through the cities of Lincoln and Chester will define the northern border of the area of Harris. This name is at present most numerous in Monmouthshire and South Wales, in the southern midland counties of Oxford, Northampton, Warwick, and Worcester, and in the west of England, especially in Cornwall and Devon. It is less frequent in the eastern portion of its area, that is to say, from Lincolnshire south to Kent Harrison is most numerous in Westmoreland, Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Lincolnshire. Further south we find it invading in numbers the area of the Harrises and fighting for the supremacy in the midland shires, victorious in some, as in those of Derby and Stafford, waging an equal contest in others, as in the county of Notts, and completely outnumbered in the advance southward into the counties of Warwick and Worcester. Pushing on, however, in greatly diminished numbers, the Harrisons have established outposts on the borders of the English Channel.

In this struggle between the Harrises and the Harrisons, it is evident that the former have been worsted. The Harrises, in fact, have been entirely on the defence. Not only have they been unable to make any successful inroads into the northern territory of the Harrisons, but they have not prevented their foes from forcing a way through their ranks and reaching the south coast.

Harrison: Harris and Harrison. These names, considered together, are distributed over England and Wales. Each, however, has its own area of frequency, Harrison in the north and Harris in the south, whilst they wage a sharp contest for supremacy in the midlands, A line drawn across England through the cities of Lincoln and Chester will define the northern border of the area of Harris. This name is at present most numerous in Monmouthshire and South Wales, in the southern midland counties of Oxford, Northampton, Warwick, and Worcester, and in the west of England, especially in Cornwall and Devon. It is less frequent in the eastern portion of its area, that is to say, from Lincolnshire south to Kent Harrison is most numerous in Westmoreland, Lancashire, Yorkshire, and Lincolnshire. Further south we find it invading in numbers the area of the Harrises and fighting for the supremacy in the midland shires, victorious in some, as in those of Derby and Stafford, waging an equal contest in others, as in the county of Notts, and completely outnumbered in the advance southward into the counties of Warwick and Worcester. Pushing on, however, in greatly diminished numbers, the Harrisons have established outposts on the borders of the English Channel.

In this struggle between the Harrises and the Harrisons, it is evident that the former have been worsted. The Harrises, in fact, have been entirely on the defence. Not only have they been unable to make any successful inroads into the northern territory of the Harrisons, but they have not prevented their foes from forcing a way through their ranks and reaching the south coast.