NameCensus.

UK surname

Harbison

Son of Harbye, a nickname for someone with a gray or pale complexion, from Old Norse "hár" meaning "gray-haired."

In the 1881 census there were 66 people recorded with the Harbison surname, ranking it #24,256 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 261, ranked #16,309, up from #24,256 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to No data. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include South Tyneside, Castlehill and Kincaidston and Bonaly and The Pentlands.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Harbison is 278 in 2011. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 295.5%.

1881 census count

66

Ranked #24,256

Modern count

261

2016, ranked #16,309

Peak year

2011

278 bearers

Map years

3

1998 to 2016

Key insights

  • Harbison had 66 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,256 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 261 in 2016, ranked #16,309.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 83 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Established but Challenged.

Harbison surname distribution map

The map shows where the Harbison surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Harbison surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Harbison over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 49 #24,448
1861 historical 40 #28,970
1881 historical 66 #24,256
1891 historical 65 #28,660
1901 historical 83 #24,900
1911 historical 40 #28,913
1997 modern 220 #16,607
1998 modern 243 #15,993
1999 modern 236 #16,404
2000 modern 245 #15,955
2001 modern 233 #16,260
2002 modern 241 #16,243
2003 modern 235 #16,291
2004 modern 231 #16,591
2005 modern 228 #16,683
2006 modern 236 #16,384
2007 modern 242 #16,296
2008 modern 248 #16,163
2009 modern 261 #15,926
2010 modern 267 #16,029
2011 modern 278 #15,390
2012 modern 274 #15,498
2013 modern 270 #15,911
2014 modern 268 #16,111
2015 modern 265 #16,139
2016 modern 261 #16,309

Geography

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Where Harbisons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around No data. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to South Tyneside, Castlehill and Kincaidston and Bonaly and The Pentlands. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 No data No data

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 South Tyneside 015 South Tyneside
2 South Tyneside 010 South Tyneside
3 South Tyneside 009 South Tyneside
4 Castlehill and Kincaidston South Ayrshire
5 Bonaly and The Pentlands City of Edinburgh

Forenames

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First names often paired with Harbison

These lists show first names that appear often with the Harbison surname in historical and recent records.

Historical female names

No Forenames Found

Historical male names

No Forenames Found

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Harbison

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Harbison, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce

Group

Established but Challenged

Nationally, the Harbison surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Established but Challenged, within Semi- and Un-Skilled Workforce. This does not mean every Harbison household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many households in these neighbourhoods comprise separated or divorced single parents with dependent children. Residents are typically born in the UK, and these neighbourhoods have relatively few members of ethnic minorities. The prevalence of children, their parents and those at or above normal retirement age, suggests neighbourhood structures may be long-established. Levels of unpaid care are high, and long-term disability is more common than in the Supergroup as a whole. Use of the social rented sector is common, often in terraced houses. Levels of overcrowding are above the Supergroup average. Unemployment is high, while those in work are employed in elementary occupations such as caring, leisure and customer services. Many residents have low level qualifications. Neighbourhood concentrations of this Group are found in the South Wales Valleys, Belfast, Londonderry and the Central Lowlands of Scotland.

Wider pattern

Living in terraced or semi-detached houses, residents of these neighbourhoods typically lack high levels of education and work in elementary or routine service occupations. Unemployment is above average. Residents are predominantly born in the UK, and residents are also predominantly from ethnic minorities. Social (but not private sector) rented sector housing is common. This Supergroup is found throughout the UK’s conurbations and industrial regions but is also an integral part of smaller towns.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

Professional Periphery

Within London, Harbison is most associated with areas classed as Professional Periphery, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

These neighbourhoods predominantly house residents aged 45+, with many aged 85+. Most employed residents work in senior roles, and relatively few work in unskilled jobs. Terraced housing is comparatively rare, but communal living is more common. More residents identify as of Indian ethnicity and more affiliate with non-Christian religions. Disability levels are below the Supergroup average.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Harbison is most concentrated in decile 3 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy end of the index.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

3
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Harbison falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Harbison is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Harbison, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Harbison

The surname Harbison originated in Scotland during the Middle Ages. It is derived from the Old English words "hærbyrig" and "tun," meaning "army town" or "military settlement." This suggests that the Harbisons were likely descendants of a group of soldiers or warriors who settled in a particular area.

The name first appeared in historical records around the 12th century, with variations in spelling such as Harbyson, Harbertson, and Harbertoun. One of the earliest recorded instances is in the Ragman Rolls of 1296, which listed Scottish nobles who swore fealty to King Edward I of England.

In the 14th century, the Harbisons were prominent landowners in the Scottish Borders region, particularly in the counties of Roxburghshire and Berwickshire. Some of the earliest documented Harbisons include John Harbison, who witnessed a charter in Roxburghshire in 1357, and William Harbison, who was granted lands in Berwickshire in 1392.

Throughout the centuries, the Harbisons played a significant role in Scottish history, with several notable individuals bearing the name. One such figure was Sir Robert Harbison, a Scottish knight who fought alongside William Wallace in the Wars of Scottish Independence in the late 13th century.

Another notable Harbison was John Harbison, a Scottish clergyman who lived in the 16th century. He was a prominent figure in the Scottish Reformation and played a key role in establishing Presbyterianism in Scotland.

In the 17th century, the Harbisons began to migrate to Ulster, Ireland, during the Plantation of Ulster. This led to the establishment of several Harbison families in counties such as Antrim and Down.

One of the most famous Harbisons was James Harbison, an Irish-born Presbyterian minister who emigrated to America in the early 18th century. He was a prominent figure in the Great Awakening religious revival and played a significant role in the establishment of Princeton University.

Other notable Harbisons throughout history include Robert Harbison, an American architect and author who lived in the 19th century, and John Harbison, a contemporary American composer and winner of the prestigious Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1987.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Harbison families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Harbison surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Lanarkshire leads with 33 Harbisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 15.85x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 33 15.85x
Ayrshire 12 24.91x
Surrey 9 2.87x
Durham 6 3.13x
Devon 2 1.49x
Cornwall 1 1.37x
Kent 1 0.46x
Lancashire 1 0.13x
Middlesex 1 0.16x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Glasgow in Lanarkshire leads with 11 Harbisons recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.76x.

Place Total Index
Glasgow 11 29.76x
Barony 10 18.98x
Newington 8 33.66x
Govan 7 13.60x
Coylton 6 882.35x
Gateshead 6 41.84x
Ayr 5 220.26x
Bothwell 5 88.65x
Withycombe Rawleigh 2 285.71x
Lambeth 1 1.78x
Salford 1 4.45x
Sevenoaks 1 56.18x
St George Hanover Square 1 8.82x
St Quivox 1 61.35x
Uny Lelant 1 256.41x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Harbison surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Elizabeth 3
Margaret 2
Mary 2
Annie 1
Caroline 1
Emily 1
Helena 1
Isabella 1
Jane 1

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Harbison surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
James 2
Matthew 2
David 1
F.William 1
Henry 1
John 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Harbison households.

FAQ

Harbison surname: questions and answers

How common was the Harbison surname in 1881?

In 1881, 66 people were recorded with the Harbison surname. That placed it at #24,256 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Harbison surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 261 in 2016. That gives Harbison a modern rank of #16,309.

What does the Harbison surname mean?

Son of Harbye, a nickname for someone with a gray or pale complexion, from Old Norse "hár" meaning "gray-haired."

What does the Harbison map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Harbison bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.