UK surname
An English habitation surname derived from various locations named Harington.
In the 1881 census there were 75 people recorded with the Harington surname, ranking it #22,893 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 62, ranked #34,227, down from #22,893 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Toxteth Park and St Dunstan Stepney. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Harington is 279 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 17.3%.
1881 census count
75
Ranked #22,893
Modern count
62
2016, ranked #34,227
Peak year
1861
279 bearers
Map years
4
1851 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Harington surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Harington surname density by area, 1911 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 169 | #11,832 |
| 1861 | historical | 279 | #8,979 |
| 1881 | historical | 75 | #22,893 |
| 1891 | historical | 174 | #16,520 |
| 1901 | historical | 82 | #25,019 |
| 1911 | historical | 110 | #21,519 |
| 1997 | modern | 61 | #31,526 |
| 1998 | modern | 63 | #31,639 |
| 1999 | modern | 60 | #32,078 |
| 2000 | modern | 60 | #32,124 |
| 2001 | modern | 52 | #32,764 |
| 2002 | modern | 55 | #32,831 |
| 2003 | modern | 45 | #33,803 |
| 2004 | modern | 48 | #33,742 |
| 2005 | modern | 56 | #33,264 |
| 2006 | modern | 58 | #33,433 |
| 2007 | modern | 52 | #34,195 |
| 2008 | modern | 55 | #34,165 |
| 2009 | modern | 55 | #34,355 |
| 2010 | modern | 57 | #34,421 |
| 2011 | modern | 66 | #33,768 |
| 2012 | modern | 59 | #34,352 |
| 2013 | modern | 62 | #34,260 |
| 2014 | modern | 63 | #34,212 |
| 2015 | modern | 63 | #34,178 |
| 2016 | modern | 62 | #34,227 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Toxteth Park, St Dunstan Stepney, Manchester and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 1 |
| 2 | Toxteth Park | Lancashire |
| 3 | St Dunstan Stepney | London (East Districts) |
| 4 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 5 | St Marylebone | London (North Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Harington surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Harington, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Harington surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Harington household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Harington is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Harington is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Harington, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Harington originates from England, dating back to the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English words "hara" meaning hare and "tun" meaning town or enclosure, suggesting that the name was initially associated with a place where hares were found in abundance.
This surname has its roots in various locations across England, including Harington in Lincolnshire, Harington in Worcestershire, and Harrington in Northamptonshire. The earliest recorded spelling of the name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086 as "Haverintone" and "Harintone."
One of the earliest documented instances of the Harington surname is Sir Richard de Harington, who lived during the 13th century and served as a knight in the Scottish Wars under King Edward I.
In the 14th century, Sir John Harington (1281-1347) was a prominent figure who served as a member of Parliament and was involved in the Scottish Wars of Independence.
During the 16th century, Sir John Harington (1561-1612), an English courtier and writer, is notable for inventing the flush toilet and for his witty epigrams and poetry. He was a godson of Queen Elizabeth I.
In the 17th century, Sir James Harington (1607-1677) was an English politician and landowner who played a significant role in the English Civil War, supporting the Parliamentarian cause.
Another notable Harington was Henry Harington (1727-1816), an English politician and landowner who served as a Member of Parliament for several constituencies during the late 18th century.
Throughout history, the Harington surname has been associated with various place names, including Harington Manor in Northamptonshire, Harington Castle in Worcestershire, and Harington Hall in Lincolnshire, among others.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Harington surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Middlesex leads with 17 Haringtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.29x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 17 | 2.29x |
| Hampshire | 7 | 4.61x |
| Herefordshire | 7 | 23.03x |
| Surrey | 6 | 1.66x |
| Warwickshire | 5 | 2.67x |
| Cheshire | 4 | 2.44x |
| Somerset | 4 | 3.35x |
| Berkshire | 3 | 5.39x |
| Glamorgan | 3 | 2.32x |
| Monmouthshire | 3 | 5.60x |
| Yorkshire | 3 | 0.41x |
| Essex | 2 | 1.37x |
| Kent | 2 | 0.79x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.23x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 0.86x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.65x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.69x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 0.84x |
| Northumberland | 1 | 0.91x |
| Pembrokeshire | 1 | 4.25x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 1.11x |
| Sussex | 1 | 0.80x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Paddington London in Middlesex leads with 5 Haringtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 18.35x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Paddington London | 5 | 18.35x |
| St Marylebone London | 5 | 12.64x |
| Crewe In Nantwich | 4 | 3636.36x |
| Portsea | 4 | 13.44x |
| Whitbourne | 4 | 2105.26x |
| Bredenbury | 3 | 15000.00x |
| Burghfield | 3 | 909.09x |
| Kensington London | 3 | 7.28x |
| Wandsworth | 3 | 42.08x |
| Aston | 2 | 3.89x |
| Birmingham | 2 | 3.21x |
| Corston | 2 | 2000.00x |
| Gelligaer | 2 | 67.80x |
| Swinton In Rotherham | 2 | 103.09x |
| Weston Super Mare | 2 | 66.45x |
| Ardwick | 1 | 12.61x |
| Chelsea London | 1 | 4.48x |
| Coddenham | 1 | 476.19x |
| Crondall | 1 | 121.95x |
| Dewsbury | 1 | 13.28x |
| Edgbaston | 1 | 17.24x |
| Exeter St Mary Major | 1 | 107.53x |
| Glossop Dale | 1 | 18.42x |
| Grays Thurrock | 1 | 73.53x |
| Hampstead London | 1 | 8.67x |
| Havant | 1 | 129.87x |
| Haverfordwest St Martin | 1 | 227.27x |
| Heene | 1 | 454.55x |
| Holdenhurst | 1 | 25.13x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 1.55x |
| Merthyr Tydfil | 1 | 8.06x |
| Newington | 1 | 3.65x |
| Newport | 1 | 39.06x |
| Richmond | 1 | 19.76x |
| Risca | 1 | 99.01x |
| Shoreditch London | 1 | 3.11x |
| Speldhurst | 1 | 77.52x |
| St Luke London | 1 | 8.41x |
| St Peters | 1 | 85.47x |
| St Woollos | 1 | 16.72x |
| Stamford St George | 1 | 188.68x |
| Thornbury | 1 | 101.01x |
| Widnes | 1 | 15.77x |
| Woodham Ferris | 1 | 588.24x |
| Wylam | 1 | 416.67x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Harington surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Harington surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Harington households.
FAQ
In 1881, 75 people were recorded with the Harington surname. That placed it at #22,893 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 62 in 2016. That gives Harington a modern rank of #34,227.
An English habitation surname derived from various locations named Harington.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Harington bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.