UK surname
An English surname potentially originating as a nickname for someone with grey hair.
In the 1881 census there were 32 people recorded with the Harl surname, ranking it #29,082 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 34, ranked #35,768, down from #29,082 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Harl is 301 in 1891. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 6.3%.
1881 census count
32
Ranked #29,082
Modern count
34
2016, ranked #35,768
Peak year
1891
301 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Harl surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Harl surname density by area, 1891 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 | 79 | #19,712 |
| 1861 | historical | 275 | #9,082 |
| 1881 | historical | 32 | #29,082 |
| 1891 | historical | 301 | #11,092 |
| 1901 | historical | 78 | #25,500 |
| 1911 | historical | 90 | #23,797 |
| 1997 | modern | 22 | #35,584 |
| 1998 | modern | 27 | #35,148 |
| 1999 | modern | 30 | #34,939 |
| 2000 | modern | 25 | #35,382 |
| 2001 | modern | 24 | #35,357 |
| 2002 | modern | 24 | #35,520 |
| 2003 | modern | 22 | #35,740 |
| 2004 | modern | 23 | #35,786 |
| 2005 | modern | 21 | #36,083 |
| 2006 | modern | 26 | #35,822 |
| 2007 | modern | 25 | #36,006 |
| 2008 | modern | 25 | #36,072 |
| 2009 | modern | 26 | #36,111 |
| 2010 | modern | 30 | #35,967 |
| 2011 | modern | 31 | #35,892 |
| 2012 | modern | 31 | #35,876 |
| 2013 | modern | 30 | #35,990 |
| 2014 | modern | 31 | #35,953 |
| 2015 | modern | 33 | #35,803 |
| 2016 | modern | 34 | #35,768 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around St Leonard Shoreditch, London parishes, Manchester, Lambeth and Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars. 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 | St Leonard Shoreditch | London (East Districts) |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| 4 | Lambeth | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | Leicester St Margaret and Bishop's Fee, Leicester All Saints, Blackfriars | Leicestershire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Harl 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 Harl, 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 Harl surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Harl 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, Harl 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 Harl is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Harl, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Harl originated in England and is believed to date back to the 11th century. It is derived from the Old English word "haerl," which means "a man from the rock or rocky place." This suggests that the name was likely given to someone who lived near a rocky area or a place with a rocky landscape.
The earliest recorded instance of the name Harl can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a detailed survey of land ownership and population in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears in various spellings, such as "Haerl," "Harle," and "Herle," indicating that the spelling was not standardized during that period.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Sir John Harl, who lived in the 13th century and was a prominent knight from Hertfordshire, England. Another noteworthy individual with this surname was William Harl, a merchant and politician who served as the Mayor of London in 1476.
In the 16th century, the Harl family was well-established in various parts of England, including Northamptonshire and Leicestershire. One notable member was Sir Ralph Harl (1515-1568), who was a Member of Parliament and a prominent landowner in Leicestershire.
During the 17th century, the Harl surname was also found in Scotland, particularly in the region of Ayrshire. One notable Scottish bearer of the name was John Harl (1637-1712), a Presbyterian minister and author who wrote several religious works.
Another noteworthy individual with the surname Harl was Thomas Harl (1700-1768), an English author and antiquarian who was known for his extensive collection of manuscripts and books, which became the foundation of the Harleian Library at the British Museum.
Throughout its history, the Harl surname has been associated with various place names in England, such as Harlington in Bedfordshire, Harlow in Essex, and Harle in Northumberland. These place names often derive from the same Old English root as the surname, further reinforcing the connection between the name and rocky or stony locations.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Harl 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. Cumberland leads with 14 Harls recorded in 1881 and an index of 52.12x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cumberland | 14 | 52.12x |
| Cheshire | 8 | 11.62x |
| Middlesex | 3 | 0.96x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.54x |
| Monmouthshire | 2 | 8.87x |
| Surrey | 2 | 1.32x |
| Cambridgeshire | 1 | 5.06x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Cleator in Cumberland leads with 14 Harls recorded in 1881 and an index of 1250.00x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cleator | 14 | 1250.00x |
| Mobberley | 8 | 5000.00x |
| Coulsdon | 2 | 714.29x |
| Liverpool | 2 | 8.89x |
| Llanover | 2 | 259.74x |
| St George Hanover Square | 2 | 36.36x |
| Hampstead London | 1 | 20.58x |
| Wisbech St Peter | 1 | 101.01x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Harl 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 Harl 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 Harl households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 8 |
| Factory Operative (Lab) | 3 |
| Iron Ore Miner | 2 |
| Laundress | 2 |
| Ag Labr | 1 |
| Coal Miner | 1 |
| Cotton Waste Picker | 1 |
| Crimper (Manuf) | 1 |
| Home Assistant | 1 |
| Needlewoman | 1 |
| None | 1 |
| Sugar Boiler & Confectioner | 1 |
| Time Keeper At Crape Mill & Grocer (Manuf) | 1 |
| Winder (Manuf) | 1 |
| Winder At Crape Mill | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 32 people were recorded with the Harl surname. That placed it at #29,082 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 34 in 2016. That gives Harl a modern rank of #35,768.
An English surname potentially originating as a nickname for someone with grey hair.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Harl 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.