UK surname
A toponymic surname referring to someone from Harren, a village in Germany.
In the 1881 census there were 27 people recorded with the Harren surname, ranking it #29,793 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 9, ranked #37,705, down from #29,793 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras 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 Harren is 273 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 66.7%.
1881 census count
27
Ranked #29,793
Modern count
9
2016, ranked #37,705
Peak year
1861
273 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Harren surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Harren 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 | 116 | #15,545 |
| 1861 | historical | 273 | #9,134 |
| 1881 | historical | 27 | #29,793 |
| 1891 | historical | 167 | #17,006 |
| 1901 | historical | 88 | #24,270 |
| 1911 | historical | 23 | #30,923 |
| 1997 | modern | 8 | #37,372 |
| 1998 | modern | 5 | #37,861 |
| 1999 | modern | 7 | #37,513 |
| 2000 | modern | 7 | #37,430 |
| 2001 | modern | 5 | #37,652 |
| 2002 | modern | 9 | #37,051 |
| 2003 | modern | 11 | #36,842 |
| 2004 | modern | 10 | #37,096 |
| 2005 | modern | 8 | #37,422 |
| 2006 | modern | 9 | #37,345 |
| 2007 | modern | 9 | #37,435 |
| 2008 | modern | 9 | #37,473 |
| 2009 | modern | 9 | #37,573 |
| 2010 | modern | 9 | #37,654 |
| 2011 | modern | 9 | #37,598 |
| 2012 | modern | 12 | #37,292 |
| 2013 | modern | 12 | #37,342 |
| 2014 | modern | 9 | #37,679 |
| 2015 | modern | 9 | #37,684 |
| 2016 | modern | 9 | #37,705 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, St Dunstan Stepney and Portsmouth, Portsea. 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 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | St Dunstan Stepney | London (East Districts) |
| 5 | Portsmouth, Portsea | Hampshire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Harren 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 Harren, 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 Harren surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Harren 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, Harren 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 Harren is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Harren, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Harren originated in Germany and is derived from the German word "harren," which means "to wait" or "to persevere." It is thought to have been initially given as a surname to individuals who demonstrated patience or perseverance in their work or daily lives.
The name can be traced back to the 13th century in various regions of Germany, particularly in the areas around the Rhine River. Some of the earliest recorded instances of the name appear in medieval documents and records from cities such as Cologne and Frankfurt.
One of the earliest known bearers of the name was Johannes Harren, a merchant who lived in Cologne in the late 15th century. Another notable figure was Hans Harren, a German soldier who fought in the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648).
In the 16th and 17th centuries, the name began to spread beyond Germany as emigrants carrying the surname settled in other parts of Europe and, later, in North America. One of the first recorded instances of the name in England was that of Henrich Harren, who was born in 1587 in the town of Nuremberg, Germany, but later settled in London.
The surname Harren has also been associated with several place names in Germany, such as Harrenhaus and Harrenberg, which may have influenced the spelling and pronunciation of the name in certain regions.
Other notable individuals with the surname Harren throughout history include:
1. Karl Harren (1808-1890), a German painter known for his landscapes and portraits. 2. Otto Harren (1856-1923), a German architect who designed several notable buildings in Berlin. 3. Emilie Harren (1877-1942), a German writer and activist for women's rights. 4. Hans Harren (1898-1971), a German Olympic athlete who competed in the decathlon in the 1920s. 5. Gerhard Harren (1924-2003), a German politician and member of the Bundestag (the German federal parliament) from 1969 to 1987.
While the surname Harren may not be among the most common surnames globally, it has a rich history and a strong connection to German culture and heritage.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Harren 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. Lancashire leads with 9 Harrens recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.78x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 9 | 2.78x |
| Middlesex | 9 | 3.30x |
| Wiltshire | 3 | 12.43x |
| Renfrewshire | 2 | 9.46x |
| Suffolk | 2 | 6.02x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 1.87x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 30.77x |
| Sussex | 1 | 2.17x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Preston in Lancashire leads with 6 Harrens recorded in 1881 and an index of 69.28x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Preston | 6 | 69.28x |
| Islington London | 5 | 18.90x |
| Laycock | 3 | 2727.27x |
| Kilbarchan | 2 | 312.50x |
| Acton | 1 | 62.50x |
| Blackburn | 1 | 11.61x |
| Brighton | 1 | 10.78x |
| Bristol St Augustine | 1 | 116.28x |
| Eye | 1 | 476.19x |
| Hacheston | 1 | 2500.00x |
| Hackney London | 1 | 6.54x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 6.59x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 5.09x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 35.97x |
| Spotland | 1 | 27.78x |
| Westminster St Margaret | 1 | 75.76x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Harren 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 Harren 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 Harren households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Ag Lab | 3 |
| Scholar | 3 |
| Baker | 1 |
| Cook Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Cotton Drawer Inn | 1 |
| Cotton Spinner | 1 |
| Cotton Tenter | 1 |
| Cotton Weaver | 1 |
| Cowman | 1 |
| General Domestic Serv | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| Housekeeper | 1 |
| Housemaid Domc Servt | 1 |
| Plasterers Labr | 1 |
| Private | 1 |
| Shop Assistant (Fish) | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 27 people were recorded with the Harren surname. That placed it at #29,793 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 9 in 2016. That gives Harren a modern rank of #37,705.
A toponymic surname referring to someone from Harren, a village in Germany.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Harren 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.