UK surname
A German surname derived from the occupational term for a producer of hair sieves.
In the 1881 census there were 7 people recorded with the Harrer surname, ranking it #32,765 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 28, ranked #36,125, down from #32,765 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Wolverhampton, London parishes and Missenden, Great. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Harrer is 111 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 300.0%.
1881 census count
7
Ranked #32,765
Modern count
28
2016, ranked #36,125
Peak year
1861
111 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Harrer surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Harrer surname density by area, 1861 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 | 25 | #28,853 |
| 1861 | historical | 111 | #19,429 |
| 1881 | historical | 7 | #32,765 |
| 1891 | historical | 43 | #30,933 |
| 1901 | historical | 10 | #33,026 |
| 1911 | historical | 22 | #31,030 |
| 1997 | modern | 16 | #36,292 |
| 1998 | modern | 16 | #36,361 |
| 1999 | modern | 24 | #35,514 |
| 2000 | modern | 25 | #35,382 |
| 2001 | modern | 26 | #35,152 |
| 2002 | modern | 21 | #35,798 |
| 2003 | modern | 20 | #35,915 |
| 2004 | modern | 24 | #35,697 |
| 2005 | modern | 20 | #36,165 |
| 2006 | modern | 19 | #36,323 |
| 2007 | modern | 20 | #36,362 |
| 2008 | modern | 19 | #36,534 |
| 2009 | modern | 21 | #36,470 |
| 2010 | modern | 23 | #36,400 |
| 2011 | modern | 23 | #36,369 |
| 2012 | modern | 26 | #36,166 |
| 2013 | modern | 24 | #36,344 |
| 2014 | modern | 27 | #36,180 |
| 2015 | modern | 28 | #36,106 |
| 2016 | modern | 28 | #36,125 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Wolverhampton, London parishes, Missenden, Great, St John Hackney and Wakefield. 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 | Wolverhampton | Staffordshire |
| 2 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 3 | Missenden, Great | Buckinghamshire |
| 4 | St John Hackney | London (North Districts) |
| 5 | Wakefield | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Harrer 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 Harrer, 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 Harrer surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Harrer 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, Harrer 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 Harrer is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Harrer, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Harrer originates from the German-speaking regions of Europe, likely from Austria or Bavaria in southern Germany. It is believed to have derived from the Middle High German word "harr," which meant "hair" or "stubble." This suggests that the name may have initially been an occupational surname for someone who worked with hair, such as a wigmaker or barber.
The earliest known record of the name Harrer dates back to the 13th century in the region of Bavaria. In a manuscript from 1265, a "Heinricus Harrer" is mentioned as a resident of the town of Landshut. This indicates that the name was already in use as a surname at that time.
During the 14th century, the name appeared in various official records and documents across southern Germany and Austria. In the Codex Diplomaticus Austriaco-Frisingensis, a collection of historical documents from the Archbishopric of Salzburg, a "Chunrad Harrer" is recorded as a landowner in the village of Ramsau in the year 1342.
One of the earliest notable individuals with the surname Harrer was Johannes Harrer, a German scholar and theologian who lived from 1468 to 1521. He was a prominent figure in the humanist movement and served as the rector of the University of Ingolstadt.
In the 16th century, the name Harrer was also found in the town of Radstadt in the Austrian state of Salzburg. A local chronicle from 1583 mentions a "Georg Harrer" as a respected citizen and member of the town council.
Another historically significant figure with the surname Harrer was Heinrich Harrer, an Austrian mountaineer and explorer who lived from 1912 to 2006. He is best known for his journey to Tibet in the 1940s and his close relationship with the 14th Dalai Lama, which he documented in his famous book "Seven Years in Tibet."
Other notable individuals with the surname Harrer include Karl Harrer (1890-1953), an Austrian politician and member of the National Council, and Gottfried Harrer (1953-2022), an Austrian artist and painter known for his abstract expressionist works.
While the name Harrer is most commonly associated with Austria and southern Germany, it has also been found in other German-speaking regions over the centuries, such as Switzerland and parts of northern Italy.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Harrer 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. Northumberland leads with 3 Harrers recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.62x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Northumberland | 3 | 29.62x |
| Derbyshire | 1 | 9.38x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 1.24x |
| Lincolnshire | 1 | 9.19x |
| Middlesex | 1 | 1.47x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wallsend in Northumberland leads with 3 Harrers recorded in 1881 and an index of 937.50x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Wallsend | 3 | 937.50x |
| Bootle Cum Linacre | 1 | 156.25x |
| Offcote Underwood | 1 | 10000.00x |
| Skirbeck | 1 | 1666.67x |
| St Martin In Fields | 1 | 243.90x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Harrer 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 Harrer 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 Harrer households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Dock Labourer | 1 |
| Fireman Coal Miner | 1 |
| General Serv | 1 |
| General Servant Ag Lab | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 7 people were recorded with the Harrer surname. That placed it at #32,765 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 28 in 2016. That gives Harrer a modern rank of #36,125.
A German surname derived from the occupational term for a producer of hair sieves.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Harrer 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.