NameCensus.

UK surname

Harrington

Derived from a place name meaning "settlement on stony ground" in Old English.

In the 1881 census there were 5,657 people recorded with the Harrington surname, ranking it #781 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 9,749, ranked #659, up from #781 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Lambeth. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Kensington and Chelsea, Colchester and Allerdale.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Harrington is 10,138 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 72.3%.

1881 census count

5,657

Ranked #781

Modern count

9,749

2016, ranked #659

Peak year

1999

10,138 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Harrington had 5,657 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #781 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 9,749 in 2016, ranked #659.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7,940 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Harrington surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Harrington surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Harrington 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 3,080 #938
1861 historical 3,536 #798
1881 historical 5,657 #781
1891 historical 6,168 #748
1901 historical 7,309 #747
1911 historical 7,940 #644
1997 modern 9,657 #646
1998 modern 10,096 #639
1999 modern 10,138 #640
2000 modern 10,111 #640
2001 modern 9,910 #640
2002 modern 10,028 #644
2003 modern 9,784 #650
2004 modern 9,719 #652
2005 modern 9,550 #657
2006 modern 9,452 #660
2007 modern 9,550 #659
2008 modern 9,582 #664
2009 modern 9,795 #661
2010 modern 10,053 #656
2011 modern 9,951 #657
2012 modern 9,810 #651
2013 modern 9,994 #652
2014 modern 10,046 #653
2015 modern 9,891 #654
2016 modern 9,749 #659

Geography

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Where Harringtons are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, St Pancras, Lambeth and Cardiff St John and St Mary. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Kensington and Chelsea, Colchester, Allerdale, Braintree and Maldon. 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 London parishes London 1
2 London parishes London 3
3 St Pancras London (North Districts)
4 Lambeth London (South Districts)
5 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Kensington and Chelsea 005 Kensington and Chelsea
2 Colchester 020 Colchester
3 Allerdale 002 Allerdale
4 Braintree 004 Braintree
5 Maldon 002 Maldon

Forenames

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First names often paired with Harrington

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Harrington

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Harrington, 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

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Harrington surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Harrington household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Harrington is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Harrington is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Harrington falls in decile 8 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

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

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Harrington 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 Harrington, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Harrington

The surname Harrington originates from England, with records dating back to the 11th century. It is a locational name derived from the Old English words "hara" meaning hare and "tun" meaning enclosure or settlement, referring to a place where hares were found in abundance.

The earliest known bearer of the name was William de Harintone, recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, a survey of landowners in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. This entry suggests that the name was initially associated with a place called Harington or Harrington in Northamptonshire.

Over the centuries, variations in spelling emerged, including Harington, Haryngton, and Haryngeton. The name was also linked to various place names, such as Harington in Lincolnshire and Harrington in Cumberland (now part of Cumbria).

Notable individuals with the surname Harrington include Sir John Harington (1561-1612), an English courtier, author, and inventor who is credited with introducing the flush toilet to England. Another prominent figure was Henry Harrington (1608-1658), an English civil war soldier and politician who served as a Member of Parliament during the Commonwealth period.

In the 18th century, Robert Harrington (1715-1784) was a British naval officer and colonial administrator who served as Governor of the Leeward Islands from 1771 to 1778. Meanwhile, Reverend Henry Harrington (1727-1816) was an English clergyman and author known for his work on the history of Cheshire.

Moving into the 19th century, Sir John Harrington (1785-1858) was a British naval officer and explorer who conducted surveys in the Mediterranean and the Red Sea. Additionally, Lord Sidney Harrington (1810-1892) was a British nobleman and Conservative politician who served as a Member of Parliament for several constituencies.

Throughout its history, the Harrington surname has been represented across various sectors, including literature, politics, exploration, and military service, reflecting the diverse backgrounds and contributions of those who bear this name.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Harrington families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Harrington 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. Middlesex leads with 1,178 Harringtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.12x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 1,178 2.12x
Essex 1,034 9.45x
Surrey 548 2.03x
Lancashire 407 0.62x
Yorkshire 282 0.51x
Kent 256 1.35x
Hampshire 168 1.48x
Glamorgan 166 1.72x
Cumberland 142 2.97x
Monmouthshire 136 3.39x
Staffordshire 117 0.63x
Warwickshire 87 0.62x
Suffolk 83 1.23x
Gloucestershire 79 0.73x
Berkshire 71 1.71x
Shropshire 65 1.36x
Sussex 65 0.70x
Worcestershire 61 0.84x
Devon 59 0.51x
Leicestershire 59 0.96x
Durham 51 0.31x
Hertfordshire 51 1.33x
Cheshire 39 0.32x
Lanarkshire 39 0.22x
Nottinghamshire 33 0.44x
Norfolk 31 0.36x
Wiltshire 30 0.61x
Somerset 29 0.32x
Herefordshire 28 1.23x
Lincolnshire 27 0.30x
Royal Navy 27 4.09x
Westmorland 26 2.13x
Northumberland 24 0.29x
Derbyshire 23 0.27x
Renfrewshire 21 0.49x
Dorset 19 0.52x
Cornwall 18 0.29x
Ayrshire 15 0.36x
Angus 14 0.27x
Oxfordshire 13 0.38x
Cambridgeshire 9 0.26x
East Lothian 8 1.09x
Northamptonshire 8 0.15x
Buckinghamshire 7 0.21x
Midlothian 5 0.07x
Radnorshire 5 1.12x
Anglesey 4 0.41x
Brecknockshire 4 0.36x
Pembrokeshire 4 0.23x
Bedfordshire 2 0.07x
Montgomeryshire 2 0.16x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.02x
Buteshire 1 0.30x
Carmarthenshire 1 0.04x
Flintshire 1 0.07x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.09x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. West Ham in Essex leads with 98 Harringtons recorded in 1881 and an index of 4.06x.

Place Total Index
West Ham 98 4.06x
Halstead 94 73.62x
Lambeth 92 1.90x
Kensington London 85 2.76x
St Pancras London 85 1.90x
Islington London 71 1.32x
Newington 69 3.37x
Liverpool 65 1.63x
Hackney London 64 2.06x
Farnham 51 24.28x
Camberwell 50 1.41x
Merthyr Tydfil 46 4.96x
St Marylebone London 46 1.55x
Bethnal Green London 43 1.79x
Mile End Old Town London 41 3.47x
Ratcliffe London 41 13.39x
St George Hanover Square 41 4.20x
Ecclesall Bierlow 40 3.58x
Westminster St John 39 5.78x
Birmingham 38 0.82x
Bocking 38 57.73x
Shoreditch London 38 1.58x
Aston 37 0.96x
Roath 35 7.98x
Fulham London 33 4.10x
Sible Hedingham 33 90.24x
Southwark St George Martyr 33 2.96x
St Giles In Fields London 33 12.13x
Sheepshed 32 37.98x
Bromley London 31 2.54x
Kirkdale 30 2.71x
Bermondsey 29 1.76x
Brighton 29 1.54x
Dudley 29 3.29x
Poplar London 29 2.77x
Lewisham 28 2.78x
Trevethin 27 7.13x
Acton 26 8.00x
Inworth 26 214.34x
Manchester 26 0.88x
Portsea 26 1.17x
Royal Navy 26 4.60x
Wandsworth 25 4.68x
Wolverhampton 25 1.74x
Chelsea London 24 1.44x
Kendal 24 10.76x
Southampton St Mary 23 3.22x
Finchingfield 22 64.14x
Shinfield 22 89.87x
St George In East London 22 4.22x
St Woollos 22 4.92x
Whitechapel London 22 4.03x
Great Henny 21 367.78x
Limehouse London 21 3.45x
St Luke London 21 2.36x
Tottenham 21 2.38x
Castle Hedingham 20 101.32x
Earls Colne 20 66.23x
Maidstone 20 3.55x
Preston 20 1.14x
Upper Machen 20 72.78x
Wednesbury 20 4.28x
Westminster St Margaret 20 7.48x
Barking 19 5.93x
Hatfield Broad Oak 19 51.45x
Loughton 19 35.11x
Oldham 19 0.89x
Battersea 18 0.88x
East Ham 18 8.86x
Messing 18 131.68x
Newport 18 9.41x
Northowram 18 4.67x
Shalford 18 129.87x
Aberystruth 17 4.81x
Chorlton On Medlock 17 1.63x
Clerkenwell London 17 1.30x
Middlesbrough 17 2.38x
Plymouth St Andrew 17 1.91x
St Lawrence Newland 17 422.89x
Woolwich 17 2.43x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 396
Elizabeth 170
Sarah 150
Ellen 132
Ann 93
Emma 93
Eliza 89
Jane 89
Alice 84
Annie 78
Emily 75
Margaret 73
Catherine 62
Hannah 58
Kate 53
Charlotte 35
Louisa 32
Harriet 31
Edith 30
Julia 30
Maria 30
Anne 27
Ada 26
Martha 26
Florence 23
Susan 22
Agnes 21
Clara 21
Fanny 21
Matilda 21
Caroline 20
Bridget 19
Esther 18
Harriett 15
Lucy 15
Elizth. 14
Isabella 13
Rose 13
Susannah 13
Maud 12
Norah 12
Rebecca 12
Gertrude 11
Amy 10
Frances 10
Jessie 10
Eleanor 9
Helen 9
Minnie 9
Amelia 8

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 369
William 310
James 196
Thomas 179
George 163
Charles 108
Henry 101
Edward 81
Arthur 65
Alfred 63
Frederick 63
Daniel 60
Joseph 55
Walter 47
Patrick 45
Michael 38
Albert 34
Robert 34
Timothy 31
Frank 29
Richard 27
Dennis 26
Ernest 26
Herbert 25
Harry 23
Cornelius 22
Samuel 22
Isaac 20
David 18
Jeremiah 18
Benjamin 16
Wm. 15
Francis 13
Thos. 12
Fredk. 11
Geo. 11
Peter 10
Chas. 9
Andrew 8
Edwin 8
Percy 7
Denis 6
Fred 6
Fredrick 6
Martin 6
Stephen 6
Willie 6
Jacob 5
Jas. 5
Sidney 5

FAQ

Harrington surname: questions and answers

How common was the Harrington surname in 1881?

In 1881, 5,657 people were recorded with the Harrington surname. That placed it at #781 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Harrington surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 9,749 in 2016. That gives Harrington a modern rank of #659.

What does the Harrington surname mean?

Derived from a place name meaning "settlement on stony ground" in Old English.

What does the Harrington map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Harrington 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.