UK surname
An archaic occupational surname referring to a family employed in transporting goods.
In the 1881 census there were 35 people recorded with the Harriot surname, ranking it #28,715 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 37, ranked #35,582, down from #28,715 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Dawley, Magna, Bebbington and Mirfield. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Harriot is 176 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 5.7%.
1881 census count
35
Ranked #28,715
Modern count
37
2016, ranked #35,582
Peak year
1861
176 bearers
Map years
2
1851 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Harriot surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Harriot 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 | 104 | #16,746 |
| 1861 | historical | 176 | #13,335 |
| 1881 | historical | 35 | #28,715 |
| 1891 | historical | 18 | #32,706 |
| 1901 | historical | 14 | #32,506 |
| 1911 | historical | 11 | #32,463 |
| 1997 | modern | 26 | #35,135 |
| 1998 | modern | 24 | #35,488 |
| 1999 | modern | 25 | #35,413 |
| 2000 | modern | 20 | #35,915 |
| 2001 | modern | 17 | #36,053 |
| 2002 | modern | 21 | #35,798 |
| 2003 | modern | 17 | #36,198 |
| 2004 | modern | 15 | #36,530 |
| 2005 | modern | 20 | #36,165 |
| 2006 | modern | 32 | #35,392 |
| 2007 | modern | 31 | #35,592 |
| 2008 | modern | 31 | #35,670 |
| 2009 | modern | 32 | #35,730 |
| 2010 | modern | 42 | #35,294 |
| 2011 | modern | 34 | #35,705 |
| 2012 | modern | 29 | #35,991 |
| 2013 | modern | 32 | #35,862 |
| 2014 | modern | 37 | #35,616 |
| 2015 | modern | 37 | #35,593 |
| 2016 | modern | 37 | #35,582 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Dawley, Magna, Bebbington, Mirfield, Darlington and Wendens Ambo. 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 | Dawley, Magna | Shropshire |
| 2 | Bebbington | Cheshire |
| 3 | Mirfield | Yorkshire, West Riding |
| 4 | Darlington | Durham |
| 5 | Wendens Ambo | Essex |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Harriot 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 Harriot, 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 Harriot surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Harriot 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, Harriot 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 Harriot is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Harriot, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Harriot originates from England and dates back to the 13th century. It is believed to be a variant of the name Harriott, which is derived from the Old French name Hariette or Haruiet. These names are thought to be diminutive forms of the Germanic name Harry or Henri, meaning "home ruler" or "head of the household."
One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Harriot can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire in 1273, where it is listed as Haryot. This suggests that the name was already in use in various parts of England during the medieval period.
In the 14th century, the name Harriot appears in several historical records, including the Subsidy Rolls of Yorkshire in 1327, where it is spelled as Hariott. This indicates that the name had spread to different regions of England by that time.
The name Harriot can also be found in the Feet of Fines records for Oxfordshire in 1518, where it is recorded as Haryott. These records were legal documents related to the transfer of land ownership, suggesting that the Harriot family may have held some landholdings in that area during the 16th century.
One notable individual with the surname Harriot was Thomas Harriot (c. 1560-1621), an English mathematician, astronomer, and explorer. He was an influential figure in the development of modern algebra and was among the first Europeans to make detailed observations of the moon through a telescope.
Another notable bearer of the name was John Harriot (1605-1677), an English clergyman and philosopher who served as the chaplain to Charles I and later became the Bishop of Chichester.
In the 18th century, John Harriott (1745-1817) was a British naval officer and explorer who is credited with the discovery of several islands in the Pacific Ocean, including the Marquesas Islands.
Other individuals with the surname Harriot include William Harriot (1790-1862), an English architect who designed several notable buildings in London, and Edward Harriot (1818-1890), a British soldier and writer who served in the Crimean War.
While the surname Harriot is not as common as some other English surnames, it has a rich history dating back to the medieval period and has been associated with notable figures in various fields throughout the centuries.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Harriot 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 7 Harriots recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.24x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 7 | 2.24x |
| Fife | 6 | 32.49x |
| Northumberland | 4 | 8.62x |
| Perthshire | 3 | 21.43x |
| Surrey | 3 | 1.97x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.54x |
| Sussex | 2 | 3.80x |
| Cornwall | 1 | 2.83x |
| Cumberland | 1 | 3.72x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 1.84x |
| Kinross-shire | 1 | 126.58x |
| Renfrewshire | 1 | 4.14x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Andrews in Fife leads with 6 Harriots recorded in 1881 and an index of 714.29x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| St Andrews | 6 | 714.29x |
| Elswick | 4 | 108.11x |
| Caputh | 3 | 1363.64x |
| Islington London | 2 | 6.61x |
| Kensington London | 2 | 11.53x |
| Leatherhead | 2 | 526.32x |
| Breage | 1 | 312.50x |
| Brighton | 1 | 9.43x |
| Broadwater | 1 | 82.64x |
| Chelsea London | 1 | 10.64x |
| Great Bolton | 1 | 20.41x |
| Melmerby | 1 | 3333.33x |
| Newington | 1 | 8.67x |
| Portmoak | 1 | 909.09x |
| Shoreditch London | 1 | 7.39x |
| Stoke Newington London | 1 | 41.15x |
| Swansea Town | 1 | 22.47x |
| Toxteth Park | 1 | 7.97x |
| West Greenock | 1 | 23.04x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Harriot surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
FAQ
In 1881, 35 people were recorded with the Harriot surname. That placed it at #28,715 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 37 in 2016. That gives Harriot a modern rank of #35,582.
An archaic occupational surname referring to a family employed in transporting goods.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Harriot 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.