UK surname
An English locational surname referring to one from Harriston in Northamptonshire.
In the 1881 census there were 2 people recorded with the Harriston surname, ranking it #33,721 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1, ranked #39,061, down from #33,721 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Ellastone, Oxenden, Great and Hull Holy Trinity. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Harriston is 123 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 50.0%.
1881 census count
2
Ranked #33,721
Modern count
1
2016, ranked #39,061
Peak year
1861
123 bearers
Map years
1
1861 to 1861
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Harriston surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Harriston 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 | 26 | #28,667 |
| 1861 | historical | 123 | #17,914 |
| 1881 | historical | 2 | #33,721 |
| 1891 | historical | 51 | #30,158 |
| 1901 | historical | 12 | #32,772 |
| 1911 | historical | 9 | #32,754 |
| 1997 | modern | 2 | #38,557 |
| 1998 | modern | 6 | #37,703 |
| 1999 | modern | 8 | #37,367 |
| 2000 | modern | 10 | #37,001 |
| 2001 | modern | 3 | #38,091 |
| 2002 | modern | 4 | #37,921 |
| 2003 | modern | 4 | #37,951 |
| 2004 | modern | 3 | #38,241 |
| 2005 | modern | 3 | #38,312 |
| 2006 | modern | 2 | #38,590 |
| 2007 | modern | 2 | #38,617 |
| 2008 | modern | 3 | #38,396 |
| 2009 | modern | 3 | #38,494 |
| 2010 | modern | 3 | #38,552 |
| 2011 | modern | 2 | #38,745 |
| 2012 | modern | 1 | #38,986 |
| 2013 | modern | 1 | #39,008 |
| 2014 | modern | 1 | #39,020 |
| 2015 | modern | 1 | #39,021 |
| 2016 | modern | 1 | #39,061 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Ellastone, Oxenden, Great, Hull Holy Trinity, Sutton Coldfield and Manchester. 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 | Ellastone | Derbyshire |
| 2 | Oxenden, Great | Leicestershire |
| 3 | Hull Holy Trinity | Yorkshire, East Riding |
| 4 | Sutton Coldfield | Warwickshire |
| 5 | Manchester | Lancashire |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Harriston 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 Harriston, 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 Harriston surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Harriston 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, Harriston 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 Harriston is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Harriston, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname HARRISTON has its origins in England, dating back to the late 16th century. It is believed to have derived from a place name, possibly a combination of the Old English words "hærra" meaning "from the army" and "tun" meaning "farm" or "settlement." This suggests that the name may have originated from a settlement or village established by soldiers or members of an army.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname HARRISTON can be found in the parish records of St. Mary's Church in Warwick, where a William Harriston was baptized in 1591. Another early mention is in the Hertfordshire Visitation of 1634, which includes a reference to a John Harriston, a landowner in the county.
In the 17th century, the name appears to have spread to other parts of England, with records showing a Thomas Harriston born in Lincolnshire in 1642 and a Robert Harriston who served as a parish clerk in Gloucestershire in the late 1600s. During this period, variations in spelling were common, with the name sometimes appearing as Harriston, Harryston, or Hariston.
Notable individuals bearing the surname HARRISTON throughout history include:
1. Sir William Harriston (1718-1792), a prominent English merchant and member of the East India Company, who amassed a significant fortune through his trading ventures in the Indian subcontinent.
2. Mary Harriston (1826-1901), a British philanthropist and social reformer, known for her work in establishing schools and orphanages in the East End of London.
3. James Harriston (1845-1916), a Scottish explorer and naturalist, who led several expeditions to the Amazon rainforest and contributed significantly to the study of its flora and fauna.
4. Emily Harriston (1879-1952), an English novelist and poet, whose works often explored themes of love, loss, and the complexities of human relationships.
5. Robert Harriston (1901-1978), an American architect renowned for his innovative designs, including several iconic skyscrapers in New York City and Chicago.
While the surname HARRISTON is relatively uncommon, it has been carried by individuals from various walks of life, each contributing to the rich tapestry of history and culture in their respective fields.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Harriston 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. Leicestershire leads with 2 Harristons recorded in 1881 and an index of 93.46x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Leicestershire | 2 | 93.46x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Wigston Magna in Leicestershire leads with 2 Harristons recorded in 1881 and an index of 6666.67x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Wigston Magna | 2 | 6666.67x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Harriston surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Catherine | 1 |
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Harriston surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
| Name | Count |
|---|---|
| Henry | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 2 people were recorded with the Harriston surname. That placed it at #33,721 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 1 in 2016. That gives Harriston a modern rank of #39,061.
An English locational surname referring to one from Harriston in Northamptonshire.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Harriston 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.