NameCensus.

UK surname

Harrold

An English toponymic surname derived from a place name meaning "hill frequented by hares" or "hare hill."

In the 1881 census there were 1,353 people recorded with the Harrold surname, ranking it #3,027 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,955, ranked #3,283, down from #3,027 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Rowley Regis and Wick. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Caithness North East, Badenoch and Strathspey North and Broadland.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Harrold is 2,069 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 44.5%.

1881 census count

1,353

Ranked #3,027

Modern count

1,955

2016, ranked #3,283

Peak year

1999

2,069 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Harrold had 1,353 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,027 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,955 in 2016, ranked #3,283.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,692 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Harrold surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Harrold surname density by area, 1881 census.

Loading map
Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

Back to top

Harrold 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 857 #3,177
1861 historical 817 #3,370
1881 historical 1,353 #3,027
1891 historical 1,483 #2,968
1901 historical 1,652 #3,122
1911 historical 1,692 #2,901
1997 modern 1,990 #3,066
1998 modern 2,023 #3,132
1999 modern 2,069 #3,103
2000 modern 2,055 #3,100
2001 modern 1,997 #3,117
2002 modern 2,003 #3,170
2003 modern 1,984 #3,136
2004 modern 1,970 #3,158
2005 modern 1,949 #3,158
2006 modern 1,926 #3,196
2007 modern 1,940 #3,202
2008 modern 1,929 #3,231
2009 modern 1,960 #3,270
2010 modern 2,009 #3,261
2011 modern 2,002 #3,233
2012 modern 1,942 #3,264
2013 modern 1,954 #3,307
2014 modern 1,985 #3,280
2015 modern 1,975 #3,270
2016 modern 1,955 #3,283

Geography

Back to top

Where Harrolds are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Rowley Regis, Wick and Hinckley (incl. Hydes Pastures). These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Caithness North East, Badenoch and Strathspey North, Broadland, Wiltshire and Wick North. 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 Rowley Regis Staffordshire
3 Wick Caithness
4 London parishes London 3
5 Hinckley (incl. Hydes Pastures) Leicestershire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Caithness North East Highland
2 Badenoch and Strathspey North Highland
3 Broadland 002 Broadland
4 Wiltshire 020 Wiltshire
5 Wick North Highland

Forenames

Back to top

First names often paired with Harrold

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

Modern profile

Back to top

Neighbourhood profile for Harrold

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Harrold, 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 Harrold surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Harrold 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

Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs

Group

London Fringe

Within London, Harrold is most associated with areas classed as London Fringe, part of Older Residents in Owner-Occupied Suburbs. 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

Predominantly located in neighbourhoods on the outskirts of Greater London, residents of these neighbourhoods typically have their highest qualifications below degree (Level 4) level, with those still in work engaged in skilled trades and occupations in distribution, hotels and restaurants. There is low ethnic diversity in these neighbourhoods and high levels of Christian religious affiliation. Detached or terraced houses predominate, often with spare rooms.

Wider London pattern

The age distribution of these neighbourhoods is skewed towards the middle-aged and old, although few residents live alone or in communal establishments and numbers of dependent children are around average. Owner occupation is the norm, as is residence in detached or semi-detached houses. Residential densities are low and many households have spare rooms. Most residents were born in the UK and, aside from some identifying as members of Chinese or Indian ethnicities, identify as White. Mixed ethnicity households are rare. Incidence of married couples is higher than average and few individuals have never been married. A large proportion of individuals still in employment work in administrative and secretarial occupations, or in the construction industry. Few residents are students, and many households own more than one car.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Harrold is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Harrold falls in decile 6 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Harrold

The surname Harrold originated in England during the Anglo-Saxon period. It is derived from the Old English words "hara" meaning hare and "hol(d)" meaning hollow or valley, suggesting the name may have referred to someone who lived in a valley where hares were plentiful.

The name can be traced back to the 11th century, with records showing variations like Harehull, Harehulle, and Harowhulle appearing in the Domesday Book of 1086. These early spellings reflect the name's geographical origins, likely referring to specific places inhabited by those who bore the name.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Harrold is found in the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1191, where a Richard de Harehull is mentioned. This suggests the name was already well-established by the late 12th century.

Throughout the Middle Ages, the name continued to evolve in spelling, with variations such as Harould, Harowold, and Harrold emerging. These changes reflect the gradual shift in pronunciation and spelling norms over time.

Notable individuals who bore the surname Harrold include Sir John Harrold (1470-1554), a prominent English landowner and Member of Parliament during the reign of Henry VIII. Another was Francis Harrold (1615-1685), an English clergyman and author who served as Archdeacon of Bedford.

In the 19th century, William Harrold (1808-1882) was a prominent English architect responsible for designing several notable buildings in London, including the Royal College of Chemistry. Emmeline Harrold (1853-1923) was a British writer and activist who campaigned for women's rights and education.

The surname Harrold has also been recorded in various parts of the United States, likely carried over by English immigrants. One notable American bearing the name was Charles Harrold (1856-1926), a businessman and politician from Pennsylvania who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives.

While the surname Harrold has evolved in spelling over the centuries, its origins can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon era, reflecting the name's deep roots in English history and geography.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

Back to top

Harrold families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Harrold 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 232 Harrolds recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.76x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 232 1.76x
Worcestershire 118 6.86x
Leicestershire 100 6.84x
Wiltshire 81 6.95x
Orkney 78 53.80x
Norfolk 71 3.50x
Staffordshire 52 1.17x
Morayshire 50 24.42x
Somerset 43 2.03x
Yorkshire 41 0.31x
Kent 40 0.89x
Lancashire 40 0.26x
Suffolk 39 2.43x
Warwickshire 39 1.17x
Caithness 38 21.06x
Derbyshire 36 1.74x
Surrey 34 0.53x
Northamptonshire 29 2.34x
Gloucestershire 27 1.04x
Essex 22 0.85x
Hampshire 20 0.74x
Cambridgeshire 16 1.92x
Durham 14 0.36x
Midlothian 14 0.79x
Glamorgan 12 0.52x
Nottinghamshire 11 0.62x
Renfrewshire 9 0.88x
Cheshire 8 0.28x
Lanarkshire 8 0.19x
Buckinghamshire 6 0.75x
Wigtownshire 4 2.29x
Bedfordshire 2 0.29x
Berkshire 2 0.20x
Denbighshire 2 0.40x
Inverness-shire 2 0.51x
Ross-shire 2 0.55x
Sussex 2 0.09x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.08x
Banffshire 1 0.37x
Clackmannanshire 1 0.92x
Hertfordshire 1 0.11x
Northumberland 1 0.05x
Oxfordshire 1 0.12x
Rutland 1 1.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Oldbury in Worcestershire leads with 63 Harrolds recorded in 1881 and an index of 74.40x.

Place Total Index
Oldbury 63 74.40x
Islington London 61 4.78x
Elgin 32 80.34x
Melksham 32 158.10x
Wick 31 53.19x
Hinckley 24 69.24x
Kirkwall St Ola 24 110.50x
Frome 22 43.36x
Chelsea London 20 5.04x
Derby St Alkmund 19 30.72x
Halesowen 19 125.74x
Leicester St Margaret 18 5.05x
Rousay Egilshay 18 355.73x
Bethnal Green London 17 2.97x
Bulkington 17 2179.49x
Evie Rendall 17 277.78x
Hackney London 15 2.03x
Rowley Regis 15 12.10x
Welford 15 357.14x
Bury St Edmunds St James 14 32.66x
Willoughby Waterless 14 979.02x
Aston 13 1.42x
South Ronaldshay 13 86.67x
Thorney 13 140.24x
Bradford On Avon 12 32.16x
Castle Cary 12 129.87x
Folkestone 12 13.76x
Stonehouse 12 81.69x
Battersea 11 2.27x
Bromley London 11 3.79x
Dursley 11 103.48x
Kensington London 11 1.50x
Loughborough 11 16.59x
Aberavon 10 47.35x
Diss 10 57.57x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 10 1.41x
Heigham 10 9.19x
Chiswick 9 12.50x
Cradley 9 57.84x
Dudley 9 4.30x
East Greenock 9 9.33x
Leeds 9 1.22x
Leyton Low 9 17.02x
St Marylebone London 9 1.28x
Aldershot 8 8.84x
Holy Trinity 8 2.55x
Mile End Old Town London 8 2.85x
Northampton Priory St 8 10.76x
St Luke London 8 3.78x
St Pancras London 8 0.75x
Starston 8 347.83x
West Derby 8 1.75x
Bale 7 666.67x
Berkswich 7 258.30x
Bow London 7 4.17x
Bradford 7 9.56x
Cakemore 7 248.23x
Dallas 7 168.27x
Deptford St Paul 7 2.02x
Edgbaston 7 6.79x
Fulham London 7 3.66x
Hornsey 7 4.20x
Plumstead 7 4.67x
Romford 7 17.02x
Toxteth Park 7 1.32x
Warley Wigorn 7 127.50x
Wigston Magna 7 36.12x
Birkenhead 6 2.59x
Brampton Bierlow 6 35.89x
Bury St Edmunds St Mary 6 19.91x
Kings Lynn St Margaret 6 9.86x
Liverpool 6 0.63x
Lyncombe Widcombe 6 10.80x
Mere 6 45.32x
Moss Side 6 7.29x
Nuneaton 6 15.58x
Rothes 6 60.06x
Walsoken 6 49.26x
Westminster St John 6 3.74x
Lenton 5 11.95x

Top female names

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

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 74
William 73
George 54
Thomas 30
Henry 28
James 23
Charles 22
Joseph 21
Arthur 19
Robert 17
Alfred 16
Edward 12
Frederick 12
Albert 10
Harry 10
Richard 9
Walter 8
Frank 6
Samuel 6
Thos. 5
David 4
Edwin 4
Ephraim 4
Fredrick 4
Aaron 3
Ernest 3
Francis 3
Herbert 3
Mark 3
Percy 3
Alexander 2
Chas. 2
Dennis 2
Enoch 2
Oswald 2
Patrick 2
Phillip 2
Archibald 1
Chas.H. 1
Chas.J. 1
Christopher 1
Clement 1
Ewen 1
Foster 1
Fred 1
Jacob 1
Jasper 1
Jeremiah 1
Jerry 1
Worthy 1

FAQ

Harrold surname: questions and answers

How common was the Harrold surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,353 people were recorded with the Harrold surname. That placed it at #3,027 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Harrold surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,955 in 2016. That gives Harrold a modern rank of #3,283.

What does the Harrold surname mean?

An English toponymic surname derived from a place name meaning "hill frequented by hares" or "hare hill."

What does the Harrold map show?

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