This page needs Javascript enabled in order to work properly. Click here for instructions on how to enable it in your browser.
Surname Header Image
Get access to Harrison family records.Start a 14-Day Free Trial

Harrison Family History

Harrison Surname Meaning

English (northern): from the Middle English personal name Harry or Herry + -son.

These were the common pronunciations of Henry (see Harry).

Source: Dictionary of American Family Names 2nd edition, 2022


Similar surnames: 

Search for a relative to learn more about your family history.

Hint: Try searching for a relative alive in 1940.

Where is the Harrison family from?

You can see how Harrison families moved over time by selecting different census years. The Harrison family name was found in the USA, the UK, Canada, and Scotland between 1840 and 1920. The most Harrison families were found in United Kingdom in 1891. In 1840 there were 267 Harrison families living in Virginia. This was about 12% of all the recorded Harrison's in USA. Virginia had the highest population of Harrison families in 1840.
Use census records and voter lists to see where families with the Harrison surname lived. Within census records, you can often find information like name of household members, ages, birthplaces, residences, and occupations.
  • 1840
  • 1880
  • 1920
Mapbox
© Mapbox © OpenStreetMap Improve this map

What did your Harrison ancestors do for a living?

In 1940, Laborer and Maid were the top reported jobs for men and women in the USA named Harrison. 15% of Harrison men worked as a Laborer and 7% of Harrison women worked as a Maid. Some less common occupations for Americans named Harrison were Truck Driver and Housekeeper.

View Census Data for Harrison | Data not to scale

*We display top occupations by gender to maintain their historical accuracy during times when men and women often performed different jobs.

Top Male Occupations In 1940

  • Laborer
    15%
  • Farmer
    14%
  • Salesman
    5%
  • Truck Driver
    3%

Top Female Occupations In 1940

  • Maid
    7%
  • Housewife
    6%
  • Teacher
    6%
  • Housekeeper
    5%

What Harrison family records will you find?

Census Records

There are 2 million census records available for the last name Harrison. Like a window into their day-to-day life, Harrison census records can tell you where and how your ancestors worked, their level of education, veteran status, and more.

Search US census records for Harrison

Passenger Lists

There are 259,000 immigration records available for the last name Harrison. Passenger lists are your ticket to knowing when your ancestors arrived in the USA, and how they made the journey - from the ship name to ports of arrival and departure.

View all Harrison immigration records

Draft Cards

There are 253,000 military records available for the last name Harrison. For the veterans among your Harrison ancestors, military collections provide insights into where and when they served, and even physical descriptions.

View all Harrison military records

You've only scratched the surface of Harrison family history

Discover More

Discover the unique achievements of ancestors in the Harrison family tree

Explore Your Tree
Search for another surname
Enter last name/surname
Start a 14-Day Free Trial