Harrow History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The name Harrow is Anglo-Saxon in origin. It was a name given to a harrower, a person who worked in the fields and was originally derived from the Old English harwen, which meant “to harrow.” [1]

Harrowing a field is the process of breaking up the earth after plowing so that seeding may take place. In the Middle Ages, this was done with a wooden frame studded with spikes and disks dragged over the field by a team of oxen.

Early Origins of the Harrow family

The surname Harrow was first found in Essex where Geoffrey Haruer was recorded in 1255. From this earliest entry, we move to the Hundredorum Rolls of 1275, where Geoffrey le Harewere was listed in Norfolk. Later, Ralph le Harewere was recorded in the Subsidy Rollsfor Suffolk in 1327, and John Harower was listed in the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379. [2]

Much further to the north in Scotland, Harrower was “a surname common to Fife and district. ‘The first of this name is described as a Flemish gunner; it may be a form of Harmwijn.’ William Harower or Herwart had a charter of the office of keeper of the king’s muirc and cunningare in Crail in liferent in the reign of David II. Robert Harwar was burgess of Perth, 1440, and ‘Sir’ John Harwar who was vicar of Cortochquhay in 1452 may be the John Harwar, chaplain, mentioned in 1455.” [3]

Early History of the Harrow family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Harrow research.

Harrow Spelling Variations

Until the dictionary, an invention of only the last few hundred years, the English language lacked any comprehensive system of spelling rules. Consequently, spelling variations in names are frequently found in early Anglo-Saxon and later Anglo-Norman documents. One person’s name was often spelled several different ways over a lifetime. The recorded variations of Harrow include Harrower, Harower, Harewere and others.

Harrow Ranking

In the United States, the name Harrow is the 17,323^rd most popular surname with an estimated 2,487 people with that name. [4]

 Harrow migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families boarded ships sailing to the New World in the hope of escaping the unrest found in England at this time. Although the search for opportunity and freedom from persecution abroad took the lives of many because of the cramped conditions and unsanitary nature of the vessels, the opportunity perceived in the growing colonies of North America beckoned. Many of the settlers who survived the journey went on to make important contributions to the transplanted cultures of their adopted countries. The Harrow were among these contributors, for they have been located in early North American records: 

Harrow Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

• Richard Harrow, who landed in Virginia in 1650 [5]
• Patricke Harrow, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1652 [5]
• Charles Harrow, who arrived in Virginia in 1663 [5]

Harrow Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

• Hugh Harrow, who landed in Virginia in 1706 [5]

Harrow Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

• James Harrow, aged 5, who landed in America from Great Britain, in 1895

Harrow Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

• Samuel Harrow, aged 41, who immigrated to the United States from Liverpool, in 1904
• Thomas R. Harrow, aged 45, who immigrated to America from South Shields, England, in 1908
• Alexander Harrow, aged 33, who immigrated to the United States from Aberdeen, Scotland, in 1908
• Margaret Harrow, aged 39, who settled in America from Kilysth, Scotland, in 1909
• Thomas Harrow, aged 28, who landed in America, in 1909