Surname Harrah - Meaning and Origin
all surnames with 'H'
Harrah: What does the surname Harrah mean?
The surname Harrah is of Irish origin, stemming from the Gaelic name "O hEara". It translates to "descendant of Ear", where "Ear" means "east" or "eastern". Therefore, Harrah can be interpreted to mean "descendant of the east" or "easterner". Like many Irish surnames, it initially served as a patronymic identifier before evolving into a fixed surname. These names were typically passed down through generations to express lineage.
The name Harrah may also be of English origin, referring to a dweller at the ancient hedges, which served as boundary markers in England. Over time, many Irish surnames were anglicized due to English influence and control, which may also be the case with Harrah.
It is also worth noting that the name Harrah has been spread to various parts of the world, through migration and could have taken on different significances and evolved independently across cultures. However, its original meaning is tied to the aforementioned Irish origin. Some other variations of the name include Harra, Hara, and O'Harra.
Order DNA origin analysisHarrah: Where does the name Harrah come from?
The last name Harrah is mainly found in the United States. According to the Census Bureau, as of the 2000 Census, the Harrah surname was the 1,410th most common surname in the United States, accounting for 0.001% of the population. The highest concentration was in Texas, with 583 individuals bearing the surname, followed by Kentucky with 545 and Alabama with 520. Other states with significant numbers of Harrahs include Tennessee, Ohio, Mississippi, Indiana, Arkansas, Michigan, and Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the number of individuals carrying the name had risen to 1,706.
Outside of the United States, the surname is much less common. In the United Kingdom, there were only 7 individuals reported to carry the last name Harrah in 2016. The surname also appears in Canada, Australia, Germany, France, and Austria in smaller numbers.
As a whole, the Harrah surname is most popular in the southern United States, though it is becoming increasingly common throughout the country due to migration and increased intermarriage.
Variations of the surname Harrah
The surname Harrah is believed to have originated from personal names such as Henry, Harris, or Harry. It also has its roots with other Anglo-Norman surnames including Herry, Herrey, Harrington, and Harriston. Spellings and variants of the surname Harrah include Harah, Hara, Haray, Harry, Hary, Harrey, and Harrisson.
In addition to Harrah, another common variant is Harlow, which was derived from the place in Essex, England. Other variations can include Harrell, Hurrell, and Hurl. There is an Irish clan by the same name who call themselves O'Harraigh or O'Hara.
Common surnames thought to have evolved from the original Harrah line include Harrell, Harr, Harris, Harison, Harrison, and Harriston. Within the US, the number of people with the variation Harrell is the highest, with Harris and Harrison following in popularity, and Harrah being the least popular.
Notably, the Harrah surname can also be found among Jewish immigrants to America who used the variation Hara. It is believed they either shortened the original surname Harrington to Hara, or took on the name upon their arrival in America.
There are numerous variations and spellings of the surname Harrah, depending on its region of origin. Some of the more popular variants are Harlow, Harris, Harry, Hara, Harrington, Hurrell, Hurl, and Harriston. This demonstrates how the surname has changed and evolved throughout the years.
Famous people with the name Harrah
- Bill Harrah: Businessman and founder of Harrah's Hotels & Casinos in the United States
- J. C. Harrah: Former Major League Baseball player
- Heidi Harrah: Former professional tennis player
- Jimmy Harrah: Former Major League Baseball player
- David Harrah: Former National Football League player
- Red Harrah: Former Major League Baseball player
- Chris Harrah: Professional ice hockey player
- Mike Harrah: American entrepreneur and real estate developer
- Lila Harrah: Actress
- Enos Harrah: Former professional gridiron football player