Surname Harral - Meaning and Origin
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Harral: What does the surname Harral mean?
The last name Harral is of English origin. It is derived from the personal name Harry, which in turn is derived from Old German Heimirich meaning "home ruler". It was a popular name from the Middle Ages onwards, and was borne by eight kings of England.
The Harral surname first appeared in the early 17th century when it was found in Monmouthshire, a county in southwest Wales. It is likely that some members of the surname were descended from the Norman barons who had been granted lands by William the Conqueror.
Alternately, Harral could be a locational name, derived from any of the myriad places named Harrow, Harrell, Harwell, etc, where the original name holder may have resided or held lands.
Given the age and variety of locations associated with the surname, it is impossible to determine the precise origin of the Harral family. It is likely that this surname was well established across England and Wales prior to the 19th century, and continues to be a popular surname today.
Order DNA origin analysisHarral: Where does the name Harral come from?
The surname Harral appears to be of English origin, likely derived from a geographical locality. A potential source is the Old English words "har" meaning grey and "halh" referring to a nook or remote valley, possibly indicating a place where someone lived. Another theory suggests it originated from 'Here-weald', an old English personal name. Today, Harral is not a particularly common surname, making it difficult to pinpoint a specific region where it's prevalent. Most historical records suggest a stronger presence in United Kingdom and United States. Furthermore, due to migration and globalization, such ancestral surnames have dispersed globally and could be found in small numbers across many countries.
Variations of the surname Harral
The surname Harral has numerous variants and spellings. It is believed to originate from the Gaelic terminology or come from the Old English term 'hyrne', meaning corner or bend, denoting someone who lived near a distinct corner or bend in a path or river.
Variations of the name include Harrald, Harrell, Hurrell, Horrell, Herrall, Harle, Harel, Haral, Harailt, Haraild, Herold, Harold, and Harell. The name can also be found spelled as Harroll or Horal. Similarly spelled surnames such as Harle, Harly, or Harley may also share the same origin.
Some Scandinavian and German related surnames share similar derivations, like Harald, Herhold, Herold, or the Danish and Norwegian 'Harald'.
There are also some potential related names such as Harrod, Harrold, or Herald which might share common lineage.
Some of these variations could likely be stemming from regional pronunciations or recording errors during the process of documenting names in registers or censuses, where oral transcription of names provided ample scope for spelling differences. Therefore, while these alternative spellings and related surnames share similarities with Harral, it's also possible they evolved separately due to regional language influences and are interconnected through linguistic, rather than familial, ties.
Famous people with the name Harral
- Chad Harral: Professional wrestler based in Japan
- Laura Harral: Singer and songwriter
- Jodie Harral: English actress
- Raymond Harral: Retired American football player
- Harry Harral: Australian politician
- Marshall Harral: Musician and chartered accountant
- Larry Harral: Distinguished executive in the ordinance and chemical industries
- Dorothy Harral: Physician and immunologist
- Dick Harral: Retired American basketball coach
- Bradley Harral: Retired American professional football player