Surname Harrod - Meaning and Origin
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Harrod: What does the surname Harrod mean?
The surname Harrod is of Anglo-Saxon origin and is believed to be derived from the Old English personal name "Hereweard", which translates to "army guard". Over time, the pronunciation and spelling of this name evolved into its more contemporary form, Harrod. Another theory suggests that it could also come from a place, with the old English elements “har” meaning grey, and “rod” a cleared area in woodland. It was used to describe a piece of land dominated by ancient, grey trees. It is common in England, especially in the East Anglia region. Like many other surnames, it has various spellings including Harrold, Harrad, and Harrard. Famous people with the last name Harrod include the British journalist Tim Harrod and the founder of the famous department store Harrods, Charles Henry Harrod.
Order DNA origin analysisHarrod: Where does the name Harrod come from?
The surname Harrod traces back to Britain, more precisely England. It is derived from an Old English name “Hereweard” which is made up of two elements - “here” meaning army and “weard” meaning guard or protection. Thus, it was likely used to denote a military guard or someone with a similar occupation. Harrod was first recorded in Lincolnshire in the early 13th century and has many variations, including Harwood, Harred, Harriott, and others.
Today, the Harrod surname can be most commonly found across English-speaking countries, largely in England and the United States. It is also seen in countries such as Australia and Canada due to migration. In England, it is particularly common in the northern and eastern regions, a distribution that likely corresponds with initial patterns of population and economic development. Though not an exceedingly common last name, it achieved some global recognition through the famous upmarket department store in London known as Harrods, founded by Charles Henry Harrod in the mid-19th century.
Variations of the surname Harrod
The surname Harrod originates from the Old English given name Hereweard, and it might have been altered over time due to regional accents and varying literacy rates. As such, it has several variants and possible spellings. These include Harrood, Harwood, Harward, Harrold, and Herrod.
In some cases, Harrod could possibly be a regional variant of Harold or Heard, although these roots are less common. It can also occasionally be linked with names like Harrad, Herrard, and Horrod which are phonetically similar. The surname could further be altered due to ethnic variations, leading to slightly different versions like Herrodd or Harrodd in Welsh communities.
While these are the most common variants, surnames are deeply personal and can change drastically over generations due to a variety of reasons such as intermarriage, adoption or even intentional changes to simplify the spelling or modify the pronunciation. Therefore, there might be even more spellings associated with Harrod but these are the ones traced back to their common ancestry or linguistic origins.
Famous people with the name Harrod
- Charles Digby Harrod: He was the founder of the famous Harrods Department Store in London.
- Diana Harrod: Known for her work in the British theatre scene as an actress and director.
- Robert Harrod: Noted crime victim whose 2009 disappearance has been documented on shows like "Disappeared".
- Frank Harrod: An American politician who served as a Republican member of the New Mexico Senate from 1971 to 1985.
- John Harrod: A widely respected musician and noted promoter of traditional music in Kentucky.
- Todd Harrod: A former professional baseball player who played in the minor leagues.
- Howard Harrod: A noted scholar of religious studies and environmental ethics.
- Bruce Harrod: A former professional footballer who played in the English Football League. This is not an extensive list and there may be other notable individuals with the last name Harrod that are lesser-known or emerging in their respective fields.