Show ContentsHarrer History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Harrer family

The surname Harrer was first found in at Harbottle a village and civil parish in Northumberland, near the Scottish border. The village is the site of Harbottle Castle built during the reign of Edward I. The castle was built to protect invaders from Scotland was built and held by the Umfraville family. It sustained the reiterated attacks of the whole Scottish army in 1296 and was the site of the birth of a daughter in 1518 to Margaret, Queen Dowager of Scotland, who had lived there since 1515, after her marriage with the Earl of Angus.

Early History of the Harrer family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Harrer research. Another 96 words (7 lines of text) covering the year 1400 is included under the topic Early Harrer History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Harrer Spelling Variations

During the era when a person's name, tribe and posterity was one of his most important possessions, many different spellings were found in the archives examined. Harrer occurred in many references, and spelling variations of the name found included Harbottle, Harbotel, Hardbottle, Harbottles and others.

Early Notables of the Harrer family

More information is included under the topic Early Harrer Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Harrer migration to the United States +

Gradually becoming disenchanted with life in Ireland many of these uprooted families sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. These overcrowded ships often arrived with only 60 to 70% of their original passenger list, many dying of illness and the elements, were buried at sea. In North America, early immigrants bearing the family name Harrer, or a spelling variation of the surname include:

Harrer Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • William Harrer, who landed in Virginia in 1665 1
Harrer Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Joseph Harrer, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County Pennsylvania in 1875 1


  1. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)


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