Show ContentsHarkan History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Etymology of Harkan

What does the name Harkan mean?

The surname Harkan is an anglicized form of the Patronymic Irish surname "O hEarcain," which is derived from the word "earc," meaning "red." Thus, the surname would have originally been born by a "descendant of Red."

Early Origins of the Harkan family

The surname Harkan was first found in at Inishowen, in County Donegal where members of the family were erenaghs of Clonska, a parish near Malin Head. They are mentioned as such in Bishop Montgomery's diocesan survey of 1606. Danieal O'Harcan died in 1581 as a Catholic martyr in Ulster.

Early History of the Harkan family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Harkan research. Another 21 words (2 lines of text) covering the years 1659, 1780, 1814 and 1830 are included under the topic Early Harkan History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Harkan Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Harkin, Harkan, O'Harkin, ÓhEarcáin and others.

Early Notables of the Harkan family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was

  • Peter Harkan (c.1780-1814), a "resurrectionist" who was described in "Fleetwood's History of Medicine in Ireland...


Harkan migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Harkan Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • John Harkan, aged 20, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick aboard the ship "Billow" in 1833


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