Contents [hide]

Harry History Etymology Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables Ranking

United States Australia New Zealand West Indies

Contemporary Notables Historic Events Related Stories Suggested Reading Sources

Harry History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England
Ireland

Etymology of Harry

What does the name Harry mean?

The Irish name Harry originally appeared in Gaelic as Ó Ciardha. 1 However, "Carey" and its spelling variations have also been used as the Anglicized forms of six other Irish patronymics: Ó Ceinin, Ó Ciarain, Mac Giolla Ceire, Ó Carra, Mac Giolla Chathair, and the nearly-extinct MacFhiachra.

Early Origins of the Harry family

The surname Harry was first found in the county of Kilkenny (Irish: Cill Chainnigh), the former Kingdom of Osraige (Ossory), located in Southeastern Ireland in the province of Leinster. Today Cary is a barony in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.

Early History of the Harry family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Harry research. Another 174 words (12 lines of text) covering the years 1172, 1300, 1620, 1761, 1784 and 1834 are included under the topic Early Harry History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Harry Spelling Variations

Just like the English language, the Gaelic language of Ireland was not standardized in the Middle Ages. Therefore, one's name was often recorded under several different spellings during the life of its bearer. Spelling variations revealed in the search for the origins of the Harry family name include Carrie, Carry, Carre, Carie, Carrey, MacCarry, MacHarry, MacHarris, O'Carey, Cary, M'Carrie, Kearey, Kearrie, Keerie, Keery, Keerey, M'Harrie, M'Harry, M'Hary, M'Harie and many more.

Early Notables of the Harry family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was Patrick Carrie, notable Irish patriot. Also, three famous brothers of the Carey name, John Carey, the inventor of the distress rocket for ships, went to London and taught school, becoming a most prolific writer, writing over 50 classics, including short stories and poems. The next brother, William, a painter and engraver, stayed in Dublin...
Another 63 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Harry Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Harry Ranking

In the United States, the name Harry is the 2,812^nd most popular surname with an estimated 9,948 people with that name. 2 However, in France, the name Harry is ranked the 9,505^th most popular surname with an estimated 500 - 1,000 people with that name. 3

Harry migration to the United States +

Ireland became inhospitable for many native Irish families in the 19th centuries. Poverty, lack of opportunities, high rents, and discrimination forced thousands to leave the island for North America. The largest exodus of Irish settlers occurred with the Great Potato Famine of the late 1840s. For these immigrants the journey to British North America and the United States was long and dangerous and many did not live to see the shores of those new lands. Those who did make it were essential to the development of what would become two of the wealthiest and most powerful nations of the world. These Irish immigrants were not only important for peopling the new settlements and cities, they also provided the manpower needed for the many industrial and agricultural projects so essential to these growing nations. Immigration and passenger lists have documented the arrival of various people bearing the name Harry to North America:

Harry Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Richard Harry, aged 32, who arrived in Virginia in 1635 4
James Harry, who arrived in Virginia in 1651 4
Joseph Harry, who landed in Virginia in 1654 4
Edward Harry, who arrived in America in 1654-1679 4
Walter Harry, who landed in America in 1654-1679 4
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Harry Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

Elizabeth Harry, who landed in Philadelphia Pennsylvania in 1710 4
Martin Harry, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1763 4
William Harry, who arrived in America in 1765 4

Harry Settlers in United States in the 19th Century

Worlf Harry, aged 8, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1832 4
Sofhairs Harry, aged 34, who arrived in Mobile, Ala in 1832 4
Isaac Harry, aged 10, who landed in Mobile, Alm in 1832 4
Mr. James Harry, (b. 1795), aged 47, Cornish miner departing from Falmouth aboard the ship "Orient" arriving in the United States on 19 May 1842 5
Miss Mary Ann Harry, (b. 1831), aged 11, Cornish settler departing from Falmouth aboard the ship "Orient" arriving in the United States on 19 May 1842 5
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Harry Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Mr. William Harry, (b. 1852), aged 48, Cornish miner from Marazion, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "Umbria" arriving at Ellis Island, New York on 29th July 1900 en route to Ishpeming, Michigan, USA 6

Harry migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Harry Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

John Harry, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1749

Harry migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Harry Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Isaiah Harry, Welsh convict who was convicted in Glamorgan, Glamorganshire, Wales for 7 years, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 22nd September 1819, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7
Mr. William Harry, Welsh convict who was convicted in Glamorgan, Glamorganshire, Wales for life, transported aboard the "Countess of Harcourt" on 29th April 1828, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 8
Mr. Edmund Harry, English convict who was convicted in London, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Charles Kerr" on 6th June 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
Mr. William Harry, English convict who was convicted in Wiltshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Charles Kerr" on 6th June 1837, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 9
Mr. Joseph Harry, (b. 1824), aged 25, Cornish farm labourer from St, Hilary, Cornwall, UK travelling aboard the ship "British Empire" arriving in Port Phillip, New South Wales, Australia on 6th June 1849 10
... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Harry migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Harry Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Henry Harry, (b. 1857), aged 17, Cornish labourer departing on 22nd May 1874 aboard the ship "St Lawrence" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 29th August 1874 11
Mr. John S. Harry, (b. 1853), aged 21, Cornish smith departing on 22nd May 1874 aboard the ship "St Lawrence" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 29th August 1874 11
Miss C. J. Harry, (b. 1859), aged 19, Cornish general servant departing on 7th September 1878 aboard the ship "Opawa" going to Timaru, Canterbury, New Zealand arriving in port on 7th December 1878 12
Miss Lavinia Harry, (b. 1840), aged 38, Cornish cook departing on 29th August 1878 aboard the ship "Waitara" going to Bluff or Otago, New Zealand arriving in port on 3rd December 1878 12
C.J. Harry, (b. 1859), aged 19, Cornish general servant departing on 7th September 1878 aboard the ship "Opawa" arriving in Lyttelton, Canterbury, New Zealand on 7th December 1878 11

Contemporary Notables of the name Harry (post 1700) +

Deborah Ann "Debbie" Harry (b. 1945), born Angela Tremble, an American singer-songwriter and actress, best known as the lead singer of the rock band Blondie
Willis G. Harry, American politician, U.S. Vice Consul in Georgetown, 1919-22 13
Walter Harry, American Republican politician, Candidate in primary for Michigan State House of Representatives 54th District, 1978 13
Steve Harry, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Oklahoma State Senate 40th District, 2002 13
John B. Harry, American politician, Member of North Carolina State Senate from Lincoln County, 1835 13
Floyd Harry, American Republican politician, Candidate for U.S. Representative from Texas 4th District, 1928, 1930, 1932, 1946 13
David Garfield Harry (b. 1880), American Republican politician, Insurance executive; Member of Maryland State Senate, 1924-47; Delegate to Republican National Convention from Maryland, 1940; Candidate for U.S. Representative from Maryland 2nd District, 1946 13
Simon B. Harry (1965-2022), Nigerian statistician, born in Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau state, Statistician General, National Bureau of Statistics Federal Republic of Nigeria (2021-2022)
Raymond Harry Beckett (1903-1983), Australian journalist, newspaper editor and author
Allan Harry Beckett MBE (1914-2005), English civil engineer involved in the "Whale" floating roadway

Historic Events for the Harry family +

HMS Prince of Wales

Mr. John H S Harry, British Leading Cook, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 14
Mr. ErneSt David Harry (1921-1942), English Marine from England, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales and survived the sinking, was listed as missing and presumed killed during the evacuation of Singapore 1942 14

HMS Repulse

Mr. Leonard K Harry, British Able Bodied Seaman, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 15
Mr. Alfred J Harry, British Seaman Able Bodied, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and survived the sinking 15

Sources +

MacLysaght, Edward, The Surnames of Ireland. Ireland: Irish Academic Press, sixth edition, 1985. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2366-3)
"What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
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)
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to New York 1820 - 1891 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_new_york_1820_1891.pdf
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 3rd May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_ellis_island_1892_on.pdf
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 10th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 19th April 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/countess-of-harcourt
Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 1st February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/charles-kerr
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, May 30). Ships' Passenger Lists of Arrivals in New South Wales on (1828 - 1842, 1848 - 1849) [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_nsw_1838_on.pdf
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to Lyttelton 1858-84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 2018, April 30). Emigrants to other ports, 1872 - 84 [PDF]. Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/new_zealand_assisted.pdf
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 19) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html
HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html