HAREWOOD
Harewood is an English surname that originated as a locational name in the British Isles. It is derived from the Old English words hara meaning “hare” and wudu meaning “wood”, indicating a person who lived near a woodland where hares were abundant. The name is therefore associated with a specific place or geographical feature rather than an occupation or personal characteristic.
The earliest recorded instance of the surname appears in the Yorkshire Charters of 1176 as Hubert de Harewda. This period falls within the reign of King Henry I, known as “The Builder of Churches”, who ruled from 1154 to 1189. The name continued to surface in medieval documents, for example Bernard de Harewode in the English charters known as the “Feet of Fees” in 1242 and Alice Harewode in the Somerset Subsidy Rolls of 1327. In Scotland, a Roger de Hauewod is recorded holding lands near Edinburgh in 1317.
The surname is linked to several place names in England and Scotland. In the Anglo‑Scottish Border Region, as well as in the counties of Yorkshire, Lancashire, Lothian and Northumberland, there are localities called Harewood or variations thereof. The common meaning of these place names is the same, whether drawn from the Old English har meaning “grey” or from hara meaning “hare”, together with wudu meaning “wood”. Consequently, bearers of the surname may have adopted it to signify a connection with any of these settlements.
During the Middle Ages, when internal migration for employment increased, individuals often adopted the name of their village as a means of identification. This practice facilitated the spread of the surname beyond its original locality, leading to a wide dispersal of the name throughout England and Scotland.
Over the centuries the spelling of Harewood has varied, with forms such as Harwood, Harward and Herewood appearing in documents. Later examples include the 17th‑century Ralph Harwood, aged 23, who was among the early settlers in Barbados, departing from London on the ship Hopewell in February 1634. The variety of spellings reflects the fluidity of surnames before the 19th century and the influence of regional accents and literacy levels on official record‑keeping.
In more recent times the surname remains relatively uncommon and is most highly concentrated in West Yorkshire, where the place name Harewood is situated. It has also spread to other parts of the British Commonwealth, notably Australia, New Zealand and Canada, and to the United States through the migration of English families. The name’s presence in these countries reflects the broader pattern of English surnames establishing roots worldwide.
Notable individuals bearing the surname include the British actor David Harewood and West Indies cricketer Desmond Harewood. Their prominence in contemporary culture highlights the continued relevance of the surname within English‑speaking societies.
Typical given names associated with the Harewood surname
Male
- Andrew
- Anthony
- Christopher
- David
- Dev
- Mark
- Michael
- Nicholas
- Paul
- Stephen
- Troy
- Walter
Female
- Alison
- Deborah
- Elizabeth
- Janette
- Jennifer
- Margaret
- Marion
- Michelle
- Patricia
- Sandra
- Shirley
- Sonia
- Susan
- Yvonne
Similar and related surnames
Related and similar names are generated algorithmically based on the spelling, and may not necessarily share an etymology.
How to communicate the surname Harewood in...
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Morse
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There are approximately 668 people named Harewood in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around ten in a million people in Britain are named Harewood.
Surname type: Location or geographical feature
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Harewood
- David Harewood - Actor
- Marlon Harewood - Football player
Names and descriptions courtesy of Wikipedia, and may contain errors. This is not intended to be an exhaustive list of every famous person with this name.