HARROP
Harrop is an English surname of Anglo‑Saxon origin that is predominantly found in the northern counties of England, especially Lancashire, Cheshire and West Yorkshire. The name is categorised as a locational surname, originally identifying people who lived near a particular geographic feature.
According to established etymological research, the element hara in the name means “hare”, while hop denotes an enclosed valley or piece of land. Consequently the compound Harrop was used to describe a settlement situated in a valley frequented by hares. This locational meaning is corroborated by historical records indicating the existence of several places called Harrop in the West Riding of Yorkshire and in Cheshire, from which residents adopted the place name as their surname.
The earliest reliable appearance of the surname is in the Pipe Rolls of Northumberland dated 1185, where a Richard de Harop is recorded; this period coincides with the reign of King Henry XI, who reigned from 1154 to 1189. Subsequent documentary evidence includes William de Harrope in the Assize Court Rolls of Durham (1242) and William Harrop in the Feet of Fines of Yorkshire (1367). Church registers later contain entries such as Willyam Harop (15th November 1551, Ingleby Greenhow, Yorkshire) and Roger, son of John Harrop (24th October 1602, Holy Trinity the Less, London).
Variations in spelling are common in medieval and early modern documents, with forms such as Harrup, Harrap and Harop occurring sporadically. Later spellings include Harrope, Harup, Harap and Harrops, which reflect the historic lack of orthographic standardisation and general illiteracy among the population.
Throughout the centuries, bearers of the name migrated from their home regions to other parts of England and beyond. Emigration records reveal that many individuals bearing the surname Harrop settled in the United States during the 17th and 18th centuries, and later in Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Despite this dispersal, the surname remains most prevalent in the North of England, where it continues to be associated with Lancashire, Manchester and Cheshire.
Other surnames derived from the same geographic source are sometimes identified as related, including Harcup, Harpin and Harpur, though these forms are generally considered distinct because of differences in spelling and regional usage. Nonetheless, the core elements of the name persist, reflecting its enduring association with the valley landscapes of northern England.
Typical given names associated with the Harrop surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Mark
- Matthew
- Michael
- Paul
- Peter
- Stephen
Female
- Christine
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Joan
- Joanne
- Margaret
- Mary
- Nicola
- Patricia
- Sarah
- Susan
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 Harrop in...
Braille
⠓⠁⠗⠗⠕⠏
Morse
.....-.-..-.---.--.
Semaphore
There are approximately 4,944 people named Harrop in the UK. That makes it roughly the 1,905th most common surname in Britain. Around 76 in a million people in Britain are named Harrop.
Origin: English
Region of origin: British Isles
Country of origin: England
Religion of origin: Christian
Language of origin: English
Famous people named Harrop
- Josh Harrop - Football player
- Max Harrop - Football player
- Kerys Harrop - Football player
- Harvey James born Harvey William James Harrop - Australian guitarist (1952 to 2011)
- Bobby Harrop - Football player (1936 to 2007)
- Douglas Harrop - Cricketer
- Joseph Harrop - Mill owner (1867 to 1936)
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.