Explore the Family Name Harrier
The meaning of Harrier
1. English: nickname or occupational name from Middle English and Old French erier, hairer ‘small hunting dog, harrier’, a breed of small foxhounds (similar to beagles) used in hunting hares, of which the earliest surviving record is in the 15th century. The word may also have been used for a man who hunted hares. 2. Scottish: apparently from Older Scots herrier, heriar ‘one who harries, ravages, or lays waste, a plunderer (such as a reiver)’, but this may be folk etymology. The name has not been found before the 19th century and is probably a re-interpretation of Harrower.
Dictionary of American Family Names, 2nd edition, © Oxford University Press, 2022.
How common is the last name Harrier in the United States?
Based on the Decennial U.S. Census, the surname Harrier witnessed a slight decrease in popularity between 2000 and 2010. In 2000, it was ranked as the 36,630th most common surname, but by 2010, it dropped to be the 37,735th, marking a decline of 3.02%. Despite this shift in rank, the actual count of individuals bearing the surname increased from 576 in 2000 to 589 in 2010, a growth rate of 2.26%. However, when considering the proportion per 100k people, there was a small decrease of 4.76%.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #36,630 | #37,735 | -3.02% |
| Count | 576 | 589 | 2.26% |
| Proportion per 100k | 0.21 | 0.2 | -4.76% |
Race and Ethnicity of people with the last name Harrier
Regarding ethnicity, data from the Decennial U.S. Census shows that individuals with the Harrier surname predominantly identify as White, with an overwhelming 96.10% in 2010, a marginal decrease from 96.18% in 2000. The data also reveals a slight increase in those identifying with Hispanic ethnicity, going up from 1.91% in 2000 to 2.21% in 2010, a change of 15.71%. Additionally, there was a minimal rise in the number of individuals identifying with two or more races, increasing from 1.04% in 2000 to 1.19% in 2010. It's important to note that no Harriers reported Asian/Pacific Islander, Black, or American Indian and Alaskan Native ethnicities in either census year.
| 2000 | 2010 | Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| White | 96.18% | 96.1% | -0.08% |
| Hispanic | 1.91% | 2.21% | 15.71% |
| Two or More Races | 1.04% | 1.19% | 14.42% |
| Asian/Pacific Islander | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| Black | 0% | 0% | 0% |
| American Indian and Alaskan Native | 0% | 0% | 0% |