Harris Cemetery Records
Search burial records, grave locations, and genealogy data for the Harris family name across all 50 states.
🏺 Origin of the Harris Surname
Harris is an English and Welsh patronymic surname meaning "son of Harry," where Harry is a medieval English form of Henry (from the Germanic "Heimrich" — home ruler). It is particularly common in Wales and the West Country of England. Harris developed from "Harrisson" → "Harries" → "Harris" as a condensed patronymic form.
🇺🇸 Harris Families in American History
Harris families came to America predominantly from England and Wales. The name is common in both the Mid-Atlantic and Southern states. Harris is also the 8th most common surname among African Americans, reflecting both Welsh/English enslavers and post-emancipation adoption.
Where Harris Families Are Concentrated
| State | Notes |
|---|---|
| Georgia | Harris County in Georgia; strong both white and Black Harris heritage |
| Tennessee | Very common Appalachian Harris families with Scots-Welsh roots |
| North Carolina | Deep colonial heritage; strong African American Harris population |
| Virginia | Colonial Virginia has well-documented Harris families from 1600s |
| Texas | Harris County (Houston) is named for a founder; large absolute population |
Famous Americans Named Harris
Author of Uncle Remus stories; buried at West View Cemetery, Atlanta, GA
Published first American newspaper; buried in Boston
Country singer with deep Virginia roots
First Black female Cabinet member; buried at Lincoln Memorial Cemetery, Suitland, MD
Search Tips for Harris Family Records
Harris County, Texas (Houston) naming history is a good anchor for Texas family research
Welsh Harris families: look for Baptist chapel and Calvinist Methodist records in Pennsylvania and Ohio
For African American Harris families, Georgia and North Carolina Freedmen's Bureau records are key
Joel Chandler Harris family records in Georgia are well-documented and publicly accessible
Search both Harris and the variant Harries when researching Welsh-origin families
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Harris a Jewish surname as well?
Yes — Harris is used by some Ashkenazi Jewish families, sometimes anglicized from Herschel or Hirsh (German/Yiddish for deer). The context of the community and geographic location helps identify whether a Harris family is of Jewish or English/Welsh origin.
What is the connection between Harris and Harrison?
Harrison means "son of Harry/Henry" while Harris is a contracted form of the same patronymic. They are related but distinct surnames. President William Henry Harrison's family illustrates the Harrison line; Harris families developed separately in different geographic areas.
Are Harris families from Wales different from English Harris families?
Welsh Harris families typically have records in Baptist and Calvinist Methodist (Calfinistic Methodist) chapel registers. English Harris families are more commonly in Anglican (Church of England) parish records. Geographic location is the best indicator.
Can I find Kamala Harris family records through genealogy research?
Kamala Harris's mother was Indian-American (Shyamala Gopalan); her father is Jamaican-American (Donald Harris). Her surname comes from her father's Jamaican family. Jamaican civil registration records (from 1877) and US naturalization records are the relevant sources.
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