Harrelson
A patronymic surname meaning “son of Harrell” or “son of Harold,” depending on the family line.
The #4,428 most common surname in the United States (2010 Census) — about 1 in every 38,483 Americans shares it.
Etymology
Harrelson is an English patronymic surname built with the suffix -son, meaning “son of.” It most likely developed from a personal name such as Harrell, a regional or diminutive form related to Harold, ultimately from Old Norse elements meaning roughly “army” and “ruler.” In some cases, it may also reflect a family form of Harrell rather than a direct link to Harold.
History
The surname is found mainly in English-speaking countries, especially the United States, where it is often associated with families of English descent. Like many -son surnames, it became hereditary as naming customs shifted from literal father-son identification to fixed family names. Its modern distribution suggests an English-origin name that was later carried widely through migration to North America.
Origin
Regions
Variant spellings
Fun fact
Because Harrelson can come through different local forms of the same root, two unrelated families with the surname may not share a single ancestor far back in history.