Harris

• IPA^(key): /ˈhæɹɪs/

• Audio (Southern England):

  (file)

• Rhymes: -æɹɪs

From Harry +‎ -s (“patronymic suffix”). From Harry, a male given name derived from a Middle English pronunciation of Old French Henri.

Harris (countable and uncountable, plural Harrises)

1. (countable) An English and Welsh surname originating as a patronymic.
   • 2024 May 1, Charles M. Blow, “Kamala Harris Isn’t Americans’ ‘Momala.’ She’s Our Vice President.”, in The New York Times‎^[1], archived from the original on 3 May 2024:

     On Monday, Vice President Kamala Harris appeared on “The Drew Barrymore Show,” and in a lighthearted moment, explained — as she did during the last presidential election cycle — that in her blended family, her stepchildren affectionately call her Momala.

   • 2024 August 26, Stephen Collinson, “Trump’s personal attacks aren’t just who he is. They’re his strategy”, in CNN‎^[2]:

     Her tone shift involved former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton lampooning their fellow ex-president as a figure of ridicule. Then Harris closed the trap with a line in her convention speech: “Trump is an unserious man. But the consequences … of putting Donald Trump back in the White House are extremely serious.”

2. (countable) A male given name.
3. A placename
   1. A township in Lake Timiskaming, Timiskaming district, Northeastern Ontario, Northern Ontario, Ontario, Canada.
   2. A village in the Rural Municipality of Harris, Saskatchewan, Canada.
   3. A rural municipality of Saskatchewan, Canada.
   4. A number of places in the United States:
      1. An unincorporated community in Marshall County, Indiana.
      2. A minor city in Osceola County, Iowa.
      3. An unincorporated community in Anderson County, Kansas.
      4. A city in Chisago County, Minnesota.
      5. A minor city in Sullivan County, Missouri.
      6. A hamlet in Thompson, Sullivan County, New York.
      7. An unincorporated community in Rutherford County, North Carolina.
      8. An unincorporated community in Benton County, Oregon.
      9. A town in Marquette County, Wisconsin.
   5. An abandoned settlement in Montserrat, destroyed by volcanic eruptions.
   6. Ellipsis of Harris Township.
   7. Ellipsis of Harris County.

• According to the 2010 United States Census, Harris is the 25^th most common surname in the United States, belonging to 624,252 individuals. Harris is most common among White (51.4%) and Black/African American (42.4%) individuals.

Uncertain. Perhaps from Old Norse hérað (“hundred (administrative district)”), or from Old Norse hærri (“higher”), referring to the high hills on the island, especially compared to Lewis.

Harris (uncountable)

1. The southern and more mountainous part of Lewis and Harris, an island in the Outer Hebrides and Western Isles council area, Scotland.

• Sirrah, arrish, rarish, sirrah