Harrel Surname Meaning & Coat of Arms

The spelling Harrel grew out of Harrell, an English surname with a long paper trail. Surname dictionaries give the meaning as “Army ruler”.

• Harrel drops the “l” of Harrell, a simplification that clerks often made.
• Census takers and immigration officers often wrote what they heard.
• You may also find the name written Herrell.
• 1,818 Americans were listed as Harrel in the 2010 census. INSEE counts 104 people born in France with the Harrel surname between 1891 and 2000; the busiest decade was 1971–1980.

Arms associated with the name

Looking for a Harrel coat of arms? Arms were granted to families, not to surnames, and our research shows which heraldic tradition fits yours. Want more than a summary? See the Harrel family name pack.