# Harrison

/ˈhɛɹɪsən/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/harrison
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a family name

noun · CEFR A1

a common English last name that originally meant 'son of Harry'.

For teachers: A common English surname of patronymic origin, meaning 'son of Harry'.

- George Harrison was the lead guitarist for the famous band The Beatles.
- The professor noted that Harrison is one of the most frequently occurring surnames in the northern counties of England due to its patronymic roots.

### 2. a male first name

noun · CEFR A1

a popular first name for boys.

For teachers: A masculine given name transferred from the surname.

- Harrison Ford is a very famous American actor known for playing Indiana Jones.
- In recent years, Harrison has seen a resurgence in popularity as a given name in both the United States and the United Kingdom.

### 3. a place name

noun · CEFR B1

the name of many towns and cities, especially in the United States.

For teachers: A frequent toponym in the United States, including cities in New Jersey, New York, and Arkansas.

- The train makes a stop in Harrison before reaching the city center.
- The municipality of Harrison, New Jersey, has undergone significant urban redevelopment due to its proximity to the PATH rail system.

## Examples

- Harrison is the new manager of our local bank.
- The history teacher asked Harrison to read the first chapter of the textbook aloud to the class.
- While the name has historical roots as a surname, Harrison has seen a significant resurgence as a given name in recent decades across several English-speaking nations.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.