English and Welsh patronymic from the personal name Harry plus the genitive -s; most frequent in south Wales and southern England. Henry (Germanic Heimirich: heim 'home' + rih 'ruler') came to England with the Normans. It spread to Ireland mainly with the Plantation of Ulster, and in County Mayo can represent Gaelic Ó hEarchadha.
Spellings and related forms: Harries, Harrison, Parry, Perry.
Harris means "son of Harry". Harry is Henry, from "home" and "ruler", so the shield carries the key to the home.
Most surnames have no single "family crest". In heraldry, a coat of arms belonged to one person and passed down one line of descent. Sites that sell "the Harris coat of arms" usually show the arms of one historic family that shared the name. Ours is different on purpose: an original design built from what the name means, which any Harris can own honestly.
Blankets: soft velveteen plush (100% polyester), printed on one side; may run up to 3 in. short of the listed size. Rugs: polyester chenille with hemmed edges and a coated backing, for indoor use. Both are printed in the USA (Georgia and North Carolina).
Name meanings come from the sources above, checked 2026-10. Where scholars disagree, we say so.