popular surname, attested from c.1400, from Harry, popular medieval pronunciation of Henry. As a type of tweed (1892), it is from the name of the southern section of the island of Lewis with Harris in the Outer Hebrides; originally it referred to fabric produced by the inhabitants there, later a proprietary name. That place name represents Gaelic na-h-earaidh "that which is higher," in comparison to the lower Lewis. Harrisburg, capital of Pennsylvania, is named for ferryman John Harris (1727-1791), son of the original European settler.
largest and most northerly of Scotland's Outer Hebrides islands, lying 24 miles (39 km) from the west coast of the Scottish mainland and separated from it by the Minch channel. Although the island forms one continuous unit, it is usually referred to as two separate islands. The larger and more northerly portion is Lewis; Harris is in the south. Lewis is part of the historic county of Ross-shire in the historic region of Ross and Cromarty, while Harris belongs to the historic county of Inverness-shire. Both Lewis and Harris lie within the Western Isles council area.