Are Harris and Fisher Jewish surnames?

Question

Are the surnames Harris and Fisher Jewish?

Answer 1

Fisher can be a Jewish name, but it can also be spelled Fischer. (Eddie Fischer was married to Debbie Reynolds and he's Jewish. I don't know if it's by choice, a stage name or what exactly, but I've met several Fisher's or Fischer's that were of Jewish ancestry.

I've never met anyone with the name Harris that was Jewish.

Every Harris I've ever met in my life was Protestant.

I imagine that almost anything is possible though. ☺

Answer 2

I found this information for you.

Surname: Harris

This ancient surname is English, Scottish and Irish, and is recorded in many spellings including Harry, Harrie, Harrhy, Harris, Harries, and Harriss. However spelt, all derive from the 11th century personal name Harry, itself a nickname form of Henry. "Henry", which originates from the pre 7th century Frankish name "Henn- ric", meaning "home-rule", was first introduced into Britain at the Norman Conquest of England, in 1066, and is recorded in the famous register known as the Domesday Book, in the year 1086. Over the next four centuries the name in all its spellings became very popular in England, although in Scotland the usual spelling is Harrison. The eight English kings called officially Henry, were all referred to as Hal or Harry. Early examples of the "Harry" surname recordings taken from authentic medieval charters, and showing the surname development, include Nicholas Herri, in the 1327 Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, and William Harrys, in the Eynsham Cartulary of Oxford, in the year 1406. Later recordings include those of Walter Harris (1647 - 1732), a court physician to King Charles 11, and later William and Queen Mary, 1689 - 1694. The first recorded spelling of the family name is believed to be that of John Harry, which was dated 1273, in the "Hundred Rolls" of the county of Buckinghamshire. This was during the reign of King Edward 1st, known as "The Hammer of the Scots", 1272 - 1307. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Surname: Fisher

This interesting surname has a number of origins. Firstly, it may be an occupational name for a fisherman, deriving from the Middle English "fisher", a development of the Olde English pre 7th Century "fiscere", a derivative of "fiscian" meaning "to catch fish". Secondly, it may be a topographical name for someone who lived near a fish weir on a river, deriving from the Middle English "fisch", Olde English "fisc" meaning "fish" plus the Middle English "gere" a development of the Old Norse "gervi" "weir, apparatus". inally, it may be an Ashkenazic occupational name for a fisherman from the Yiddish "fisher". The surname dates back to the mid 13th Century (see below). London Church Records include the marriage of Annis Fisher to Robart Marle on July 6th 1549, at St. Martin Orgar, and the christening of Anne, daughter of Thomas Fisher, on March 8th 1552 at St. Mary Magdalene's, Bermondsey. The name is well represented in the "Dictionary of National Biography" with over twenty entries, one of the most notable being George Fisher (1794 - 1873), who acted as astronomer to the Polar expedition of 1818, and propounded a theory of the nature and origin of the aurora borealis, published in 1834. A Coat of Arms granted to a Fisher family in Scotland is a blue shield, with a silver chevron between three silver salmon haurient. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Richard le Fischer, which was dated 1263 in the "Feet of Fines of Essex", during the reign of King Henry 111, known as "The Frenchman", 1216 - 1272. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

Hope this helps.

Answer 3

The only people I know with these names are jewish, but it doesnt mean that only jewish people have these names.

Answer 4

I've met alot of people with those last names. But sometimes people legally change their names so ethnicity and name don't always go hand in hand. I say, personality and morality are more important than ethnicity.

Answer 5

Like Shirley said.I am Jewish and Fisher and HArris can be Jewish names. But, it can also be a shorter version of a longer naem. My Step moms family last name used to be Soranovanavick (its tru). When they came thru elis island it was turned into SMith.

Answer 6

I suppose they could be, but all the people I know with this name are Lutheran.

Answer 7

www.surnamedb.com--

Surname: Harris

This ancient surname is ENGLISH, SCOTTISH, and IRISH, and is recorded in many spellings including Harry, Harrie, Harrhy, Harris, Harries, and Harriss. However spelled, all derive from the 11th century personal name Harry, itself a nickname form of Henry. "Henry", which originates from the pre 7th century Frankish name "Henn- ric", meaning "home-rule", was first introduced into Britain at the Norman Conquest of England, in 1066, and is recorded in the famous register known as the Domesday Book, in the year 1086. Over the next four centuries the name in all its spellings became very popular in England, although in Scotland the usual spelling is Harrison. The eight English kings called officially Henry, were all referred to as Hal or Harry. Early examples of the "Harry" surname recordings taken from authentic medieval charters, and showing the surname development, include Nicholas Herri, in the 1327 Subsidy Rolls of Worcestershire, and William Harrys, in the Eynsham Cartulary of Oxford, in the year 1406. Later recordings include those of Walter Harris (1647 - 1732), a court physician to King Charles II, and later William and Queen Mary, 1689 - 1694. The first recorded spelling of the family name is believed to be that of John Harry, which was dated 1273, in the "Hundred Rolls" of the county of Buckinghamshire. This was during the reign of King Edward 1st, known as "The Hammer of the Scots", 1272 - 1307.

Surname: Fisher

This interesting surname has a number of origins. Firstly, it may be an occupational name for a fisherman, deriving from the Middle ENGLISH "fisher", a development of the Olde English pre 7th Century "fiscere", a derivative of "fiscian" meaning "to catch fish". Secondly, it may be a topographical name for someone who lived near a fish weir on a river, deriving from the Middle English "fisch", Olde English "fisc" meaning "fish" plus the Middle English "gere" a development of the Old Norse "gervi" "weir, apparatus". inally, it may be an Ashkenazic occupational name for a fisherman from the Yiddish "fisher". The surname dates back to the mid-13th Century (see below). London Church Records include the marriage of Annis Fisher to Robart Marle on July 6th 1549, at St. Martin Orgar, and the christening of Anne, daughter of Thomas Fisher, on March 8th 1552 at St. Mary Magdalene's, Bermondsey. The name is well represented in the "Dictionary of National Biography" with over twenty entries, one of the most notable being George Fisher (1794 - 1873), who acted as astronomer to the Polar expedition of 1818, and propounded a theory of the nature and origin of the aurora borealis, published in 1834. A Coat of Arms granted to a Fisher family in SCOTLAND is a blue shield, with a silver chevron between three silver salmon haurient. The first recorded spelling of the family name is shown to be that of Richard le Fischer, which was dated 1263 in the "Feet of Fines of Essex", during the reign of King Henry III, known as "The Frenchman", 1216 - 1272. Surnames became necessary when governments introduced personal taxation. In England this was known as Poll Tax.

Answer 8

Nope. Im Jewish.

Answer 9

maybe a jewish woman married someone with that name

it would still make you jewish as it runs along the female line

i am not familiar with these names but they could be . so many people changed their name when they emmigrated to hide their identities

Answer 10

Any name can be Jewish.  A lot of names in the U.S. get seen as Jewish as a large portion of the immigrants to the U.S. with those names were Jewish while back in their home countries they were used by Jews and non Jews alike.

Also understand that surnames comes from the father.  However, Orthodox and Conservative Judaism defines a Jew by the mother not the father.  They state they get the nation from the mother and the tribe from the father.  If they don't have a Jewish father, they belong to the tribe of the nearest male relative on the mother's side of the family.  Whereas if they don't have a Jewish mother, they aren't Jewish.

Reform Judaism views it differently.

Answer 11

Sometimes.

Would you like to know how to trace your family tree to find out if YOUR Harris and Fisher ancetors were Jewish?