Surname Harcus - Meaning and Origin
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Harcus: What does the surname Harcus mean?
The surname Harcus originally comes from the Old Norse name "Hákon", and it is particularly associated with the Orkney and Shetland Islands in Scotland. The name Hákon itself is believed to come from the Old Norse word "há", meaning "high" and "konr", which means "son" or "descendant". In the Orkney and Shetland dialect of Scots, the name evolved to Hakon, then Arkus, and finally Harcus. The surname Harcus is therefore thought to mean "high son" or "descendant of the high one". It is worth noting that names of Norse origin are common in areas of Scotland that were influenced by the Vikings, like the Orkney and Shetland Islands. As a surname, Harcus is less common globally but is still used today, primarily in regions with Scottish ancestry.
Order DNA origin analysisHarcus: Where does the name Harcus come from?
The surname Harcus is of Scottish origin. This surname traces its roots to the Viking settlers, derived from Old Norse personal name 'Arnkell', which means 'eagle' and 'kettle' or 'sacrificial cauldron'. The Harcus family lived in Orkney, where the family was found since the early Middle Ages. Orkney, the northernmost county in Scotland, was frequently subjected to Viking invasions and influence, leading to a blend of Norse and Gaelic influences in local names.
Today, the surname isn't very common but is mostly found in regions with Scottish ancestry, such as Scotland and Northern Ireland, and English-speaking countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand that had considerable Scottish immigration. As such, the Harcus surname can be considered a diasporic surname, represented among communities of Scottish descent worldwide.
Variations of the surname Harcus
The surname Harcus is believed to be of Norwegian origin, derived from the Old Norse personal name "Arnketill", which roughly translates to "eagle kettle" or "eagle cauldron", symbolizing strength. Over time, and with relocation and linguistic influences, the surname has seen different spellings and variations.
Some of these include Arkill, Harcus, Harkes, Hercus, Harkus, Harckis, Harcase, Harkiss, Harcas, Arcas, Arcus, Arquiss and possibly Herkis. In Shetland and Orkney islands, where Norse influence was strong, it is common to find the surname rendered as Hercus.
In some cases, the name can also be spelled as Harkiss or Harkus, especially in regions where Scandinavian influence was weaker, and local accents and dialects played a role in the variation of the name.
It's also important to note that there may be other variants of the surname Harcus which have not been recorded or are less common. Thus, the list is non-exhaustive and mostly includes the most recognized variants. It's also worth mentioning many spellings originate from attempts to phonetically spell the name, therefore variants could depend on the individual's pronunciation.
Famous people with the name Harcus
- Paul Harcus: British actor
- Nick Harcus: professional golfer
- Christine Harcus: American actress
- Scott Harcus: former professional ice hockey player
- Anthony Harcus: professional cricket player
- Andrew Harcus: Scottish professional footballer
- Gavin Harcus: British theatre director
- James Harcus: professional boxer
- Liam Harcus: singer/songwriter
- David Harcus: Australian actor
- Shar Harcus: American model
- Jennifer Harcus: singer/songwriter
- Narumi Harcus: Japanese TV presenter
- Martine Harcus: German photographer
- Raymond Harcus: British actor
- Reuben Harcus: British actor
- Emma Harcus: British composer
- Fee Harcus: British writer
- Amanda Harcus: Australian fashion designer
- Frankie Harcus: Scottish YouTuber