Harrier Family History

English: nickname or occupational name from Middle English and Old French erier hairer ‘small hunting dog harrier’ a breed of small foxhounds (similar to beagles) used in hunting hares, of which the earliest surviving record is in the 15th century. The word may also have been used for a man who hunted hares.

Scottish: apparently from Older Scots herrier heriar ‘one who harries, ravages, or lays waste, a plunderer (such as a reiver)’ but this may be folk etymology. The name has not been found before the 19th century and is probably a re-interpretation of Harrower.