Harington

Harington is an English surname. It is a variant spelling of Harrington and derives from English place-names called Harrington, of which several exist in England. The form Harington reflects historical orthographic variation and is found in genealogical records as well as in modern surnames in the United Kingdom and other English-speaking countries.

The surname is toponymic, indicating origin from a Harrington location. The original place-names are believed to derive from Old English elements referring to a settlement associated with a group or leader, and spelling variations—such as Harington and Harrington—emerged over the centuries.

Notable people with the surname include Kit Harington (born Christopher Catesby Harington, 1986), an English actor best known for playing Jon Snow in Game of Thrones. Sir John Harington (1561–1612) was an English courtier, poet, and translator who published an English translation of Ariosto's Orlando Furioso and is often credited with inventing an early flush toilet.

In historical and contemporary contexts, Harington appears in records of English families and in popular culture through public figures bearing the name. The surname continues to be encountered in genealogical research and in modern media, reflecting its enduring presence in English-speaking societies.