A Conrad Hauri (Chuondradus dictus Hovri) was mentioned on 8 February 1282 as owing 9 shillings annually for his land at Steffisburg, when Werner von Steffisburg leased certain lands to Kloster Interlaken. The dues he owed for his lands are in line with amounts throughout the region for larger peasant holdings and there is nothing to indicate that these lands were anything else.
Conrad Hauri (Conrad dictus Hovri) was mentioned again on 29 March 1308 when Werner von Matten bequeathed lands, including Conrad’s holdings, to Kloster Interlaken. In the same document Werner von Matten bequeathed other lands, which belonged half to the Hauri farmstead, to his daughter Adelheid, wife of Peter von Wichtrach. It should be noted that different lands seem to be involved in these documents, and that Conrad seems to have held lands simultaneously from the von Steffisburg and von Matten families.
A Nicholas Hauri (Nicholaus Hovri) was mentioned in a 19 January 1303 charter as owing 8 shillings annually for his farmstead at Steffisburg, when Walter ab der Matten renounced any claims he might have to lands given by his father to Kloster Interlaken. Conrad and Nicholas Hauri might have been brothers, because both were living at the same time and holding lands in the same area.
An Ulrich Hauri (Uolriens Hoori) was mentioned 24 July 1310 at Jegenstorf as living near two farmsteads sold by Squire Bleiso (Junker Bleiso) to Peter von Krauchtal, a burgher of Berne. In 1323 and 1336 Hauri’s property (Hauris Gut) was mentioned in the same area. This Ulrich might have been the son of Nicholas and nephew of Conrad Hauri. He might have been the Hauri (Hörinus) named in 1313 and 1324 at Beromünster.
The earliest Hauris, then, are Conrad (living 1282-1308), Nicholas (living 1303) and Ulrich (living 1310-1324). There is nothing to prove their relationship to one another, although they were living in the same area and were very likely close relatives.
The surnames Haari, Hari, Harri, Hauri and Houri were recorded in a 1798 census of Berne that included all men between the ages of 20 and 70 [Men of Bern: The 1798 Bürgerverzeichnisse of Canton Bern, Switzerland].