Exhibit 31.1

CERTIFICATION

I, Paul D. Geraghty, President, Chief
Executive Officer and Director, certify, that:

|1. |  | I have reviewed this
      annual report on Form 10-K of Harleysville National
  Corporation.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     
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|2. |  | Based on my knowledge,
      the annual report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact
      or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in
      light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not
      misleading with respect to the period covered by this annual
    report.               
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|3. |  | Based on my knowledge,
      the financial statements, and other financial information included in this
      annual report, fairly present in all material respects the financial
      condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of,
      and for, the periods presented in this annual report.                                     
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|4. |  | The registrants other
      certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining
      disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules
      13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as
      defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant
      and have:
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|   |  | (a)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
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|   |  | (b)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
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|   |  | (c)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
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|   |  | (d)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
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|5. |  | The registrants other
      certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent
      evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the
      registrants auditors and the audit committee of the registrants board of
      directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):                                           
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|   |  | (a)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
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|   |  | (b)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               
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| | Date: March 11,
      2009
| | --------------------------

|By: | /s/ Paul D. Geraghty                                  | 
|--- | ----------------------------------------------------- | 
|    | President,
      Chief Executive Officer and Director
|    | Harleysville
      National Corporation              

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