<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-15</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000045599</issuerCik><issuerName>HARLAND JOHN H CO</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>jh</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001101331</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>ANTLE WILLIAM S III</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>PO BOX 1499</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>NEWPORT</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>RI</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>02840-0606</rptOwnerZipCode><rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription></reportingOwnerAddress><reportingOwnerRelationship><isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-09-15</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F1" /></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>40</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>25.04</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>20412</value><footnoteId id="F2" /></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-09-16</value></transactionDate><deemedExecutionDate></deemedExecutionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>A</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved><footnoteId id="F3" /></transactionCoding><transactionTimeliness><value></value></transactionTimeliness><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>39</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><value>25.38</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>20451</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>D</value></directOrIndirectOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">All shares acquired through Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan</footnote><footnote id="F2">Includes 41 shares acquired pursuant to the Dividend Reinvestment Program</footnote><footnote id="F3">All shares acquired through Non-Employee Director Compensation Plan</footnote></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>John C. Walters, POA for William S. Antle</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-17</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

