<?xml version="1.0"?><ownershipDocument><schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-08-08</periodOfReport><notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16><issuer><issuerCik>0000045599</issuerCik><issuerName>HARLAND JOHN H CO</issuerName>        <issuerTradingSymbol>jh</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId><rptOwnerCik>0001217131</rptOwnerCik><rptOwnerName>RUDDEN EILEEN</rptOwnerName></reportingOwnerId><reportingOwnerAddress><rptOwnerStreet1>32 ARLINGTON STREET</rptOwnerStreet1><rptOwnerStreet2></rptOwnerStreet2><rptOwnerCity>CAMBRIDGE</rptOwnerCity><rptOwnerState>ME</rptOwnerState><rptOwnerZipCode>02140</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>2003-08-08</value></transactionDate><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>24.9</value></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>11660</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></footnotes><remarks></remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>John C. Walters, POA for Eileen Rudden</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-08-11</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

