NameCensus.

UK surname

Harden

An English occupational surname referring to a tough or enduring person, or a maker of hards (fabric).

In the 1881 census there were 1,171 people recorded with the Harden surname, ranking it #3,443 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,557, ranked #3,979, down from #3,443 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Burton-on-Trent, London parishes and Warehorne, Orlestone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Rossendale, Ashford and Maidstone.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Harden is 1,691 in 1999. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 33.0%.

1881 census count

1,171

Ranked #3,443

Modern count

1,557

2016, ranked #3,979

Peak year

1999

1,691 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Harden had 1,171 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #3,443 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,557 in 2016, ranked #3,979.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,603 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Harden surname distribution map

The map shows where the Harden surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Harden surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Harden over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 1,251 #2,281
1861 historical 1,114 #2,518
1881 historical 1,171 #3,443
1891 historical 1,347 #3,230
1901 historical 1,565 #3,292
1911 historical 1,603 #3,034
1997 modern 1,651 #3,596
1998 modern 1,683 #3,666
1999 modern 1,691 #3,676
2000 modern 1,661 #3,715
2001 modern 1,627 #3,716
2002 modern 1,609 #3,831
2003 modern 1,554 #3,875
2004 modern 1,536 #3,918
2005 modern 1,533 #3,878
2006 modern 1,531 #3,888
2007 modern 1,515 #3,966
2008 modern 1,538 #3,926
2009 modern 1,593 #3,895
2010 modern 1,614 #3,930
2011 modern 1,576 #3,965
2012 modern 1,522 #4,026
2013 modern 1,555 #4,015
2014 modern 1,561 #4,021
2015 modern 1,555 #4,000
2016 modern 1,557 #3,979

Geography

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Where Hardens are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Burton-on-Trent, London parishes, Warehorne, Orlestone and Rolvenden. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Rossendale, Ashford, Maidstone, Denbighshire and Pembrokeshire. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Burton-on-Trent Staffordshire
2 London parishes London 1
3 Warehorne, Orlestone Kent
4 London parishes London 3
5 Rolvenden Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Rossendale 009 Rossendale
2 Ashford 014 Ashford
3 Maidstone 017 Maidstone
4 Denbighshire 014 Denbighshire
5 Pembrokeshire 007 Pembrokeshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Harden

These lists show first names that appear often with the Harden surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Harden

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Harden, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Harden surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Harden household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs

Within London, Harden is most associated with areas classed as Terraced and Semi-Detached Suburbs, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly concentrated in suburban areas, these terraced and semi-detached developments are less overcrowded than the Supergroup average, and resident households are more likely to own two or more cars. There are fewer residents aged 25-44, and a larger share of residents employed in administrative and secretarial occupations. Residents are more likely to have been born in the UK, less likely to have been born in the EU or Africa, and much less likely to self-identify as Bangladeshi.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Harden is most concentrated in decile 4 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

4
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Harden falls in decile 9 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the less deprived end of the index.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

9
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Harden is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Harden, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Harden

The surname HARDEN is of English origin and is derived from the Old English word "hærdenu," which means a place overgrown with hardy plants or shrubs. This name likely referred to someone who lived in or near such a place.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname HARDEN can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it was recorded as "Hardene." This document was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and property rights in England commissioned by William the Conqueror.

During the medieval period, variations of the name appeared in various records, including "Hardyn," "Hardene," and "Harden." These spellings reflect the different dialects and regional pronunciations prevalent at the time.

One notable bearer of the HARDEN surname was John Harden (c. 1470-1549), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Yorkshire, England. He served as a member of the Guild of Corpus Christi and was a benefactor to the city of York.

In the 16th century, the name HARDEN appeared in the records of the Elizabethan era. William Harden (c. 1530-1599) was a prominent figure in the English Reformation and served as a member of the Privy Council under Queen Elizabeth I.

Another notable individual with the HARDEN surname was Sir Robert Harden (1585-1654), a Member of Parliament and a staunch supporter of the Parliamentarian cause during the English Civil War. He played a crucial role in the defense of the city of London against the Royalist forces.

In the 18th century, the HARDEN name was associated with several authors and scholars. James Harden (1714-1783) was a renowned Scottish poet and playwright, best known for his satirical works on contemporary society.

The 19th century saw the HARDEN surname spread across the British Empire. One notable figure was Sir Henry Harden (1820-1895), a British colonial administrator who served as the Governor of Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) from 1879 to 1884.

Throughout history, the HARDEN surname has also been linked to various place names, such as Harden in Wiltshire, England, and Harden Moss in Northumberland, England. These locations likely took their names from the original Old English word "hærdenu," further reinforcing the surname's connection to areas overgrown with hardy plants or shrubs.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Harden families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Harden surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Kent leads with 250 Hardens recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.38x.

County Total Index
Kent 250 6.38x
Middlesex 151 1.32x
Surrey 108 1.93x
Lancashire 64 0.47x
Sussex 58 3.00x
Essex 53 2.34x
Somerset 47 2.54x
Staffordshire 44 1.14x
Yorkshire 42 0.37x
Norfolk 36 2.04x
Cheshire 28 1.10x
Hampshire 26 1.10x
Warwickshire 23 0.79x
Dorset 19 2.52x
Worcestershire 19 1.27x
Cumberland 18 1.82x
Durham 18 0.53x
Cambridgeshire 17 2.34x
Suffolk 17 1.22x
Gloucestershire 15 0.67x
Dunbartonshire 14 4.54x
Lincolnshire 14 0.76x
Lanarkshire 13 0.35x
Devon 10 0.42x
Stirlingshire 9 2.13x
Cornwall 8 0.62x
Herefordshire 8 1.70x
Bedfordshire 7 1.18x
Northumberland 7 0.41x
Derbyshire 4 0.22x
Northamptonshire 4 0.37x
Berkshire 3 0.35x
Monmouthshire 3 0.36x
Royal Navy 3 2.19x
Anglesey 2 0.98x
Caernarfonshire 2 0.43x
Perthshire 2 0.39x
Buckinghamshire 1 0.14x
Channel Islands 1 0.29x
Flintshire 1 0.32x
Hertfordshire 1 0.13x
Leicestershire 1 0.08x
Midlothian 1 0.07x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.06x
Oxfordshire 1 0.14x
Pembrokeshire 1 0.27x
Rutland 1 1.19x
Shropshire 1 0.10x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Rolvenden in Kent leads with 39 Hardens recorded in 1881 and an index of 769.23x.

Place Total Index
Rolvenden 39 769.23x
Warehorne 28 1339.71x
Chatham 23 21.34x
St Pancras London 21 2.27x
Bridgewater 19 37.87x
Burton Upon Trent 18 19.85x
West Ham 18 3.60x
Clerkenwell London 17 6.27x
Ealing 15 14.62x
Kidderminster Borough 15 17.09x
St George Hanover Square 15 7.42x
Bermondsey 13 3.80x
Bromborough 13 247.15x
Islington London 13 1.17x
Armthorpe 12 779.22x
Birmingham 12 1.24x
Epsom 12 44.02x
Colchester St Giles 11 49.13x
Lambeth 11 1.10x
Maidstone 11 9.43x
Rainham 11 102.23x
Woolwich 11 7.60x
Ashford 10 26.21x
Clapham 10 6.97x
Heigham 10 10.55x
Rusholme 10 27.52x
Sedgley 10 6.95x
Warblington 10 107.18x
Hawkhurst 9 73.89x
Herne 9 51.90x
Kilsyth 9 33.33x
Newton 9 8.57x
Penge 9 12.27x
Elsworth 8 303.03x
Helsby 8 250.78x
Lowestoft 8 12.11x
Mile End Old Town London 8 3.27x
Orlestone 8 493.83x
Pendleton In Salford 8 4.93x
Southwark St Saviour 8 13.56x
Toxteth Park 8 1.73x
Wembdon 8 146.25x
Aston 7 0.88x
Bexhill 7 72.54x
Cardross 7 18.89x
Charlton Kings 7 44.93x
Cockermouth 7 33.64x
Cumbernauld 7 41.40x
Helion Bumpstead 7 229.51x
Lewisham 7 3.35x
Luton 7 6.80x
St Just In Roseland 7 123.02x
West Chiltington 7 278.88x
Ash Next Sandwich 6 69.20x
Barnes 6 25.36x
Boldon 6 49.26x
Eaton St Andrew 6 122.45x
Evedon 6 2068.97x
Greenwich 6 3.28x
Havant 6 50.34x
Liverpool 6 0.73x
Minster In Sheppey 6 9.25x
Plumstead 6 4.59x
Swanage 6 64.52x
Tottenham 6 3.28x
Barking 5 7.54x
Bexley 5 14.44x
Brenenden 5 99.21x
Broadway 5 167.22x
Conisbrough 5 46.86x
Elswick 5 3.67x
Hastings St Mary In The 5 12.11x
Hipperholme Cum 5 10.00x
Hook Malden 5 223.21x
Irthington 5 212.77x
Kensington London 5 0.78x
Knottingley 5 25.00x
Rotherfield 5 29.34x
Rotherhithe 5 3.52x
Temple Guiting 5 239.23x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Harden surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Harden surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
William 74
John 54
Thomas 46
George 40
Charles 28
Henry 26
James 26
Edward 22
Robert 22
Frederick 19
Alfred 14
Albert 13
Walter 13
Ernest 11
Samuel 10
Joseph 9
Frank 8
Richard 8
Arthur 7
Harry 7
David 6
Herbert 5
Allan 3
Jacob 3
Percy 3
Stephen 3
Arther 2
Christopher 2
Daniel 2
Edmund 2
Edwin 2
Michael 2
Philip 2
Sydney 2
Thos. 2
Alonzo 1
Antony 1
Benjamin 1
Carr. 1
Charley 1
Chas.M. 1
Edwd.Spencer 1
Faulkner 1
Flagy 1
Francis 1
Fred 1
Infant 1
Irvina 1
Jas. 1
Wm.H. 1

FAQ

Harden surname: questions and answers

How common was the Harden surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,171 people were recorded with the Harden surname. That placed it at #3,443 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Harden surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,557 in 2016. That gives Harden a modern rank of #3,979.

What does the Harden surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a tough or enduring person, or a maker of hards (fabric).

What does the Harden map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Harden bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.