NameCensus.

UK surname

Hardey

An English topographic surname referring to someone from a hardy or unproductive place.

In the 1881 census there were 249 people recorded with the Hardey surname, ranking it #11,103 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 120, ranked #27,563, down from #11,103 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Wolstanton and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Sevenoaks, Ryedale and Lambeth.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hardey is 550 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 51.8%.

1881 census count

249

Ranked #11,103

Modern count

120

2016, ranked #27,563

Peak year

1861

550 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hardey had 249 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #11,103 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 120 in 2016, ranked #27,563.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 550 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Hardey surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hardey surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hardey 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 365 #6,492
1861 historical 550 #4,785
1881 historical 249 #11,103
1891 historical 516 #7,234
1901 historical 309 #11,418
1911 historical 238 #13,356
1997 modern 122 #23,917
1998 modern 120 #24,793
1999 modern 124 #24,508
2000 modern 121 #24,824
2001 modern 112 #25,644
2002 modern 116 #25,632
2003 modern 107 #26,617
2004 modern 110 #26,451
2005 modern 106 #27,044
2006 modern 102 #27,926
2007 modern 108 #27,391
2008 modern 114 #26,796
2009 modern 120 #26,496
2010 modern 118 #27,404
2011 modern 112 #28,117
2012 modern 112 #28,174
2013 modern 123 #26,974
2014 modern 122 #27,358
2015 modern 117 #27,982
2016 modern 120 #27,563

Geography

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Where Hardeys are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Wolstanton, St Pancras and Lambeth. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Sevenoaks, Ryedale, Lambeth, Trafford and Kingston upon Hull. 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 London parishes London 1
2 Wolstanton Staffordshire
3 London parishes London 3
4 St Pancras London (North Districts)
5 Lambeth London (South Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Sevenoaks 013 Sevenoaks
2 Ryedale 002 Ryedale
3 Lambeth 017 Lambeth
4 Trafford 014 Trafford
5 Kingston upon Hull 013 Kingston upon Hull, City of

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hardey

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hardey

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hardey, 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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Hardey surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Hardey household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

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Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Hardey is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. 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 located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hardey is most concentrated in decile 10 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier end of the index.

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

10
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hardey falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

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

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hardey is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 60-70 mbit/s.

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

9
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Hardey

The surname HARDEY originated in England during the late medieval period. It is believed to be a locational name derived from the Old English words "hærd" meaning hard or solid, and "eg" meaning an island or dry ground in a marsh. This suggests the name may have referred to someone who lived on a hard or firm piece of land amidst marshy terrain.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hertfordshire Subsidy Rolls of 1292, which mention a William Hardey. The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 also include references to a Robert Hardi and a Walter Hardi, both residing in Oxfordshire.

In the 14th century, the name appears in various forms such as Harday, Hardey, and Hardie in records from counties like Norfolk, Suffolk, and Lincolnshire. These variations likely arose due to differences in dialect and scribal interpretation.

The HARDEY surname is also believed to have connections to place names like Hardres in Kent, which was recorded as "Harde" in the Domesday Book of 1086. This lends credence to the theory that the name originated as a locational identifier.

Notable individuals with the surname HARDEY include:

1. Thomas Hardey (c. 1510 - 1589), an English Catholic priest and martyr who was executed during the reign of Elizabeth I for denying the Act of Supremacy.

2. William Hardey (c. 1530 - 1598), an English Roman Catholic clergyman and author who wrote a treatise on the Catholic faith titled "The Overthrow of Impious Govemaunce."

3. John Hardey (c. 1565 - 1629), an English clergyman and author who served as the Archdeacon of Barnstaple in Devon.

4. Ralph Hardey (c. 1595 - 1670), an English merchant and landowner who served as the Mayor of Newcastle upon Tyne in 1653.

5. Edmund Hardey (c. 1620 - 1688), an English lawyer and politician who represented Lyme Regis in the House of Commons during the reign of Charles II.

The HARDEY surname has a rich history rooted in the landscapes and dialects of medieval England, with many individuals bearing this name leaving their mark in various fields throughout the centuries.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hardey families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hardey 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. Yorkshire leads with 37 Hardeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.48x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 37 1.48x
Lancashire 29 0.97x
Middlesex 24 0.95x
Surrey 19 1.54x
Cheshire 17 3.05x
Dorset 16 9.65x
Lincolnshire 13 3.22x
Somerset 13 3.20x
Shropshire 12 5.50x
Durham 10 1.33x
Berkshire 9 4.75x
Channel Islands 9 12.02x
Gloucestershire 6 1.21x
Sussex 6 1.41x
Warwickshire 6 0.94x
Devon 5 0.95x
Hampshire 4 0.77x
Northumberland 4 1.06x
Buckinghamshire 3 1.96x
Norfolk 3 0.77x
Royal Navy 2 6.64x
Staffordshire 2 0.23x
Suffolk 2 0.65x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.43x
Cornwall 1 0.35x
Derbyshire 1 0.25x
Essex 1 0.20x
Kent 1 0.12x
Midlothian 1 0.30x
Monmouthshire 1 0.55x
Oxfordshire 1 0.64x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. St Martin in Shropshire leads with 12 Hardeys recorded in 1881 and an index of 491.80x.

Place Total Index
St Martin 12 491.80x
Altrincham 11 112.94x
Scarborough 11 48.35x
Crewkerne 10 231.48x
St Helier 9 36.93x
Battersea 8 8.61x
Helpringham 8 987.65x
Reading St Mary 8 52.67x
Southowram 8 104.71x
Poole St James 7 112.36x
West Derby 7 7.98x
Birmingham 6 2.83x
Clifton 6 23.95x
Newton Mulgrave 6 8571.43x
St Pancras London 6 2.95x
Carrington 5 1315.79x
East Grinstead 5 82.92x
Kirkdale 5 9.91x
Moreton 5 1851.85x
Stoke Damerel 5 13.58x
Clapham 4 12.67x
Esher 4 232.56x
Manchester 4 2.97x
Salford 4 4.54x
Shildon 4 66.23x
Shotley High Quarter 4 1600.00x
St Marylebone London 4 2.97x
Bedminster 3 7.85x
Bethnal Green London 3 2.73x
Haydock 3 58.03x
Linslade 3 200.00x
Middleton In Pickering 3 1200.00x
Scoulton 3 1071.43x
Shoreditch London 3 2.74x
St Andrew By Wardrobe 3 2000.00x
Tolpuddle 3 1153.85x
Westoe 3 7.04x
Doncaster 2 10.93x
Everton 2 2.09x
Garthorpe 2 408.16x
Holy Trinity 2 3.32x
Horton In Bradford 2 5.12x
Liverpool 2 1.10x
Newington 2 2.14x
Romsey Extra 2 64.94x
Rougham 2 281.69x
Royal Navy 2 7.77x
St George Hanover Square 2 4.49x
Swinefleet 2 185.19x
Wigan 2 4.77x
Belhelvie 1 62.50x
Bermondsey 1 1.33x
Chester St Oswald 1 9.90x
Chipping Barnet 1 151.52x
Darlington 1 3.45x
Drypool 1 26.11x
Easthampstead 1 98.04x
Gateshead 1 1.78x
Hackney London 1 0.71x
Hastings Holy Trinity 1 31.85x
Henley On Thames 1 31.25x
Holdenhurst 1 7.36x
Leigh 1 175.44x
Muggington 1 588.24x
Mylor 1 52.08x
Newport 1 11.48x
Northfleet 1 13.18x
Portland 1 11.21x
Ratho 1 63.29x
Saxby In Glanford Brigg 1 357.14x
South Stoneham 1 8.90x
St Giles 1 21.32x
St Peterat Gowts Lincoln 1 17.61x
Surfleet 1 119.05x
Uttoxeter 1 22.88x
West Ham 1 0.91x
Westminster St Margaret 1 8.20x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 19
Sarah 9
Alice 8
Elizabeth 8
Emma 7
Ann 6
Ellen 6
Hannah 6
Ada 5
Eliza 5
Anne 4
Maria 4
Fanny 3
Isabella 3
Louisa 3
Annie 2
Fanney 2
Margaret 2
Matilda 2
Rebecca 2
Agnes 1
Amelia 1
Bridget 1
Caroline 1
Charlotte 1
Clara 1
Edith 1
Elizth. 1
Emily 1
Evelyn 1
Florence 1
Frances 1
Gertrude 1
Harriet 1
Harriett 1
Harry 1
Jane 1
Lydia 1
M. 1
Mable 1
Marget 1
Margret 1
Millicent 1
Minnie 1
Phebe 1
Rosina 1
Susan 1
Susannah 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 19
William 17
George 14
Thomas 11
James 10
Henry 6
Robert 5
Richard 4
Walter 4
Charles 3
Arthur 2
David 2
Edward 2
Edwin 2
Harry 2
Herbert 2
Samuel 2
Albert 1
Enoch 1
Frank 1
Friend 1
Geo. 1
Hey 1
Jno.A. 1
Jonahan 1
Joseph 1
Marlborough 1
Rey 1
Robt.G. 1
S. 1
Tom 1
Welborn 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Hardey surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hardey surname in 1881?

In 1881, 249 people were recorded with the Hardey surname. That placed it at #11,103 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hardey surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 120 in 2016. That gives Hardey a modern rank of #27,563.

What does the Hardey surname mean?

An English topographic surname referring to someone from a hardy or unproductive place.

What does the Hardey map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hardey 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.