NameCensus.

UK surname

Hardgrave

A surname derived from a geographic area in England called Hardgrave.

In the 1881 census there were 62 people recorded with the Hardgrave surname, ranking it #24,843 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 106, ranked #29,927, down from #24,843 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to St Mary Bishopshill Junior, St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles and Scarborough. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include East Staffordshire, Shropshire and Sutton.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hardgrave is 121 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 71.0%.

1881 census count

62

Ranked #24,843

Modern count

106

2016, ranked #29,927

Peak year

1911

121 bearers

Map years

4

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hardgrave had 62 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #24,843 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 106 in 2016, ranked #29,927.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 121 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hardgrave surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hardgrave surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hardgrave 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 58 #22,928
1861 historical 74 #24,370
1881 historical 62 #24,843
1891 historical 114 #22,006
1901 historical 92 #23,800
1911 historical 121 #20,336
1997 modern 115 #24,834
1998 modern 112 #25,856
1999 modern 114 #25,766
2000 modern 113 #25,843
2001 modern 113 #25,489
2002 modern 109 #26,552
2003 modern 106 #26,775
2004 modern 119 #25,200
2005 modern 116 #25,564
2006 modern 97 #28,793
2007 modern 104 #28,020
2008 modern 106 #28,016
2009 modern 112 #27,685
2010 modern 115 #27,874
2011 modern 110 #28,478
2012 modern 104 #29,543
2013 modern 110 #29,028
2014 modern 106 #30,030
2015 modern 106 #29,895
2016 modern 106 #29,927

Geography

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Where Hardgraves are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around St Mary Bishopshill Junior, St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles, Scarborough, St Helen on the Wall, St Cuthbert, All Saints Peasholm, St Saviour and Acaster Malbis. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to East Staffordshire, Shropshire, Sutton and East Riding of Yorkshire. 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 St Mary Bishopshill Junior Yorkshire, East Riding
2 St Michael-le-Belfry, St Giles Yorkshire, East Riding
3 Scarborough Yorkshire, North Riding
4 St Helen on the Wall, St Cuthbert, All Saints Peasholm, St Saviour Yorkshire, East Riding
5 Acaster Malbis Yorkshire, East Riding

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 East Staffordshire 015 East Staffordshire
2 Shropshire 011 Shropshire
3 East Staffordshire 006 East Staffordshire
4 Sutton 024 Sutton
5 East Riding of Yorkshire 001 East Riding of Yorkshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hardgrave

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hardgrave

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hardgrave, 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 Hardgrave surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Hardgrave 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, Hardgrave 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

Hardgrave is most concentrated in decile 5 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.

5
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hardgrave falls in decile 8 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.

8
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hardgrave is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 25-30 mbit/s.

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

5
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Hardgrave

The surname Hardgrave has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. It is believed to be derived from the Old English words "harde" meaning "hardy" or "brave" and "græfe" meaning "grove" or "thicket." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to someone who lived near a hardy or dense thicket of trees.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Hardgrave can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, a comprehensive record of landowners and tenants in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The name appears as "Hardegrave," indicating its long-standing presence in the region.

During the 13th century, the name Hardgrave was associated with several notable figures. One such individual was Sir William Hardgrave, a knight who served under King Edward I and participated in the conquest of Wales in the late 13th century.

In the 15th century, the Hardgrave family held land in the county of Shropshire, where they were influential landowners. John Hardgrave (1420-1487) was a prominent member of the family, serving as a magistrate and contributing to the local governance.

The 16th century saw the rise of Thomas Hardgrave (1535-1607), a renowned scholar and theologian who authored several works on theology and philosophy. He was appointed as the Dean of Peterborough Cathedral in 1591 and played a significant role in the religious debates of the time.

In the 18th century, the name Hardgrave was associated with the village of Hardgrave in Lancashire, England. This place name likely derived from the surname, reflecting the influence and presence of the Hardgrave family in the area.

Additionally, the Hardgrave surname has been linked to various place names across England, such as Hardgrave Hill in Oxfordshire and Hardgrave Manor in Gloucestershire, further emphasizing the family's historical significance and connection to specific locations.

Throughout history, the Hardgrave surname has been carried by individuals from diverse backgrounds, including clergy, scholars, landowners, and military personnel, contributing to the rich tapestry of English history and culture.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hardgrave families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hardgrave 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 56 Hardgraves recorded in 1881 and an index of 9.34x.

County Total Index
Yorkshire 56 9.34x
Surrey 5 1.70x
Lancashire 1 0.14x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. York St Mary in Yorkshire leads with 13 Hardgraves recorded in 1881 and an index of 524.19x.

Place Total Index
York St Mary 13 524.19x
York St Michael 9 10000.00x
Scarborough 7 128.44x
York St Crux 6 3529.41x
Escrick 5 4166.67x
Lambeth 4 7.59x
York St Andrew 4 6666.67x
Balby Cum Hexthorpe 3 416.67x
East Ardsley 3 576.92x
Falsgrave 3 340.91x
Heworth 2 1250.00x
Dorking 1 50.51x
Kirkdale 1 8.29x
York Holy Trinity 1 192.31x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Ann 3
Charlotte 3
Sarah 3
Ethel 2
Mary 2
Anna 1
Eliza 1
Elizab. 1
Elizabeth 1
Florance 1
Hannah 1
Henrietta 1
Kate 1
Louisa 1
Martha 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 4
Joseph 4
Charles 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
George 2
James 2
Robert 2
William 2
Abert 1
Cornelius 1
Edward 1
Fountain 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Fredric 1
Hary 1
Henry 1
Issac 1
Jonathan 1
Newreck 1
Septimas 1
Sidney 1
Thomas 1
Walter 1

Top occupations

Occupational titles are kept as recorded and later transcribed, so related jobs, spelling variants and mistakes stay separate. Scholar was the census term for a child in education. That means the other rows often tell you more about adult work in Hardgrave households.

FAQ

Hardgrave surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hardgrave surname in 1881?

In 1881, 62 people were recorded with the Hardgrave surname. That placed it at #24,843 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hardgrave surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 106 in 2016. That gives Hardgrave a modern rank of #29,927.

What does the Hardgrave surname mean?

A surname derived from a geographic area in England called Hardgrave.

What does the Hardgrave map show?

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