NameCensus.

UK surname

Hardie

A Scottish territorial surname referring to someone from a place called Hardie, derived from the Old English heorde, meaning "hard".

In the 1881 census there were 3,925 people recorded with the Hardie surname, ranking it #1,154 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 5,319, ranked #1,264, down from #1,154 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Hawick and Wilton, Govan Combination and Edinburgh. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Drumry East, Earlston Stow and Clovernfords Area and Drumchapel North.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hardie is 5,404 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 35.5%.

1881 census count

3,925

Ranked #1,154

Modern count

5,319

2016, ranked #1,264

Peak year

2010

5,404 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hardie had 3,925 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #1,154 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 5,319 in 2016, ranked #1,264.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 4,769 in 1901.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities.

Hardie surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hardie surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hardie 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 2,814 #1,038
1861 historical 2,900 #996
1881 historical 3,925 #1,154
1891 historical 4,283 #1,113
1901 historical 4,769 #1,186
1911 historical 1,216 #3,886
1997 modern 4,986 #1,317
1998 modern 5,095 #1,336
1999 modern 5,129 #1,333
2000 modern 5,086 #1,340
2001 modern 4,948 #1,343
2002 modern 5,086 #1,333
2003 modern 5,003 #1,317
2004 modern 5,040 #1,311
2005 modern 5,051 #1,295
2006 modern 5,067 #1,290
2007 modern 5,114 #1,292
2008 modern 5,143 #1,292
2009 modern 5,266 #1,293
2010 modern 5,404 #1,290
2011 modern 5,283 #1,298
2012 modern 5,225 #1,287
2013 modern 5,329 #1,284
2014 modern 5,389 #1,276
2015 modern 5,328 #1,272
2016 modern 5,319 #1,264

Geography

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Where Hardies are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Hawick and Wilton, Govan Combination, Edinburgh, Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry and Glasgow. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Drumry East, Earlston Stow and Clovernfords Area, Drumchapel North, Drumry West and Tweeddale East Area. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Hawick and Wilton Roxburgh
2 Govan Combination Lanark
3 Edinburgh Edinburgh
4 Dundee, Liff, Benvie and Invergowry Forfar
5 Glasgow Lanark

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Drumry East Glasgow City
2 Earlston Stow and Clovernfords Area Scottish Borders
3 Drumchapel North Glasgow City
4 Drumry West Glasgow City
5 Tweeddale East Area Scottish Borders

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hardie

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hardie

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

Legacy Communities

Group

Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities

Nationally, the Hardie surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Legacy and Demographically Mixed Communities, within Legacy Communities. This does not mean every Hardie household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Households in these areas often include divorced or separated parents and commonly include children and young adults. The age structure is heavily skewed towards the most advanced age groups. Individuals identifying as members of ethnic minorities are not present in large numbers. Flats predominate, with some terraced, semi-detached, and detached units. Multiple car ownership is low, and housing is predominantly in the private and social rented sectors. Employment is less skewed towards traditional routine industrial occupations. Levels of educational attainment are generally low. The Group occurs principally in the Central Lowlands of Scotland and other Scottish towns.

Wider pattern

These neighbourhoods characteristically comprise pockets of flats that are scattered across the UK, particularly in towns that retain or have legacies of heavy industry or are in more remote seaside locations. Employed residents of these neighbourhoods work mainly in low-skilled occupations. Residents typically have limited educational qualifications. Unemployment is above average. Some residents live in overcrowded housing within the social rented sector and experience long-term disability. All adult age groups are represented, although there is an overall age bias towards elderly people in general and the very old in particular. Individuals identifying as belonging to ethnic minorities or Mixed or Multiple ethnic groups are uncommon.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Hardie 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

Hardie is most concentrated in decile 1 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the less healthy 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.

1
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hardie falls in decile 1 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname towards the more deprived end of the index.

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

1
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

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

10
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

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

Meaning and origin of Hardie

The surname Hardie originated from the northern British Isles, primarily Scotland and northern England, during the medieval period. It is derived from the Old English word "hearde," meaning "hardy" or "brave." This name was likely given as a nickname to individuals who displayed exceptional courage or strength.

One of the earliest known references to the name Hardie can be found in the Domesday Book, a manuscript compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. This record mentions a landowner named Hardwin in Hertfordshire, England, which may be an early variation of the surname.

The name Hardie gained prominence in Scotland during the 12th and 13th centuries, with several notable individuals bearing this surname. One of the earliest recorded examples is Sir William Hardie, a Scottish knight who fought alongside King Robert the Bruce during the Wars of Scottish Independence in the early 14th century.

In the 15th century, the Hardie family held lands in the Scottish Borderlands, particularly in the regions of Dumfriesshire and Roxburghshire. The name was also associated with the town of Hawick, where the Hardies played a significant role in the local woolen industry.

James Hardie (1540-1607) was a Scottish mathematician and philosopher who served as a professor at the University of St. Andrews. He made notable contributions to the study of geometry and was a contemporary of the renowned scholar John Napier.

Sir Robert Hardie (1718-1789) was a Scottish merchant and politician who served as Lord Provost of Edinburgh from 1776 to 1779. He played a crucial role in the development of the city's infrastructure and was instrumental in the construction of the North Bridge.

William Hardie (1826-1898) was a Scottish-born Australian businessman and philanthropist. He founded the Hardie Trading Company, which became one of the largest commercial enterprises in the Pacific region during the 19th century.

The name Hardie has also been associated with various place names throughout Scotland and northern England, such as Hardiesmill in Lanarkshire, Scotland, and Hardie's Hill in Northumberland, England. These place names likely derived from individuals bearing the surname Hardie who owned or resided in those locations.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hardie families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hardie 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. Lanarkshire leads with 637 Hardies recorded in 1881 and an index of 5.17x.

County Total Index
Lanarkshire 637 5.17x
Midlothian 534 10.47x
Aberdeenshire 239 6.78x
Roxburghshire 216 31.31x
Angus 214 6.07x
Fife 202 8.96x
Lancashire 188 0.42x
Stirlingshire 182 12.96x
Renfrewshire 145 4.91x
Berwickshire 134 29.06x
West Lothian 119 20.75x
East Lothian 111 22.01x
Northumberland 111 1.96x
Selkirkshire 105 30.48x
Morayshire 86 14.53x
Middlesex 71 0.19x
Perthshire 59 3.45x
Dunbartonshire 57 5.57x
Cheshire 46 0.55x
Yorkshire 45 0.12x
Ayrshire 36 1.26x
Durham 33 0.29x
Shetland 30 7.71x
Wigtownshire 30 5.93x
Essex 28 0.37x
Argyllshire 24 2.26x
Surrey 23 0.12x
Peeblesshire 19 10.61x
Cumberland 17 0.52x
Dumfriesshire 16 1.90x
Kent 16 0.12x
Devon 11 0.14x
Inverness-shire 11 0.97x
Clackmannanshire 7 2.23x
Norfolk 7 0.12x
Berkshire 6 0.21x
Kincardineshire 6 1.29x
Kinross-shire 6 6.23x
Nairnshire 6 5.16x
Isle of Man 5 0.71x
Monmouthshire 5 0.18x
Westmorland 5 0.60x
Buteshire 4 1.73x
Channel Islands 4 0.35x
Royal Navy 4 0.88x
Worcestershire 4 0.08x
Banffshire 3 0.38x
Glamorgan 3 0.05x
Hampshire 3 0.04x
Hertfordshire 3 0.11x
Kirkcudbrightshire 3 0.54x
Leicestershire 3 0.07x
Somerset 3 0.05x
Staffordshire 3 0.02x
Dorset 2 0.08x
Ross-shire 2 0.19x
Sussex 2 0.03x
Sutherland 2 0.68x
Warwickshire 2 0.02x
Cambridgeshire 1 0.04x
Derbyshire 1 0.02x
Gloucestershire 1 0.01x
Huntingdonshire 1 0.13x
Northamptonshire 1 0.03x
Shropshire 1 0.03x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Govan in Lanarkshire leads with 209 Hardies recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.86x.

Place Total Index
Govan 209 6.86x
Edinburgh St Cuthberts 204 9.94x
Glasgow 150 6.86x
Barony 126 4.04x
South Leith 71 12.37x
Dundee 67 5.09x
Falkirk 59 17.94x
Aberdeen Old Machar 57 7.74x
Aberdeen St Nicholas 51 7.73x
Selkirk 49 50.48x
Linlithgow 44 59.82x
Galashiels 43 33.76x
Hawick 43 27.85x
Leslie 42 73.58x
Liff Benvie 38 7.10x
Castleton 33 111.37x
Dunfermline 33 9.52x
Haddington 33 44.32x
Elgin 32 27.80x
Abbey 31 6.88x
Boness 30 37.95x
Inveresk 30 21.72x
Maryhill 29 12.03x
West Ham 28 1.69x
Lauder 27 105.92x
Coldingham 22 53.08x
Kilsyth 22 24.56x
Tranent 22 32.28x
West Greenock 22 4.15x
Hamilton 21 6.11x
Jedburgh 21 31.07x
Shotts 21 14.25x
Stow 21 80.06x
Birkenhead 20 2.98x
Kensington London 20 0.94x
Meldrum 20 67.32x
Paisley High Church 20 8.51x
Edinburgh St Andrews 18 42.72x
Larbert 18 21.44x
Ayton 17 63.55x
Edinburgh Buccleuch 17 14.09x
Kelso 17 24.73x
Pendleton In Salford 17 3.16x
Polmont 17 32.78x
Bothkennar 16 38.17x
Cardross 16 13.02x
Edinburgh Canongate 16 12.32x
Everton 16 1.11x
Forfar 16 8.38x
Old Monkland 16 3.27x
Auchtermuchty 15 49.54x
Dirleton 15 75.76x
Eastwood 15 8.25x
Kilmarnock 15 4.42x
Nesting Lunnas Whalsay 15 43.77x
New Monkland 15 4.12x
Dysart 14 9.22x
East Greenock 14 5.02x
Ellon 14 28.86x
Innerleithen 14 29.45x
Kinghorn 14 29.25x
Lerwick Gulberwick 14 23.26x
North Leith 14 5.93x
Wilton 14 18.50x
Bowden 13 129.48x
Chorlton On Medlock 13 1.81x
Cruden 13 28.62x
Edinburgh High Church 13 40.60x
Elswick 13 2.87x
Islington London 13 0.35x
Kirriemuir 13 14.93x
Melrose 13 21.80x
Montrose 13 6.08x
Rafford 13 94.00x
Stirling 13 7.34x
Uphall 13 20.61x
Cadder 12 13.19x
Edinburgh St Stephens 12 11.95x
Liberton 12 15.24x
New Luce 12 128.34x

Top female names

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

Name Count
James 56
John 45
William 38
Thomas 30
George 19
Robert 17
Alexander 13
David 8
Henry 6
Walter 6
Andrew 5
Charles 5
Peter 5
Albert 4
Arthur 4
Edward 4
Herbert 4
Richard 4
Alex 3
Joseph 3
Samuel 3
Alfred 2
Ebenezer 2
Edmund 2
Edwin 2
Frederick 2
Gordon 2
Michael 2
Wm. 2
Archibald 1
Dd. 1
Donald 1
Gaven 1
J. 1
Jonathon 1
Lewis 1
Martin 1
Morgan 1
Nisbet 1
Norman 1
Owen 1
Percy 1
Ralph 1
Richd. 1
Robt.Mitchell 1
Sidney 1
Susannah 1
Thos. 1
Tom 1
Wm.James 1

FAQ

Hardie surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hardie surname in 1881?

In 1881, 3,925 people were recorded with the Hardie surname. That placed it at #1,154 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hardie surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 5,319 in 2016. That gives Hardie a modern rank of #1,264.

What does the Hardie surname mean?

A Scottish territorial surname referring to someone from a place called Hardie, derived from the Old English heorde, meaning "hard".

What does the Hardie map show?

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