NameCensus.

UK surname

Hardiman

An English occupational surname for a strong or brave man, or a fierce warrior.

In the 1881 census there were 879 people recorded with the Hardiman surname, ranking it #4,315 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,665, ranked #3,749, up from #4,315 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, St Pancras and Manchester. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Cotswold, North Dorset and South Somerset.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hardiman is 1,785 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 89.4%.

1881 census count

879

Ranked #4,315

Modern count

1,665

2016, ranked #3,749

Peak year

1998

1,785 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hardiman had 879 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #4,315 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,665 in 2016, ranked #3,749.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 1,468 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hardiman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hardiman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hardiman 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 482 #5,171
1861 historical 424 #6,061
1881 historical 879 #4,315
1891 historical 988 #4,186
1901 historical 1,331 #3,764
1911 historical 1,468 #3,285
1997 modern 1,719 #3,466
1998 modern 1,785 #3,474
1999 modern 1,774 #3,525
2000 modern 1,773 #3,505
2001 modern 1,730 #3,516
2002 modern 1,721 #3,616
2003 modern 1,681 #3,614
2004 modern 1,690 #3,599
2005 modern 1,661 #3,611
2006 modern 1,666 #3,605
2007 modern 1,677 #3,618
2008 modern 1,673 #3,644
2009 modern 1,711 #3,646
2010 modern 1,753 #3,641
2011 modern 1,731 #3,638
2012 modern 1,671 #3,704
2013 modern 1,703 #3,699
2014 modern 1,705 #3,708
2015 modern 1,680 #3,725
2016 modern 1,665 #3,749

Geography

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Where Hardimans are most common

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

The modern local-area list points to Cotswold, North Dorset, South Somerset, Wychavon and Wolverhampton. 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 3
2 St Pancras London (North Districts)
3 Manchester Lancashire
4 Kidderminster Worcestershire
5 Ebbesborne Wake Wiltshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Cotswold 002 Cotswold
2 North Dorset 003 North Dorset
3 South Somerset 023 South Somerset
4 Wychavon 018 Wychavon
5 Wolverhampton 007 Wolverhampton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hardiman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hardiman

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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Hardiman 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

Hardiman 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

Hardiman falls in decile 6 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.

6
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hardiman 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 Hardiman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Hardiman

The surname Hardiman is of Irish origin and can be traced back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old Irish personal name Artghal, which means "high valor" or "high bravery." The name is believed to have originated in County Galway, Ireland, where it was first recorded as Hardyman in the medieval period.

In ancient Irish records and manuscripts, the name appears in various spellings, such as Hardyman, Hardiman, and Hardeman. One of the earliest known references to the name can be found in the Annals of the Four Masters, a chronicle of medieval Irish history, where a person named Hardiman is mentioned in the year 1285.

The Hardiman family was prominent in County Galway, and several members played significant roles in Irish history. One notable figure was James Hardiman (1782-1855), an Irish antiquarian and historian who wrote extensively on Irish culture and folklore. His works, such as "The Ancient Irish Deeds" and "The History of Galway," are considered invaluable resources for understanding Ireland's past.

Another prominent individual with the surname Hardiman was Adrian Hardiman (1828-1900), an Irish lawyer and judge who served as a Lord Justice of Appeal in Ireland. He was widely respected for his legal acumen and fairness on the bench.

In the 16th century, the Hardiman family held lands in the Barony of Longford, County Galway. The name Hardiman is also associated with the town of Gort, where the Hardiman family had a stronghold and where the surname is still prevalent today.

Other notable individuals with the surname Hardiman include John Hardiman (1800-1865), an Irish politician and Member of Parliament for Galway Borough, and James Hardiman (1765-1844), an Irish physician and author who wrote on medical topics.

Throughout its history, the surname Hardiman has been closely linked to Ireland, particularly the western regions of County Galway. While the name has spread worldwide due to Irish emigration, its roots can be traced back to the medieval period and the Old Irish personal name Artghal, reflecting the valor and bravery associated with its bearers.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hardiman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hardiman 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. Wiltshire leads with 123 Hardimans recorded in 1881 and an index of 16.18x.

County Total Index
Wiltshire 123 16.18x
Middlesex 120 1.40x
Worcestershire 99 8.82x
Gloucestershire 71 4.21x
Warwickshire 58 2.68x
Hampshire 55 3.12x
Lancashire 55 0.54x
Surrey 46 1.10x
Norfolk 39 2.95x
Dorset 38 6.74x
Staffordshire 37 1.28x
Kent 35 1.19x
Yorkshire 31 0.36x
Somerset 13 0.94x
Angus 12 1.51x
Essex 11 0.65x
Glamorgan 6 0.40x
Nottinghamshire 6 0.52x
Oxfordshire 5 0.94x
Buckinghamshire 3 0.58x
Derbyshire 3 0.22x
Sussex 3 0.21x
Berkshire 2 0.31x
Channel Islands 2 0.79x
Leicestershire 2 0.21x
Northamptonshire 2 0.25x
Cheshire 1 0.05x
Devon 1 0.06x
Hertfordshire 1 0.17x
Northumberland 1 0.08x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Kidderminster Borough in Worcestershire leads with 54 Hardimans recorded in 1881 and an index of 82.22x.

Place Total Index
Kidderminster Borough 54 82.22x
Islington London 29 3.48x
Ebbesborne Wake 22 2750.00x
Fovant 21 1272.73x
St Pancras London 21 3.04x
Withington 20 60.88x
Bunwell 18 711.46x
Swindon 16 27.14x
Newington 15 4.72x
Temple Guiting 15 955.41x
Upper Mitton 15 595.24x
Westminster St John 15 14.33x
Compton Abbas 14 1014.49x
Clerkenwell London 13 6.41x
Basingstoke 12 59.23x
Canterbury St Gregory 12 310.88x
Kingston On Thames 12 11.93x
Liff Benvie 12 9.93x
Sutton Mandeville 12 1764.71x
Upper Swell 12 5217.39x
Wellesbourne Mountford 12 579.71x
Bower Chalk 11 887.10x
Lydd 11 175.16x
Moreton In Marsh 11 260.66x
Breightmet 10 222.72x
Heckmondwike 10 36.51x
Southampton St Mary 10 9.03x
Wednesbury 10 13.79x
Bermondsey 9 3.52x
Bradford 9 4.37x
Nursling 9 319.15x
Salisbury St Edmund 9 73.77x
Spitalfields London 9 13.92x
Wickhamford 9 2500.00x
Birmingham 8 1.11x
East Tisbury 8 305.34x
Longborough 8 430.11x
Morley St Peter 8 2000.00x
Badsey 7 411.76x
Hatfield Broad Oak 7 122.38x
Hinton Martel 7 625.00x
Holdenhurst 7 15.15x
Normanby In 7 30.74x
Widnes 7 9.52x
Aberdare 6 5.84x
Aston 6 1.01x
Broadwell 6 521.74x
Harborne 6 6.45x
Nottingham St Mary 6 2.00x
Stow On The Wold 6 160.43x
Welford 6 294.12x
Abbots Morton 5 806.45x
Cannock 5 9.88x
Chipping Norton 5 40.75x
Iwerne Courtnay 5 131.58x
Kensington London 5 1.05x
Keynsham 5 50.35x
Leamington Priors 5 9.38x
Liverpool 5 0.81x
Norwich St James 5 48.22x
Preston Candover 5 409.84x
St Marylebone London 5 1.09x
Warwick St Mary 5 26.57x
Blandford Forum 4 35.94x
Boughton Under Blean 4 81.47x
Bradford On Avon 4 16.44x
Burcombe 4 434.78x
Coventry Holy Trinity 4 6.18x
Cutsdean 4 800.00x
Hendon 4 12.94x
Langley Burrell 4 126.58x
Limington 4 459.77x
Newcastle Under Lyme 4 7.79x
Southwark St George Martyr 4 2.31x
Walsall Foreign 4 2.67x
Winchcomb 4 47.85x
Bispham With Norbreck 3 140.19x
Burnage 3 120.00x
East Orchard 3 434.78x
St Martin In Fields 3 5.83x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 63
John 44
James 35
George 32
Thomas 32
Charles 28
Henry 21
Joseph 21
Alfred 16
Edward 10
Frank 9
Frederick 8
Richard 8
Walter 8
Stephen 6
Albert 5
Arthur 5
Harry 5
Edwin 4
Herbert 4
Michael 4
Robert 4
Samuel 4
Sidney 4
Ernest 3
Fredrick 3
David 2
Fred 2
Fredk. 2
Geo. 2
Henery 2
Martin 2
Thos. 2
Tom 2
Bernard 1
Clarence 1
Cyril 1
Daniel 1
Edgar 1
Eustace 1
F. 1
Francis 1
Fredck. 1
Jim 1
Jno. 1
Joshia 1
Joshua 1
Lewis 1
Lot 1
Wyndham 1

FAQ

Hardiman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hardiman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 879 people were recorded with the Hardiman surname. That placed it at #4,315 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hardiman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,665 in 2016. That gives Hardiman a modern rank of #3,749.

What does the Hardiman surname mean?

An English occupational surname for a strong or brave man, or a fierce warrior.

What does the Hardiman map show?

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