UK surname
An English surname derived from a place name, referring to someone who lived in a hare's valley or den.
In the 1881 census there were 94 people recorded with the Hardin surname, ranking it #20,467 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 87, ranked #32,476, down from #20,467 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Glasgow and Liverpool. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hardin is 141 in 1851. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 7.4%.
1881 census count
94
Ranked #20,467
Modern count
87
2016, ranked #32,476
Peak year
1851
141 bearers
Map years
3
1851 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Hardin surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Hardin surname density by area, 1891 census.
Timeline
Back to topThe 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 | 141 | #13,507 |
| 1861 | historical | 140 | #16,169 |
| 1881 | historical | 94 | #20,467 |
| 1891 | historical | 114 | #22,006 |
| 1901 | historical | 95 | #23,462 |
| 1911 | historical | 85 | #24,322 |
| 1997 | modern | 56 | #32,004 |
| 1998 | modern | 54 | #32,518 |
| 1999 | modern | 48 | #33,233 |
| 2000 | modern | 42 | #33,791 |
| 2001 | modern | 40 | #33,842 |
| 2002 | modern | 37 | #34,390 |
| 2003 | modern | 41 | #34,113 |
| 2004 | modern | 45 | #33,957 |
| 2005 | modern | 46 | #34,081 |
| 2006 | modern | 47 | #34,335 |
| 2007 | modern | 53 | #34,115 |
| 2008 | modern | 49 | #34,580 |
| 2009 | modern | 61 | #33,915 |
| 2010 | modern | 70 | #33,480 |
| 2011 | modern | 73 | #33,230 |
| 2012 | modern | 76 | #33,191 |
| 2013 | modern | 82 | #32,903 |
| 2014 | modern | 84 | #32,823 |
| 2015 | modern | 85 | #32,693 |
| 2016 | modern | 87 | #32,476 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Glasgow, Liverpool, Montacute and Woolwich. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.
The modern local-area list points to No data. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.
| Rank | Parish | Area |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | London parishes | London 3 |
| 2 | Glasgow | Lanark |
| 3 | Liverpool | Lancashire |
| 4 | Montacute | Somerset |
| 5 | Woolwich | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Hardin surname in historical and recent records.
Recent female names
Recent male names
Modern profile
Back to topModern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hardin, 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
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Nationally, the Hardin surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Hardin household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.
London neighbourhood type
Supergroup
No data
Group
No data
Within London, Hardin is most associated with areas classed as No data, part of No data. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.
Broadband speed
The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hardin is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Hardin, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname Hardin is of English origin, derived from the Old English words "hara" and "dun," meaning "hare hill" or "hill where hares are found." This name likely originated as a topographic surname, given to someone who lived near a hill known for its abundance of hares.
The earliest recorded instance of the name Hardin can be traced back to the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Haradun." This historical record suggests that the name was already in use by the late 11th century in England.
During the Middle Ages, the name Hardin was primarily concentrated in the counties of Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, and Nottinghamshire in northern England. Various spellings emerged over time, including Hardin, Hardyn, Hardinge, and Harding.
One notable bearer of the Hardin surname was Sir Robert Harding (c. 1516-1574), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1565. Another prominent figure was John Harding (c. 1378-1465), an English chronicler and poet known for his work "Harding's Chronicle."
In the 17th century, the Hardin surname gained prominence in Scotland. Sir Robert Harding (1701-1765), a Scottish politician and judge, was appointed Lord Chief Baron of the Exchequer in 1764.
As the name spread across the British Isles, it also found its way to North America during the colonial era. Benjamin Hardin (1784-1852) was an American lawyer and politician who served as a United States Senator from Kentucky.
Another noteworthy bearer of the Hardin surname was John Hardin (1753-1792), an American military officer who fought in the American Revolutionary War and the Northwest Indian War. He was killed in a skirmish with Native Americans in what is now Ohio.
Throughout its long history, the Hardin surname has been associated with various place names, such as Harden in Wiltshire, England, and Harden in Roxburghshire, Scotland, further reflecting its topographic origins.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hardin surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.
Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Somerset leads with 18 Hardins recorded in 1881 and an index of 12.74x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Somerset | 18 | 12.74x |
| Yorkshire | 13 | 1.49x |
| Middlesex | 8 | 0.91x |
| Worcestershire | 7 | 6.11x |
| Durham | 6 | 2.30x |
| Kent | 6 | 2.00x |
| Glamorgan | 5 | 3.27x |
| Sussex | 5 | 3.38x |
| Derbyshire | 4 | 2.91x |
| Lanarkshire | 4 | 1.41x |
| Cumberland | 2 | 2.65x |
| Cheshire | 1 | 0.52x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.55x |
| Gloucestershire | 1 | 0.58x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 1.65x |
| Lancashire | 1 | 0.10x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 1.03x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 1.21x |
| Renfrewshire | 1 | 1.47x |
| Staffordshire | 1 | 0.34x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 0.94x |
| Surrey | 1 | 0.23x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.45x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Crewkerne in Somerset leads with 8 Hardins recorded in 1881 and an index of 533.33x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Crewkerne | 8 | 533.33x |
| Montacute | 8 | 3076.92x |
| North Grimston | 8 | 16000.00x |
| Claines | 6 | 190.48x |
| Gateshead | 5 | 25.58x |
| Holy Trinity | 5 | 23.90x |
| Barony | 4 | 5.57x |
| Gelligaer | 4 | 114.61x |
| Glossop Dale | 4 | 62.11x |
| Worth | 4 | 373.83x |
| Bow London | 3 | 26.83x |
| Bromley London | 2 | 10.36x |
| Plumstead | 2 | 20.04x |
| Birmingham | 1 | 1.36x |
| Bishopwearmouth | 1 | 4.46x |
| Brixham | 1 | 47.17x |
| Cardiff St John | 1 | 20.04x |
| Cathcart | 1 | 27.17x |
| Chevington | 1 | 588.24x |
| Cirencester | 1 | 42.92x |
| Cossington | 1 | 1428.57x |
| Darlaston | 1 | 24.39x |
| Dearham | 1 | 100.00x |
| Glen Parva | 1 | 434.78x |
| Hastings St Mary In The | 1 | 31.65x |
| Islington London | 1 | 1.18x |
| Kidderminster Borough | 1 | 14.90x |
| Lambeth | 1 | 1.31x |
| Leigh | 1 | 256.41x |
| Lewisham | 1 | 6.26x |
| Little Meolse | 1 | 357.14x |
| Northampton Priory St | 1 | 20.20x |
| Paddington London | 1 | 3.10x |
| Poplar London | 1 | 6.04x |
| Rochester St Margaret | 1 | 31.65x |
| Toxteth Park | 1 | 2.84x |
| Wincanton | 1 | 136.99x |
| Woolwich | 1 | 9.03x |
| Workington | 1 | 23.09x |
| Wormley | 1 | 454.55x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hardin surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
These are the male first names most often recorded with the Hardin surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.
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 Hardin households.
FAQ
In 1881, 94 people were recorded with the Hardin surname. That placed it at #20,467 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 87 in 2016. That gives Hardin a modern rank of #32,476.
An English surname derived from a place name, referring to someone who lived in a hare's valley or den.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hardin bearers relative to the surrounding population.
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.