NameCensus.

UK surname

Hardinge

An English surname derived from the Old English place name meaning "hardy/brave people".

In the 1881 census there were 108 people recorded with the Hardinge surname, ranking it #18,888 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 143, ranked #24,505, down from #18,888 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to London parishes, Paddington and St George, Hanover Square, Buckingham Palace. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Forest Heath, Sevenoaks and Monmouthshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hardinge is 165 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 32.4%.

1881 census count

108

Ranked #18,888

Modern count

143

2016, ranked #24,505

Peak year

1998

165 bearers

Map years

8

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hardinge had 108 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #18,888 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 143 in 2016, ranked #24,505.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 128 in 1891.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Ageing Communities.

Hardinge surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hardinge surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hardinge 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 107 #16,402
1861 historical 63 #25,901
1881 historical 108 #18,888
1891 historical 128 #20,393
1901 historical 112 #21,382
1911 historical 115 #20,951
1997 modern 155 #20,684
1998 modern 165 #20,423
1999 modern 163 #20,698
2000 modern 147 #22,081
2001 modern 143 #22,133
2002 modern 143 #22,595
2003 modern 144 #22,270
2004 modern 141 #22,689
2005 modern 135 #23,297
2006 modern 130 #24,053
2007 modern 128 #24,632
2008 modern 137 #23,883
2009 modern 151 #22,816
2010 modern 149 #23,598
2011 modern 146 #23,736
2012 modern 141 #24,258
2013 modern 151 #23,529
2014 modern 152 #23,631
2015 modern 149 #23,817
2016 modern 143 #24,505

Geography

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Where Hardinges are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around London parishes, Paddington, St George, Hanover Square, Buckingham Palace and St Marylebone. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Forest Heath, Sevenoaks, Monmouthshire, East Devon and Vale of White Horse. 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 Paddington London (West Districts)
3 London parishes London 3
4 St George, Hanover Square, Buckingham Palace London (West Districts)
5 St Marylebone London (North Districts)

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Forest Heath 004 Forest Heath
2 Sevenoaks 011 Sevenoaks
3 Monmouthshire 004 Monmouthshire
4 East Devon 017 East Devon
5 Vale of White Horse 009 Vale of White Horse

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hardinge

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hardinge

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

Ageing Communities

Nationally, the Hardinge surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Ageing Communities, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Hardinge household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Many residents are of normal retirement age or above and live in communal establishments, and there are few dependent children. The dominant property type is a mix of retirement flats and detached houses. Those in work are likely to be employed in managerial and professional occupations, and many residents are educated to degree level. Levels of owner occupation are high, but the private rental sector is also present. Rural locations predominate.

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, Hardinge 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

Hardinge 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

Hardinge falls in decile 5 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.

5
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

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

Meaning and origin of Hardinge

The surname Hardinge has its origins in England, dating back to the medieval period. The name is believed to derive from the Old English personal name Hearding, which itself is derived from the word "heard," meaning hard or strong, with the addition of the suffix -ing meaning "descendant of" or "people of." This suggests that the original bearers of the name were descendants of a person named Hearding, or a group associated with him.

The earliest recorded instances of the surname Hardinge appear in historical documents from the 12th and 13th centuries. One notable mention is in the Pipe Rolls of 1176, where a Richard Hardinge is listed. This early documentation signifies the spread and acceptance of the surname during this period.

Another early record is found in the Assize Rolls of 1219, where a John Hardinge is listed in Yorkshire. Yorkshire was one of the significant regions where the Hardinge family name had established roots, indicating that the name was relatively widespread across different parts of England.

The name also appears in the famous Domesday Book, albeit in a different form. The Domesday Book of 1086 records a Harding in the county of Gloucester, suggesting that the variations of the name were prevalent across England even before standardization of surnames.

A notable figure bearing the surname was Nicholas Hardinge (1699–1758), a distinguished British politician and Clerk of the House of Commons. His contributions to British political life in the 18th century underline the presence of the Hardinge name in significant societal positions.

Henry Hardinge, 1st Viscount Hardinge (1785–1856), was another prominent figure. Serving as a British Army officer and politician, he held the position of Governor-General of India from 1844 to 1848. His military and administrative accomplishments further solidified the Hardinge name in British history.

Charles Hardinge, 1st Baron Hardinge of Penshurst (1858–1944), was a British diplomat who served as Viceroy of India from 1910 to 1916. His tenure in India and subsequent contributions to diplomacy highlight the ongoing influence and prominence of the Hardinge surname in British public affairs.

The surname has endured through various historical epochs, reflecting the strength and resilience implied by its etymology. The continued presence of the Hardinge name in historical records, public life, and governance underscores its lasting legacy. Each bearer of the name has carried forward a piece of its storied past, contributing to its rich history and enduring presence.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hardinge families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hardinge 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. Middlesex leads with 30 Hardinges recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.75x.

County Total Index
Middlesex 30 2.75x
Surrey 22 4.13x
Glamorgan 8 4.21x
Kent 7 1.88x
Sussex 7 3.80x
Yorkshire 6 0.55x
Essex 5 2.32x
Lancashire 5 0.39x
Durham 4 1.23x
Northumberland 4 2.46x
Worcestershire 4 2.80x
Channel Islands 3 9.27x
Hertfordshire 2 2.66x
Cheshire 1 0.41x
Dorset 1 1.39x
Oxfordshire 1 1.48x
Royal Navy 1 7.68x
Somerset 1 0.57x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hammersmith London in Middlesex leads with 9 Hardinges recorded in 1881 and an index of 33.44x.

Place Total Index
Hammersmith London 9 33.44x
Barnes 8 355.56x
Bermondsey 8 24.60x
Cardiff St John 8 128.82x
Hastings St Mary 7 152.84x
Bethnal Green London 5 10.54x
Scarborough 5 50.81x
Ashton Under Lyne 4 14.12x
Coatham Mundeville 4 8000.00x
Hanley Castle 4 470.59x
Hawkhurst 4 344.83x
Islington London 4 3.78x
Jesmond 4 174.67x
St Marylebone London 4 6.86x
Lambeth 3 3.15x
Little Warley 3 1000.00x
Penshurst 3 476.19x
St Helier 3 28.46x
Kensington London 2 3.29x
Richmond 2 26.81x
Bradwell 1 1000.00x
Brightside Bierlow 1 4.71x
Colchester St Botolph 1 54.64x
Edmonton 1 11.36x
Enfield 1 13.95x
Harrow On The Hill 1 45.87x
Liscard 1 23.04x
Manchester 1 1.72x
Mile End Old Town London 1 4.30x
Moore Critchell 1 714.29x
Newington 1 2.48x
Royal Navy 1 8.98x
Royston 1 156.25x
St George Hanover Square 1 5.19x
Standon 1 129.87x
Walthamstow 1 12.89x
Wells St Cuthbert 1 83.33x
Whitechapel London 1 9.29x

Top female names

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

Name Count
William 6
Henry 5
Edward 3
Frederick 3
Thomas 3
Alfred 2
Ernest 2
George 2
Harry 2
James 2
John 2
Robert 2
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Edmund 1
Francis 1
Frank 1
Heathcote 1
Horace 1
Jas. 1
Joseph 1
Percy 1
Phillip 1
Rowland 1
Saml. 1
Sheffield 1
Sidney 1
Viscount 1
Warren 1
Winslow 1

FAQ

Hardinge surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hardinge surname in 1881?

In 1881, 108 people were recorded with the Hardinge surname. That placed it at #18,888 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hardinge surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 143 in 2016. That gives Hardinge a modern rank of #24,505.

What does the Hardinge surname mean?

An English surname derived from the Old English place name meaning "hardy/brave people".

What does the Hardinge map show?

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