NameCensus.

UK surname

Hardman

An English occupational surname referring to a tough, strong, or brave man, often a fighter or bodyguard.

In the 1881 census there were 6,003 people recorded with the Hardman surname, ranking it #733 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 6,971, ranked #970, down from #733 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Rochdale, Bury and Radcliffe. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Bolton, Rossendale and Bury.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hardman is 7,855 in 1911. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 16.1%.

1881 census count

6,003

Ranked #733

Modern count

6,971

2016, ranked #970

Peak year

1911

7,855 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hardman had 6,003 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #733 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 6,971 in 2016, ranked #970.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 7,855 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living.

Hardman surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hardman surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hardman 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 3,813 #746
1861 historical 3,928 #715
1881 historical 6,003 #733
1891 historical 6,485 #704
1901 historical 7,249 #757
1911 historical 7,855 #656
1997 modern 7,024 #927
1998 modern 7,118 #952
1999 modern 7,179 #950
2000 modern 7,180 #949
2001 modern 7,085 #933
2002 modern 7,262 #930
2003 modern 7,042 #934
2004 modern 6,923 #954
2005 modern 6,819 #955
2006 modern 6,858 #953
2007 modern 6,896 #956
2008 modern 6,918 #957
2009 modern 7,080 #959
2010 modern 7,272 #946
2011 modern 7,123 #956
2012 modern 6,965 #958
2013 modern 7,099 #959
2014 modern 7,123 #961
2015 modern 7,024 #964
2016 modern 6,971 #970

Geography

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Where Hardmans are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Rochdale, Bury, Radcliffe, Manchester and Bolton-le-Moors. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Bolton, Rossendale and Bury. 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 Rochdale Lancashire
2 Bury Lancashire
3 Radcliffe Lancashire
4 Manchester Lancashire
5 Bolton-le-Moors Lancashire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Bolton 024 Bolton
2 Rossendale 010 Rossendale
3 Bury 007 Bury
4 Bury 011 Bury
5 Bury 001 Bury

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hardman

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hardman

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

Inner Suburbs and Small Town Living

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

Families with resident dependent children (but not students) are common. Established family groups and White ethnicity predominate, as do individuals born in the UK. They are more likely than the Supergroup average to have been resident in their terraced, semi-detached, or detached houses for more than one year. Levels of multiple car ownership are high. Properties are owned and typically have surplus living space. Associate professionals and administrative occupations are prevalent, and parents are likely to be in middle age or approaching retirement. Educational attainment is above the Supergroup average. Scattered developments and concentrations are found in many small towns.

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, Hardman 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

Hardman is most concentrated in decile 7 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.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Hardman 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 Hardman 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 Hardman, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Hardman

The surname Hardman is of English origin and dates back to the medieval period. It is a descriptive surname derived from the Old English words 'heard' meaning 'hardy' or 'brave' and 'man' meaning 'man'. The name was initially given as a nickname to individuals who were considered brave, hardy, or strong.

The earliest recorded instance of the surname Hardman appears in the Pipe Rolls of Yorkshire from the year 1166, where it is listed as 'Hardeman'. This suggests that the name was already established in the region during the 12th century.

In the 13th century, the surname Hardman can be found in the Curia Regis Rolls of Lincolnshire from the year 1205, where it is recorded as 'Hardeman de Sywelle'. The inclusion of the place name 'Sywelle' (modern-day Sywell in Northamptonshire) suggests that the individual was from that area.

One notable historical figure with the surname Hardman was Sir Robert Hardman (c. 1510-1575), an English merchant and politician who served as Lord Mayor of London in 1564-1565. He was a prominent figure in the city's mercantile community and played a role in the expansion of English trade with the Continent.

Another notable bearer of the surname was Thomas Hardman (1787-1857), an English inventor and engineer who is credited with developing the first commercially successful screw-cutting lathe in 1800. His invention revolutionized the manufacturing of threaded components and played a crucial role in the Industrial Revolution.

In the literary world, Ralph Hardman (1788-1858) was an English poet and writer known for his works such as 'The Hermit of Warkworth' and 'The Lancashire Dialect'. His writings captured the local dialects and traditions of his native Lancashire.

The surname Hardman also has variants such as Hardeman and Hardeman, which can be found in historical records from various regions of England.

Overall, the surname Hardman has a rich history dating back to medieval England, with its origins rooted in the Old English language. It has been borne by individuals from various walks of life, including merchants, inventors, and writers, who have left their mark on history.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hardman families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hardman 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. Lancashire leads with 4,619 Hardmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 6.62x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 4,619 6.62x
Cheshire 254 1.96x
Yorkshire 234 0.40x
Middlesex 149 0.25x
Worcestershire 104 1.36x
Staffordshire 96 0.48x
Durham 78 0.45x
Surrey 71 0.25x
Warwickshire 53 0.36x
Gloucestershire 49 0.43x
Northumberland 45 0.51x
Kent 38 0.19x
Cambridgeshire 31 0.83x
Derbyshire 24 0.26x
Essex 22 0.19x
Herefordshire 19 0.79x
Leicestershire 17 0.26x
Isle of Man 14 1.28x
Shropshire 13 0.26x
Hampshire 12 0.10x
Norfolk 11 0.12x
Channel Islands 10 0.57x
Lanarkshire 8 0.04x
Clackmannanshire 7 1.44x
Hertfordshire 7 0.17x
Oxfordshire 6 0.17x
Sussex 6 0.06x
Wiltshire 6 0.12x
Devon 4 0.03x
Northamptonshire 3 0.05x
Royal Navy 3 0.43x
Glamorgan 2 0.02x
Nottinghamshire 2 0.03x
Bedfordshire 1 0.03x
Lincolnshire 1 0.01x
Monmouthshire 1 0.02x
Radnorshire 1 0.21x
Rutland 1 0.23x
Somerset 1 0.01x
Suffolk 1 0.01x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bury in Lancashire leads with 211 Hardmans recorded in 1881 and an index of 26.49x.

Place Total Index
Bury 211 26.49x
Radcliffe 208 61.88x
Little Bolton 176 19.63x
Great Bolton 156 16.89x
Worsley 137 31.87x
Spotland 132 17.03x
Oldham 130 5.78x
Pilkington 129 48.70x
Manchester 125 3.99x
Elton 121 50.22x
Preston 120 6.43x
Farnworth 109 26.09x
Newchurch 104 18.23x
Salford 104 5.07x
Warrington 103 12.46x
Heap 101 27.31x
Middleton In Oldham 93 44.48x
Prestwich 90 51.74x
Pendleton In Salford 80 9.63x
Castleton 73 10.48x
Hulme 73 5.01x
Little Lever 73 81.87x
Barton Upon Irwell 62 11.81x
Ashton Under Lyne 59 3.87x
Wardleworth 59 14.81x
Liverpool 56 1.32x
Halliwell 52 20.49x
Newton 50 9.30x
Hindley 42 14.13x
Kearsley 40 27.26x
Lytham 36 33.82x
Tyldesley Cum Shakerley 36 17.93x
Droylsden 35 15.39x
Blackburn 34 1.83x
Ardwick 33 5.25x
Chadderton 32 9.39x
Dukinfield 32 5.34x
Tottington Lower End 32 9.66x
Wigan 32 3.28x
Lower Booths 31 24.81x
Wakefield 30 6.71x
Broughton In Salford 29 4.55x
Pendlebury 29 19.70x
Sutton 29 12.40x
Sharples 28 37.02x
Stockport 28 4.19x
Walmersley Cum 28 25.13x
Little Hulton 27 23.38x
Skelmersdale 27 23.24x
Blackrod 26 30.00x
Hyde 26 6.79x
Birmingham 25 0.51x
Chorlton On Medlock 25 2.26x
Lathom 25 29.69x
Aston 24 0.59x
Aughton 24 34.75x
West Derby 24 1.18x
Kirkdale 22 1.88x
Layton With Warbreck 22 8.60x
North Meols 22 3.22x
Islington London 21 0.37x
Tonge 21 14.35x
Ainsworth 20 74.10x
Ashton In Makerfield 20 10.07x
Barrington 20 159.36x
Crompton 20 10.07x
Eccleston In Prescot 20 5.71x
Tonge With Haulgh 20 14.73x
Worcester St Clement 20 40.98x
Camberwell 19 0.51x
Gorton 19 2.90x
Todmorden Walsden 19 10.17x
Darcy Lever 18 44.83x
St Pancras London 18 0.38x
Stretford 18 4.69x
Cheetham 17 3.27x
Clifton 17 2.92x
Haswell 17 13.57x
Leeds 17 0.52x
Monks Coppenhall 17 3.47x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 503
Sarah 278
Elizabeth 257
Alice 204
Ann 149
Jane 128
Margaret 115
Hannah 102
Ellen 101
Martha 88
Emma 66
Eliza 64
Annie 63
Emily 53
Clara 32
Maria 32
Catherine 31
Betsy 28
Edith 28
Harriet 25
Esther 24
Betty 23
Ada 22
Florence 22
Nancy 22
Louisa 21
Anne 20
Rachel 20
Isabella 16
Charlotte 14
Fanny 14
Matilda 14
Agnes 13
Amelia 13
Rebecca 13
Caroline 12
Elizth. 11
Frances 11
Lucy 11
Susan 11
Kate 10
Lydia 10
Susannah 10
Bertha 9
Grace 9
Margt. 9
Sophia 9
Amy 8
Bridget 8
Harriett 8

Top male names

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

Name Count
John 471
James 360
William 268
Thomas 220
George 140
Joseph 110
Robert 104
Richard 84
Henry 83
Samuel 69
Charles 54
Edward 50
Alfred 41
Frederick 29
Peter 29
Walter 29
Arthur 27
Albert 25
Harry 25
Ernest 20
Thos. 20
Edwin 19
Fred 19
Wm. 19
David 18
Benjamin 16
Frank 16
Jno. 13
Abraham 12
Daniel 12
Jas. 12
Herbert 11
Andrew 10
Edmund 10
Jonathan 10
Isaac 9
Matthew 8
Adam 7
Francis 7
Patrick 7
Robt. 7
Walker 7
Michael 6
Nathan 6
Percy 6
Richd. 6
Roger 6
Squire 6
Giles 5
Joshua 5

FAQ

Hardman surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hardman surname in 1881?

In 1881, 6,003 people were recorded with the Hardman surname. That placed it at #733 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hardman surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 6,971 in 2016. That gives Hardman a modern rank of #970.

What does the Hardman surname mean?

An English occupational surname referring to a tough, strong, or brave man, often a fighter or bodyguard.

What does the Hardman map show?

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