UK surname
A surname derived from a nickname referring to personal characteristics or behavior.
In the 1881 census there were 95 people recorded with the Hardon surname, ranking it #20,349 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 69, ranked #33,762, down from #20,349 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Stockport, Wigton and Newcastle All Saints. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hardon is 241 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 27.4%.
1881 census count
95
Ranked #20,349
Modern count
69
2016, ranked #33,762
Peak year
1861
241 bearers
Map years
4
1861 to 1911
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Hardon surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Hardon surname density by area, 1911 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 | 75 | #20,268 |
| 1861 | historical | 241 | #10,192 |
| 1881 | historical | 95 | #20,349 |
| 1891 | historical | 167 | #17,006 |
| 1901 | historical | 149 | #18,146 |
| 1911 | historical | 149 | #17,937 |
| 1997 | modern | 81 | #29,436 |
| 1998 | modern | 82 | #29,754 |
| 1999 | modern | 80 | #30,152 |
| 2000 | modern | 84 | #29,706 |
| 2001 | modern | 75 | #30,481 |
| 2002 | modern | 75 | #30,950 |
| 2003 | modern | 72 | #31,281 |
| 2004 | modern | 70 | #31,681 |
| 2005 | modern | 76 | #31,267 |
| 2006 | modern | 71 | #32,147 |
| 2007 | modern | 69 | #32,662 |
| 2008 | modern | 71 | #32,753 |
| 2009 | modern | 69 | #33,257 |
| 2010 | modern | 70 | #33,480 |
| 2011 | modern | 69 | #33,532 |
| 2012 | modern | 63 | #34,095 |
| 2013 | modern | 68 | #33,877 |
| 2014 | modern | 67 | #33,959 |
| 2015 | modern | 65 | #34,036 |
| 2016 | modern | 69 | #33,762 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Stockport, Wigton, Newcastle All Saints, Workington (Workington), Clossocks and Westward. 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 | Stockport | Cheshire |
| 2 | Wigton | Cumberland |
| 3 | Newcastle All Saints | Northumberland |
| 4 | Workington (Workington), Clossocks | Cumberland |
| 5 | Westward | Cumberland |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Hardon 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 Hardon, 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 Hardon surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Hardon 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, Hardon 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 Hardon is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Hardon, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname HARDON has its origins in medieval England, emerging in the late 12th century. It is believed to have been derived from the Old English words "heard" (hardy) and "dun" (hill), suggesting an association with a hardy or strong person residing on a hill or elevated land.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the HARDON name appears in the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire in 1195, where a William Hardon is mentioned as a landowner. This suggests that the name was already well-established by the late 12th century in parts of eastern England.
By the 13th century, the name had spread to other regions of England, as evidenced by various historical references. For instance, a Richard Hardon is documented in the Assize Rolls of Staffordshire in 1279, indicating the presence of the HARDON family in the West Midlands region.
Some notable individuals bearing the HARDON surname in history include Sir John Hardon, a prominent military commander who fought in the Hundred Years' War during the 14th century (c. 1320 - 1385). Another is Thomas Hardon, a respected scholar and theologian at Oxford University in the late 15th century (c. 1450 - 1520).
The name HARDON has also been associated with various place names throughout England, such as Hardonsfield in Derbyshire and Hardonsmill in Oxfordshire. These place names likely derived from the surname itself or vice versa, reflecting the connection between the name and geographic locations.
Other notable individuals with the HARDON surname include William Hardon (c. 1610 - 1676), a renowned playwright and poet during the English Renaissance, and Margaret Hardon (1785 - 1862), a prominent philanthropist and social reformer in the 19th century.
While the HARDON name has undergone various spelling variations over the centuries, such as Hardone, Hardoun, and Hardun, its roots can be traced back to the medieval period in England, reflecting the resilience and endurance of this historic surname.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hardon 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. Cumberland leads with 41 Hardons recorded in 1881 and an index of 50.86x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Cumberland | 41 | 50.86x |
| Lancashire | 22 | 1.98x |
| Staffordshire | 8 | 2.53x |
| Yorkshire | 8 | 0.86x |
| Cheshire | 6 | 2.90x |
| Renfrewshire | 3 | 4.13x |
| Middlesex | 2 | 0.21x |
| Cambridgeshire | 1 | 1.69x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.51x |
| Durham | 1 | 0.36x |
| Glamorgan | 1 | 0.61x |
| Somerset | 1 | 0.66x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.42x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Heaton Norris in Lancashire leads with 16 Hardons recorded in 1881 and an index of 253.16x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Heaton Norris | 16 | 253.16x |
| Westward | 10 | 2941.18x |
| Wigton | 9 | 743.80x |
| Flimby | 7 | 1029.41x |
| Crosscanonby | 6 | 224.72x |
| Darlaston | 6 | 137.30x |
| Dukinfield | 6 | 62.83x |
| Woodside Quarter | 6 | 3157.89x |
| Beverley St Martin | 5 | 322.58x |
| Cathcart | 3 | 76.34x |
| Manchester | 3 | 6.00x |
| Workington | 3 | 64.94x |
| Aldridge | 2 | 327.87x |
| Holy Trinity | 2 | 8.96x |
| Middleton In Oldham | 2 | 60.06x |
| Ardwick | 1 | 9.98x |
| Clerkenwell London | 1 | 4.52x |
| Dewsbury | 1 | 10.50x |
| Luddington | 1 | 3333.33x |
| March | 1 | 50.25x |
| Plymouth St Andrew | 1 | 6.66x |
| South Shields | 1 | 40.32x |
| Spitalfields London | 1 | 14.20x |
| Swansea Town | 1 | 7.48x |
| Wilton | 1 | 256.41x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Hardon 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 Hardon 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 Hardon households.
FAQ
In 1881, 95 people were recorded with the Hardon surname. That placed it at #20,349 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 69 in 2016. That gives Hardon a modern rank of #33,762.
A surname derived from a nickname referring to personal characteristics or behavior.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Hardon 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.