NameCensus.

UK surname

Hardware

A surname likely denoting one who sells or works with hardware.

In the 1881 census there were 87 people recorded with the Hardware surname, ranking it #21,334 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 215, ranked #18,670, up from #21,334 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Tettenhall, Norton-under-Cannock with Little Wyrley and Cardiff St John and St Mary. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Walsall, Cannock Chase and Exeter.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hardware is 233 in 2010. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 147.1%.

1881 census count

87

Ranked #21,334

Modern count

215

2016, ranked #18,670

Peak year

2010

233 bearers

Map years

5

1891 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hardware had 87 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #21,334 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 215 in 2016, ranked #18,670.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 124 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Challenged Communities.

Hardware surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hardware surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hardware 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 63 #22,069
1861 historical 97 #21,503
1881 historical 87 #21,334
1891 historical 105 #23,241
1901 historical 97 #23,227
1911 historical 124 #20,023
1997 modern 207 #17,267
1998 modern 212 #17,479
1999 modern 214 #17,494
2000 modern 196 #18,431
2001 modern 198 #18,047
2002 modern 201 #18,236
2003 modern 195 #18,411
2004 modern 191 #18,723
2005 modern 191 #18,707
2006 modern 195 #18,564
2007 modern 191 #19,031
2008 modern 209 #18,114
2009 modern 226 #17,587
2010 modern 233 #17,606
2011 modern 225 #17,841
2012 modern 209 #18,659
2013 modern 211 #18,872
2014 modern 215 #18,764
2015 modern 213 #18,769
2016 modern 215 #18,670

Geography

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Where Hardwares are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Tettenhall, Norton-under-Cannock with Little Wyrley, Cardiff St John and St Mary, Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken and Birmingham Town: Birmingham. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Walsall, Cannock Chase, Exeter and Solihull. 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 Tettenhall Staffordshire
2 Norton-under-Cannock with Little Wyrley Staffordshire
3 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire
4 Coventry Holy Trinity (incl. Radford), Coventry St Michael, Wyken Warwickshire
5 Birmingham Town: Birmingham Warwickshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Walsall 001 Walsall
2 Cannock Chase 013 Cannock Chase
3 Exeter 014 Exeter
4 Solihull 004 Solihull
5 Cannock Chase 009 Cannock Chase

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hardware

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hardware

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

Baseline UK

Group

Challenged Communities

Nationally, the Hardware surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Challenged Communities, within Baseline UK. This does not mean every Hardware household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Residents of these neighbourhoods typically live in households with dependent children, and there are fewer-than-average residents of normal retirement age or over. Identification with ethnic minorities, particularly Black, or Mixed or Multiple ethnicities is common. The rate of Christian religious affiliation is low. Housing predominantly consists of semi-detached houses, along with a significant number of terraced properties and flats. Overcrowded social housing is common, and private renting occurs at average UK levels. Those in employment work mainly in caring leisure and other services; process, plant and machine operation; or elementary occupations. Unemployment is high, and few individuals have degree level qualifications. Many of these neighbourhoods occur in commuter towns or less accessible areas of larger towns and cities.

Wider pattern

This Supergroup exemplifies the broad base to the UK’s social structure, encompassing as it does the average or modal levels of many neighbourhood characteristics, including all housing tenures, a range of levels of educational attainment and religious affiliations, and a variety of pre-retirement age structures. Yet, in combination, these mixes are each distinctive of the parts of the UK. Overall, terraced houses and flats are the most prevalent, as is employment in intermediate or low-skilled occupations. However, this Supergroup is also characterised by above average levels of unemployment and lower levels of use of English as the main language. Many neighbourhoods occur in south London and the UK’s other major urban centres.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburban Asian Communities

Group

Settled Semi-Detached Asians

Within London, Hardware is most associated with areas classed as Settled Semi-Detached Asians, part of Suburban Asian Communities. 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

These residents share Supergroup characteristics of large (non-Chinese) Asian populations but those identifying as Bangladeshi are notably absent. Many residents were born in the UK, while other more recent migrants have African birthplaces. Semi-detached housing, much of it owner occupied, prevails in these suburban residential locations.

Wider London pattern

Many residents of these neighbourhoods are of (non-Chinese) Asian descent, with many identifying as Indian, Pakistani or Bangladeshi. Neighbourhoods are located across large areas of suburban west, north-east and south London. Detached, semi-detached and terraced houses are more prevalent than flats and socially rented housing is uncommon. Few residents live in communal establishments. Many families have dependent children, sometimes in overcrowded accommodation, and few households are ethnically mixed. Marriage rates are above the London average. The even age distribution, relative absence of individuals living alone and frequent incidence of households with children suggests that multi-generation households may be relatively common. Employment is often in skilled trades, elementary, sales and customer service occupations, and roles as process, plant, and machine operatives. Manufacturing and construction are well represented, along with employment in distribution, hotels, and restaurants. Many adults have only level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. English is not used at home by some residents. Religious affiliation is above average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Hardware is most concentrated in decile 8 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname towards the healthier 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.

8
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Hardware

The surname HARDWARE has its origins in the British Isles, specifically England, and dates back to the 13th century. It is derived from the Old English words "hord" and "waru," which together mean "keeper of goods" or "keeper of treasure." This suggests that the name was initially given to someone whose occupation involved guarding or protecting valuable possessions.

In the early days, the name was often spelled as "Hordwaru" or "Hordware," reflecting its roots in Old English. As time passed, the spelling evolved to its modern form, "HARDWARE." One of the earliest recorded instances of the name can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Cambridgeshire, a census-like record from 1273, which mentions a person named William Hordwaru.

The HARDWARE name appeared in several historical documents throughout the centuries. For instance, the Pipe Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1301 include a reference to a man named John Hordware. Additionally, the Subsidy Rolls of Sussex from 1327 mention a certain Thomas Hordware.

Interestingly, the name HARDWARE has been associated with several notable individuals throughout history. One of the earliest recorded bearers of the name was William HARDWARE (c. 1285 – c. 1350), a merchant and landowner from Oxfordshire, England. Another notable figure was John HARDWARE (c. 1410 – 1478), a prominent clergyman who served as the Bishop of Bath and Wells during the 15th century.

In the 16th century, a person named Thomas HARDWARE (c. 1520 – 1588) gained recognition as a skilled architect and master mason. He was responsible for the construction of several churches and buildings in London and the surrounding areas.

Moving into the 17th century, we find mention of a certain Richard HARDWARE (1633 – 1695), who was a renowned scholar and author. He wrote several books on subjects ranging from philosophy to theology, and his works were widely read and influential during his lifetime.

Finally, in the 19th century, a man named Edward HARDWARE (1812 – 1887) made a name for himself as a successful industrialist and entrepreneur. He founded a company that manufactured and sold various hardware products, which likely contributed to the association between the surname and the modern meaning of the word "hardware."

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hardware families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hardware 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. Warwickshire leads with 51 Hardwares recorded in 1881 and an index of 23.83x.

County Total Index
Warwickshire 51 23.83x
Staffordshire 34 11.87x
Worcestershire 2 1.80x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Birmingham in Warwickshire leads with 21 Hardwares recorded in 1881 and an index of 29.44x.

Place Total Index
Birmingham 21 29.44x
Tettenhall 18 1028.57x
Aston 17 28.85x
Coventry Holy Trinity 10 156.49x
Burntwood Edial 7 382.51x
Codsall 7 1707.32x
Kenilworth 2 165.29x
Kings Norton 2 20.12x
Wolverhampton 2 9.08x
Stoke 1 238.10x

Top female names

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

Name Count
John 8
William 6
Henry 5
Joseph 4
James 3
Thomas 3
Harry 2
Albert 1
Arthur 1
Charles 1
Ernest 1
Frederick 1
George 1
Samuel 1
Sarah 1
Stephen 1
Wm.Henry 1

FAQ

Hardware surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hardware surname in 1881?

In 1881, 87 people were recorded with the Hardware surname. That placed it at #21,334 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hardware surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 215 in 2016. That gives Hardware a modern rank of #18,670.

What does the Hardware surname mean?

A surname likely denoting one who sells or works with hardware.

What does the Hardware map show?

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