UK surname
A locational surname derived from a place name in Germany.
In the 1881 census there were 53 people recorded with the Harne surname, ranking it #26,134 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 19, ranked #36,760, down from #26,134 in 1881.
The strongest historical links point to Clanfield, Tranent and St Pancras. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include No data.
Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Harne is 225 in 1861. Compared with 1881, the name has fallen by 64.2%.
1881 census count
53
Ranked #26,134
Modern count
19
2016, ranked #36,760
Peak year
1861
225 bearers
Map years
2
1861 to 1891
Key insights
Map
Back to topThe map shows where the Harne surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.
Distribution map
Harne 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 | 79 | #19,712 |
| 1861 | historical | 225 | #10,843 |
| 1881 | historical | 53 | #26,134 |
| 1891 | historical | 182 | #15,983 |
| 1901 | historical | 97 | #23,227 |
| 1911 | historical | 95 | #23,294 |
| 1997 | modern | 20 | #35,809 |
| 1998 | modern | 21 | #35,788 |
| 1999 | modern | 21 | #35,810 |
| 2000 | modern | 22 | #35,684 |
| 2001 | modern | 20 | #35,754 |
| 2002 | modern | 22 | #35,709 |
| 2003 | modern | 20 | #35,915 |
| 2004 | modern | 20 | #36,053 |
| 2005 | modern | 19 | #36,247 |
| 2006 | modern | 22 | #36,105 |
| 2007 | modern | 21 | #36,290 |
| 2008 | modern | 20 | #36,443 |
| 2009 | modern | 21 | #36,470 |
| 2010 | modern | 20 | #36,599 |
| 2011 | modern | 21 | #36,502 |
| 2012 | modern | 20 | #36,570 |
| 2013 | modern | 18 | #36,787 |
| 2014 | modern | 22 | #36,496 |
| 2015 | modern | 19 | #36,736 |
| 2016 | modern | 19 | #36,760 |
Geography
Back to topHistorical parish links are strongest around Clanfield, Tranent, St Pancras, St George the Martyr and St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford. 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 | Clanfield | Oxfordshire |
| 2 | Tranent | Haddington |
| 3 | St Pancras | London (North Districts) |
| 4 | St George the Martyr | London (South Districts) |
| 5 | St Paul Deptford, St Nicholas Deptford | London (South Districts) |
| Rank | Area | District |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | No data | No data |
Forenames
Back to topThese lists show first names that appear often with the Harne 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 Harne, 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 Harne surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as No data, within No data. This does not mean every Harne 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, Harne 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 Harne is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of No data.
Area snapshot
This describes the area pattern most associated with Harne, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.
Origin
Back to topThe surname HARNE is believed to have originated in England during the medieval period, likely deriving from an Old English or Anglo-Saxon word related to dwelling or settlement. One theory suggests it may have roots in the Old English words "hyrne" or "herne," meaning a nook, corner, or secluded place.
In the Domesday Book, a record compiled in 1086 for William the Conqueror, there are several entries that possibly reference early forms of the name, such as "Harna" and "Herne." These entries indicate that the name was already present in various regions of England by the late 11th century.
One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname HARNE can be found in the Hundred Rolls of Lincolnshire from 1273, where a person named Robert Herne is mentioned. This suggests that the name had evolved to its more modern spelling by the 13th century.
The HARNE surname may also have connections to certain place names in England, such as Herne Bay in Kent or Herne Hill in London. These locations could have influenced the development of the surname or provided a geographic origin for some families bearing the name.
Notable individuals with the surname HARNE throughout history include:
1. John Harne (c. 1470 - 1547), an English merchant and influential figure in the City of London during the reign of Henry VIII.
2. William Harne (1565 - 1632), an English politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Tregony in Cornwall during the early 17th century.
3. Elizabeth Harne (1628 - 1703), an English writer and pioneer of early feminist literature, known for her work "The Countess of Montgomery's Urania."
4. Richard Harne (1792 - 1858), a British naval officer who served in the Royal Navy and participated in several notable battles during the Napoleonic Wars.
5. James Harne (1855 - 1932), a Scottish architect and designer responsible for numerous buildings in Glasgow and the surrounding areas during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
While the HARNE surname may not be among the most common in modern times, its historical roots can be traced back to medieval England, potentially originating from words related to settlements or geographic features. The name has been carried by individuals from various walks of life throughout the centuries, leaving its mark on various fields and regions of the British Isles.
Sourced from namecensus.com.
1881 census detail
Back to topThese tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Harne 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. Middlesex leads with 14 Harnes recorded in 1881 and an index of 2.66x.
| County | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Middlesex | 14 | 2.66x |
| Gloucestershire | 6 | 5.81x |
| Surrey | 6 | 2.34x |
| Yorkshire | 6 | 1.15x |
| Nottinghamshire | 5 | 7.04x |
| Essex | 4 | 3.85x |
| Lancashire | 2 | 0.32x |
| Staffordshire | 2 | 1.12x |
| Devon | 1 | 0.91x |
| Hertfordshire | 1 | 2.75x |
| Kent | 1 | 0.56x |
| Leicestershire | 1 | 1.71x |
| Northamptonshire | 1 | 2.02x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 15.92x |
| Somerset | 1 | 1.18x |
| Suffolk | 1 | 1.56x |
| Warwickshire | 1 | 0.75x |
Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Hackney London in Middlesex leads with 8 Harnes recorded in 1881 and an index of 27.09x.
| Place | Total | Index |
|---|---|---|
| Hackney London | 8 | 27.09x |
| Horfield | 6 | 576.92x |
| Battersea | 5 | 25.80x |
| Headingley Cum Burley | 5 | 148.81x |
| Snenton | 5 | 179.21x |
| Chelsea London | 2 | 12.60x |
| Colchester St James | 2 | 476.19x |
| St Marylebone London | 2 | 7.11x |
| Walthamstow | 2 | 53.48x |
| East Stonehouse | 1 | 46.30x |
| Ecton | 1 | 909.09x |
| Hampstead London | 1 | 12.20x |
| Keighley | 1 | 17.99x |
| Kensington London | 1 | 3.42x |
| Kirkdale | 1 | 9.51x |
| Knaptoft | 1 | 10000.00x |
| Liverpool | 1 | 2.63x |
| Newington | 1 | 5.14x |
| Old Newton | 1 | 833.33x |
| Ramsgate | 1 | 34.13x |
| Royal Navy | 1 | 18.62x |
| Rugby | 1 | 55.56x |
| Walsall Foreign | 1 | 10.89x |
| Watford | 1 | 35.59x |
| Whittington | 1 | 277.78x |
| Winsford | 1 | 1111.11x |
These are the female first names most often recorded with the Harne 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 Harne 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 Harne households.
| Occupation | Count |
|---|---|
| Scholar | 7 |
| Servant Dom | 2 |
| (Serv) | 1 |
| Annuitant | 1 |
| B 1 Cl | 1 |
| Carman | 1 |
| Carpenter | 1 |
| Cloth Burler | 1 |
| Coachman (D S) | 1 |
| Cook | 1 |
| Cook (Dom) | 1 |
| Corporal 3 Stafford Mil | 1 |
| Dom Serv | 1 |
| Domestic Servant | 1 |
| Drapers Assist | 1 |
| Errand Boy | 1 |
| Farm Servant | 1 |
| Florist Employing 2 Men | 1 |
| General Servant | 1 |
| General Servant (Farm Indoors) | 1 |
| Gentlemans Wife | 1 |
| Governess | 1 |
| Housework (Dom) | 1 |
| Iron Pudler | 1 |
| Lace Dresser | 1 |
| Letter Carrier | 1 |
| Needlewoman | 1 |
| Painter | 1 |
| Railway Porter | 1 |
FAQ
In 1881, 53 people were recorded with the Harne surname. That placed it at #26,134 in the surname rankings for that year.
The latest modern count shown here is 19 in 2016. That gives Harne a modern rank of #36,760.
A locational surname derived from a place name in Germany.
The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Harne 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.