NameCensus.

UK surname

Harnett

An anglicization of the Gaelic surname Ó hArrachtáin meaning descendant of Arrachtán.

In the 1881 census there were 553 people recorded with the Harnett surname, ranking it #6,244 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 1,214, ranked #4,901, up from #6,244 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Herne (incl. Herne Bay Chapelry), London parishes and Halifax. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Thanet, Birmingham and Chelmsford.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Harnett is 1,329 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 119.5%.

1881 census count

553

Ranked #6,244

Modern count

1,214

2016, ranked #4,901

Peak year

1998

1,329 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Harnett had 553 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #6,244 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 1,214 in 2016, ranked #4,901.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 799 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Harnett surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Harnett surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Harnett 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 378 #6,315
1861 historical 368 #6,935
1881 historical 553 #6,244
1891 historical 630 #6,141
1901 historical 766 #5,842
1911 historical 799 #5,476
1997 modern 1,223 #4,639
1998 modern 1,329 #4,463
1999 modern 1,295 #4,611
2000 modern 1,285 #4,631
2001 modern 1,255 #4,635
2002 modern 1,294 #4,597
2003 modern 1,233 #4,704
2004 modern 1,213 #4,770
2005 modern 1,182 #4,824
2006 modern 1,204 #4,757
2007 modern 1,237 #4,703
2008 modern 1,231 #4,750
2009 modern 1,243 #4,797
2010 modern 1,244 #4,897
2011 modern 1,225 #4,894
2012 modern 1,209 #4,881
2013 modern 1,247 #4,828
2014 modern 1,255 #4,835
2015 modern 1,231 #4,862
2016 modern 1,214 #4,901

Geography

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Where Harnetts are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Herne (incl. Herne Bay Chapelry), London parishes, Halifax and Margate. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Thanet, Birmingham, Chelmsford, Wiltshire and Southampton. 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 Herne (incl. Herne Bay Chapelry) Kent
2 London parishes London 1
3 Halifax Yorkshire, West Riding
4 London parishes London 3
5 Margate Kent

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Thanet 013 Thanet
2 Birmingham 028 Birmingham
3 Chelmsford 018 Chelmsford
4 Wiltshire 045 Wiltshire
5 Southampton 031 Southampton

Forenames

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First names often paired with Harnett

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Harnett

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

Rural Amenity

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

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

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

Young Families and Mainstream Employment

Group

Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins

Within London, Harnett is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector and Diverse Origins, part of Young Families and Mainstream Employment. 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

Scattered across London’s Inner and Outer suburbs, residents of these neighbourhoods are typically housed in the social rented sector. Although terraced and semi-detached houses predominate, more residents live in flats than elsewhere in the Supergroup. Neighbourhoods are more ethnically diverse than the Supergroup average. Those identifying as of Bangladeshi, Pakistani and some Black ethnicities are more prevalent. Europeans born in a overseas non-EU countries make up more of the lower proportion of residents identifying as White. Few residents are very old (85+). Employment in distribution, hotels and restaurants is more common than elsewhere in the Supergroup.

Wider London pattern

Many families in these neighbourhoods have young children. Housing is principally in the social rented sector, in terraced or semi-detached units. While over-all residential densities are low, overcrowding is also prevalent locally. Residents are drawn from a range of ethnic minorities, with many identifying as Black and above average numbers born in Africa. Numbers identifying as of Chinese, Indian or White ethnicity are below average. Levels of proficiency in English are below average. Levels of separation or divorce and incidence of disability are both above average. Education is typically limited to Level 1, 2, or apprenticeship qualifications. Few residents work in professional or managerial occupations but the employment structure is otherwise diverse: it includes skilled trades, caring, leisure and other service occupations, sales and customer service occupations, construction, and work as process, plant, and machine operatives.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Harnett is most concentrated in decile 9 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.

9
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

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

Meaning and origin of Harnett

The surname Harnett is of English origin, and it is derived from the Old English words "haran" and "hytte," which together mean "dwelling by the rocks." This surname likely originated in the areas of England where there were rocky landscapes or settlements near rocky outcroppings.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Harnett can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as "Haranehyt." This document, commissioned by William the Conqueror, was a survey of land and property in England, and it provides valuable insights into the names and locations of people living in that era.

In the 13th century, the name Harnett appeared in various records, such as the Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire, where it was spelled as "Harenhut." This variation in spelling was common during that time, as standardized spelling conventions had not yet been established.

One notable figure with the surname Harnett was Sir John Harnett (1553-1623), an English politician and landowner from Wiltshire. He served as a Member of Parliament and was known for his involvement in local affairs.

Another individual worth mentioning is Sir William Harnett (1637-1692), an English army officer who fought in the English Civil War and later became the Governor of Barbados from 1690 to 1692.

In the 18th century, the name Harnett gained prominence in the American colonies. One significant figure was Cornelius Harnett (1723-1781), a merchant and political leader from North Carolina who played an active role in the American Revolution.

During the 19th century, the surname Harnett was associated with several notable figures, including Henry Harnett (1822-1892), an English artist known for his landscapes and genre paintings, and William Harnett (1848-1892), an American still-life painter renowned for his trompe l'oeil works.

Throughout history, the surname Harnett has been found in various locations across England, particularly in areas like Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and Somerset, where the rocky landscapes may have influenced the name's origin.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Harnett families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Harnett 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. Kent leads with 151 Harnetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 8.13x.

County Total Index
Kent 151 8.13x
Middlesex 109 2.00x
Hampshire 71 6.36x
Surrey 50 1.89x
Yorkshire 29 0.54x
Glamorgan 28 2.95x
Staffordshire 18 0.98x
Lancashire 13 0.20x
Wiltshire 12 2.49x
Sussex 9 0.98x
Durham 8 0.49x
Gloucestershire 8 0.75x
Monmouthshire 8 2.03x
Warwickshire 8 0.58x
Cheshire 7 0.58x
Northumberland 6 0.74x
Channel Islands 5 3.10x
Cornwall 5 0.81x
Hertfordshire 5 1.33x
Devon 4 0.35x
Cumberland 1 0.21x
Nottinghamshire 1 0.14x
Shropshire 1 0.21x
Somerset 1 0.11x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Margate St John Baptist in Kent leads with 33 Harnetts recorded in 1881 and an index of 97.03x.

Place Total Index
Margate St John Baptist 33 97.03x
Herne 23 279.81x
St Lawrence 15 117.46x
Cardiff St Mary 13 24.90x
Southampton St Mary 13 18.53x
St Marylebone London 13 4.47x
Woking 13 81.35x
Bedhampton 12 909.09x
Lambeth 12 2.53x
Whitstable 12 131.72x
Bethnal Green London 9 3.81x
Kensington London 9 2.97x
Millbrook 9 32.03x
St Pancras London 9 2.05x
Brighton 8 4.32x
Headley 8 264.03x
Northwood 8 50.35x
St Woollos 8 18.22x
Wolverhampton 8 5.66x
Birmingham 7 1.53x
Islington London 7 1.33x
Lewisham 7 7.07x
Aberavon 6 68.81x
Battersea 6 3.00x
Berwick St James 6 1714.29x
Bobbing 6 681.82x
Castleford 6 30.55x
Halifax 6 7.58x
Milton In Gravesend 6 21.54x
Rochester St Margaret 6 30.64x
Sandwich St Peter 6 307.69x
St Anne Soho London 6 19.31x
Chipstead 5 416.67x
Gelligaer 5 23.11x
Hammersmith London 5 3.73x
Hampstead London 5 5.90x
Kyloe 5 267.38x
Minster In Thanet 5 129.20x
Monkwearmouth Shore 5 15.82x
Newington In Milton 5 257.73x
Portsea 5 2.29x
Romsey Extra 5 75.41x
Shoreditch London 5 2.12x
Bermondsey 4 2.47x
Bristol St Michael 4 43.72x
Charterhouse London 4 155.64x
Chipping Barnet 4 60.98x
Croydon 4 2.72x
Grouville 4 89.09x
Hessle In Sculcoates 4 84.03x
Merthyr Tydfil 4 4.39x
North Tidworth 4 869.57x
Runcorn 4 14.44x
Saddleworth 4 9.61x
Sarre 4 1176.47x
Tettenhall 4 35.62x
Bristol St Nicholas 3 156.25x
Burslem 3 5.70x
Canterbury St Alphage 3 151.52x
Chalk 3 468.75x
Chelsea London 3 1.83x
Feock 3 77.72x
Preston 3 1.74x
Snydale 3 267.86x
South Stoneham 3 12.40x
Southcoates 3 10.02x
St Andrew Holborn London 3 12.73x
St George Bloomsbury 3 9.61x
Stockport 3 4.85x
Stranton 3 5.50x
West Drayton 3 159.57x
Whippingham 3 35.50x
Birkdale 2 12.24x
Deptford St Paul 2 1.40x
Great Crosby 2 11.36x
Poplar London 2 1.95x
St George In East London 2 3.91x
Westminster St Margaret 2 7.62x
Woolwich 2 2.92x
Worsbrough 2 12.66x

Top female names

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

Name Count
Mary 47
Jane 18
Ellen 14
Ann 12
Emma 11
Sarah 10
Emily 9
Margaret 9
Catherine 8
Elizabeth 8
Annie 6
Julia 6
Eliza 5
Frances 5
Johanna 5
Alice 4
Bertha 4
Caroline 4
Harriet 4
Maria 4
Mercy 4
Eleanor 3
Florence 3
Hannah 3
Isabella 3
Laura 3
Lucy 3
Ada 2
Anne 2
Bessie 2
Bridget 2
Charlotte 2
Clara 2
Edith 2
Eliz. 2
Ethel 2
Fanny 2
Harriett 2
Kate 2
Leah 2
Martha 2
Rose 2
Susannah 2
Annah 1
Carrie 1
Elizbth. 1
Elizth. 1
Honora 1
I.E. 1
Thompson 1

Top male names

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

Name Count
William 37
John 35
George 33
Henry 21
Thomas 15
James 14
Charles 12
Edward 12
Frederick 6
Joseph 6
Denis 4
Frank 4
Albert 3
Daniel 3
Jeremiah 3
Michael 3
Patrick 3
Richard 3
Stephen 3
Walter 3
Alfred 2
Arthur 2
David 2
Ernest 2
Herbert 2
Isacc 2
Matthew 2
Peter 2
Samuel 2
Timothy 2
Dennis 1
Edmund 1
Edw. 1
France 1
Fred 1
Frederic 1
Fredrick 1
Geo. 1
Harold 1
Hubert 1
Hy. 1
Infant 1
Job 1
Leonard 1
Maurice 1
Robert 1
Saml. 1
T. 1
Thos. 1
Willm. 1

FAQ

Harnett surname: questions and answers

How common was the Harnett surname in 1881?

In 1881, 553 people were recorded with the Harnett surname. That placed it at #6,244 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Harnett surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 1,214 in 2016. That gives Harnett a modern rank of #4,901.

What does the Harnett surname mean?

An anglicization of the Gaelic surname Ó hArrachtáin meaning descendant of Arrachtán.

What does the Harnett map show?

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