NameCensus.

UK surname

Hartford

A locational surname referring to someone from Hertford, England, meaning "deer crossing" or "ford frequented by deer."

In the 1881 census there were 80 people recorded with the Hartford surname, ranking it #22,225 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 138, ranked #25,127, down from #22,225 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Horton, Durham St Oswald and St Marylebone. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Stockton-on-Tees, Torridge and Leeds.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Hartford is 174 in 1998. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 72.5%.

1881 census count

80

Ranked #22,225

Modern count

138

2016, ranked #25,127

Peak year

1998

174 bearers

Map years

5

1861 to 2016

Key insights

  • Hartford had 80 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #22,225 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 138 in 2016, ranked #25,127.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 116 in 1861.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Hartford surname distribution map

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

Distribution map

Hartford surname density by area, 2016 modern.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Hartford 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 39 #26,319
1861 historical 116 #18,751
1881 historical 80 #22,225
1891 historical 84 #26,229
1901 historical 92 #23,800
1911 historical 106 #21,948
1997 modern 155 #20,684
1998 modern 174 #19,729
1999 modern 159 #21,030
2000 modern 157 #21,146
2001 modern 150 #21,482
2002 modern 154 #21,531
2003 modern 143 #22,367
2004 modern 137 #23,098
2005 modern 139 #22,887
2006 modern 146 #22,320
2007 modern 146 #22,596
2008 modern 141 #23,383
2009 modern 136 #24,485
2010 modern 145 #24,031
2011 modern 134 #25,050
2012 modern 143 #24,019
2013 modern 153 #23,314
2014 modern 145 #24,395
2015 modern 145 #24,246
2016 modern 138 #25,127

Geography

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Where Hartfords are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Horton, Durham St Oswald, St Marylebone, Bishop Wearmouth and London parishes. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Stockton-on-Tees, Torridge, Leeds, Cheshire West and Chester and New Forest. 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 Horton Northumberland
2 Durham St Oswald Durham
3 St Marylebone London (North Districts)
4 Bishop Wearmouth Durham
5 London parishes London 2

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Stockton-on-Tees 003 Stockton-on-Tees
2 Torridge 007 Torridge
3 Leeds 069 Leeds
4 Cheshire West and Chester 016 Cheshire West and Chester
5 New Forest 001 New Forest

Forenames

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First names often paired with Hartford

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

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Hartford

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Hartford, 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 Hartford surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Hartford 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

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Hartford 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

Hartford 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

Hartford falls in decile 4 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

4
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Hartford 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 Hartford, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Hartford

The surname Hartford originates from England and dates back to the medieval period. It is a locational surname, derived from the place name Hartford, which was the name of several towns and villages across England. The name is believed to have originated from the Old English words "heort" meaning deer or stag, and "ford" meaning a shallow crossing of a river.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Hartford can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of landholdings and properties in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The Domesday Book mentions a landowner named Willelmus de Hertford, indicating the presence of the surname in the 11th century.

In the 13th century, the surname appeared in various historical records, such as the Hundred Rolls of Huntingdonshire from 1273, which mentions a person named Johannes de Hertford. The Pipe Rolls of Gloucestershire from 1285 also list a person named Robertus de Hertford.

One of the earliest known bearers of the surname Hartford was Sir Nicholas Hartford (c. 1330 - 1399), who was a prominent English landowner and military commander during the Hundred Years' War. He served under King Edward III and was knighted for his bravery in battle.

Another notable figure with the surname Hartford was Sir John Hartford (c. 1450 - 1522), who was a Member of Parliament for the borough of Hertford during the reign of King Henry VIII. He played a significant role in local politics and administration.

During the 16th century, the surname Hartford was also associated with the town of Hartford in Cheshire, England. One of the earliest recorded individuals from this area was Thomas Hartford (c. 1520 - 1588), who was a prominent landowner and served as a Justice of the Peace in Cheshire.

In the 17th century, the Hartford surname gained recognition through the exploits of Reverend Samuel Hartford (1610 - 1673), who was an English Puritan minister and one of the founders of the Colony of Connecticut in North America. He played a crucial role in the establishment of the town of Hartford, which later became the capital of Connecticut.

Throughout history, several other individuals with the surname Hartford have made notable contributions in various fields, including literature, academia, and military service. However, the details of their lives and accomplishments may be obscured by the passage of time and the limitations of historical records.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Hartford families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Hartford 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 16 Hartfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 1.73x.

County Total Index
Lancashire 16 1.73x
Durham 14 6.03x
Wiltshire 10 14.49x
Middlesex 9 1.15x
Yorkshire 7 0.91x
Hampshire 4 2.50x
Nottinghamshire 4 3.80x
Northumberland 3 2.58x
Sussex 3 2.28x
Lanarkshire 2 0.79x
Midlothian 2 1.91x
Cheshire 1 0.58x
Cornwall 1 1.13x
Derbyshire 1 0.82x
Kent 1 0.38x
Surrey 1 0.26x
Worcestershire 1 0.98x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Bishopwearmouth in Durham leads with 8 Hartfords recorded in 1881 and an index of 40.14x.

Place Total Index
Bishopwearmouth 8 40.14x
Salisbury The Close 8 4705.88x
Elvet 6 357.14x
Holbeck 6 117.19x
Liverpool 6 10.67x
St Marylebone London 5 12.00x
Nottingham St Mary 4 14.71x
Christchurch 3 86.46x
Layton With Warbreck 3 88.24x
Alderbury 2 625.00x
Bootle Cum Linacre 2 27.21x
Brighton 2 7.54x
Edinburgh Lady Yesters 2 277.78x
Govan 2 3.20x
Kirkdale 2 12.84x
Longbenton 2 40.65x
St Pancras London 2 3.18x
Eckington 1 33.67x
Fulwood 1 100.00x
Goole 1 76.92x
Hastings Holy Trinity 1 103.09x
Holdenhurst 1 23.81x
Islington London 1 1.32x
Lambeth 1 1.47x
Lewisham 1 7.04x
Madron Penzance 1 31.15x
Manchester 1 2.40x
St George In East London 1 13.62x
Tenbury 1 178.57x
Tynemouth 1 16.08x
Upton By Birkenhead 1 588.24x
Wigan 1 7.73x

Top female names

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

Name Count
George 4
John 4
Henry 3
James 3
William 3
Herbert 2
Robert 2
Thomas 2
Anthony 1
Augustus 1
David 1
Edward 1
Fred 1
Frederick 1
Sam 1
Thos. 1
W. 1
Wm. 1

FAQ

Hartford surname: questions and answers

How common was the Hartford surname in 1881?

In 1881, 80 people were recorded with the Hartford surname. That placed it at #22,225 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Hartford surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 138 in 2016. That gives Hartford a modern rank of #25,127.

What does the Hartford surname mean?

A locational surname referring to someone from Hertford, England, meaning "deer crossing" or "ford frequented by deer."

What does the Hartford map show?

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