Hardgrove History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancestors of the name Hardgrove date back to the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from when the Hardgrove family lived in Hargrave, a place-name found in the counties of Cheshire, Northamptonshire, and Suffolk. There is also a Hargrave Hall in Cheshire. The place-name is derived from the Old English elements har, which meant "hare" or "on the border," and graf or græfe, which meant "grove." The place-name as a whole meant "grove filled with rabbits" or "grove on a border." 1

Alternatively, the name could have been derived from a Saxon occupation, as "the provider or commissary of an army, from Here or Har, an army, and grave, a steward or disposer." 2

"Hargreaves is an old Lancashire name. It is also common in the West Riding, particularly in the Leeds district. There are two Cheshire hamlets called Hargrave." 3

Early Origins of the Hardgrove family

The surname Hardgrove was first found in Cheshire at Hargrave, which dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was listed as Haregrave. The Domesday Book also lists Haragrauna in Suffolk and Haregrave in Northamptonshire. 4

The first record of the family was Geoffrey de Haregrave who was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Derbyshire in 1188. 5 A few years later, in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, John de Haregrave was listed as holding lands in Buckinghamshire at that time.

Later again, in East Cheshire in 1296, two records were found: William de Haregreve; and Richard de Haregreve. "The Hargreaves of Lancashire probably spring from Hargrave, Cheshire." 6

The Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire listed Henry de Hargreve in 1332. 5 This latter source notes that Hargreave Hall was located in Cheshire, but we can find no record of it today.

Early History of the Hardgrove family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hardgrove research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1286, 1332, 1486, 1499, 1529, 1541, 1690, 1739 and 1741 are included under the topic Early Hardgrove History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hardgrove Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Hardgrove are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. The variations of the name Hardgrove include: Hargrove, Hargreave, Hargreaves, Hargrave, Hargroves and many more.

Early Notables of the Hardgrove family

Another 38 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hardgrove Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hardgrove family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Hardgrove or a variant listed above: Alice Hargrave purchased land in Virginia in 1646; and William Hargrove settled in Barbados in 1678; Nathaniel Hargrove settled in Maryland in 1733; Hester Hargrove settled in Annapolis Maryland in 1736.

Contemporary Notables of the name Hardgrove (post 1700) +

Joseph H. Hardgrove, American Democratic Party politician, Candidate for Wisconsin State Assembly from Fond du Lac County 2nd District, 1948 7

The Hardgrove Motto +

The motto was originally a war cry or slogan. Mottoes first began to be shown with arms in the 14th and 15th centuries, but were not in general use until the 17th century. Thus the oldest coats of arms generally do not include a motto. Mottoes seldom form part of the grant of arms: Under most heraldic authorities, a motto is an optional component of the coat of arms, and can be added to or changed at will; many families have chosen not to display a motto.

Motto: Vincit amor patria
Motto Translation: My beloved country will conquer.

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 29) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html