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Hardwicke History Early Origins Early History Spelling Variations Early Notables

Contemporary Notables Related Stories Motto Citations

Hardwicke History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The ancestry of the name Hardwicke dates from the ancient Anglo-Saxon culture of Britain. It comes from when the family lived in the village of Hardwick near Ashton-cum-Aughton in the county of Yorkshire. The name was originally derived from the Old English word heordewic, when translated refers to the person who dwelled near a sheep farm. 1

Early Origins of the Hardwicke family

The surname Hardwicke was first found in Yorkshire. Some of the family held estates at Ault-Hucknall in Derbyshire in early times. "The manor of Hardwicke lies on the south side of the parish, and on the border of Nottinghamshire, from which it is separated by the river Meden or Mayden. It was granted by King John, in 1203, to Andrew de Beauchamp: the Hardwickes possessed it for six generations; and Elizabeth, daughter of John Hardwicke, Esq., brought it to Sir William Cavendish. The present Hall of Hardwicke was built by the Countess of Shrewsbury in the reign of Elizabeth; its situation is exceedingly picturesque and beautiful, standing in a fine park containing 621 acres of land, embellished with venerable oaks of most gigantic size. " 2

The hamlet of Kytes-Hardwick has an eponymous significance to the family. "The family of 'Herdwick,' a branch of the 'Hastangs,' took their name from this place, and some of them are supposed to have resided here. John de Herdwick, in the time of Edward III., held several offices of distinction, and in the first of Richard II. was one of the justices of the peace for the city of Coventry. Another John de Herdwick aided Richmond, afterwards Henry VII., at the battle of Bosworth-Field, and, it is said, by his good conduct as a guide to the army, got the earl the advantage in that fight 'of the ground, winde, and sunne.' The manor, at this period called Herdwick-Grembald, was conveyed by him, in marriage with one of his daughters, to William Dingley." 2

Early feudal rolls provided the king of the time a method of cataloguing holdings for taxation, but today they provide a glimpse into the wide surname spellings in use at that time. Robert de Herdewyk was listed in Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire, Henry III-Edward I, as was Henry de Herdewyk. 3

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included: Ermina de Herdwych, Cambridgeshire. Later the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Alicia de Hardwyk; Agnes de Herdewik and Robertus de Hardewyk. 4 Anketill de Herdewic was listed in the Assize Rolls for Warwickshire in 1221 and Richard de la Herdewyk was registered in Somerset in 1243. 5

"The Hardwicks are established in various parts of England, and in most cases they have taken the name of a place in the county." 6

Early History of the Hardwicke family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hardwicke research. Another 78 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1525, 1527, 1580, 1599, 1608, 1609 and 1621 are included under the topic Early Hardwicke History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hardwicke Spelling Variations

Spelling variations in names were a common occurrence before English spelling was standardized a few hundred years ago. In the Middle Ages, even the literate spelled their names differently as the English language incorporated elements of French, Latin, and other European languages. Many variations of the name Hardwicke have been found, including Hardwick, Hardwicke, Hartwick, Hartwicke and others.

Early Notables of the Hardwicke family

Notables of the family at this time include Elizabeth Talbot (nee Hardwick) (1527-1608), Countess of Shrewsbury, also known as Bess of Hardwick. She was daughter of John Hardwick of Derbyshire by his wife Elizabeth Leeke. The Hardwicks had arrived in Derbyshire from Sussex by the mid thirteenth century and farmed land granted by Robert Savage, lord of...
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hardwicke Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hardwicke migration to the United States +

Families began migrating abroad in enormous numbers because of the political and religious discontent in England. Often faced with persecution and starvation in England, the possibilities of the New World attracted many English people. Although the ocean trips took many lives, those who did get to North America were instrumental in building the necessary groundwork for what would become for new powerful nations. Some of the first immigrants to cross the Atlantic and come to North America bore the name Hardwicke, or a variant listed above:

Hardwicke Settlers in United States in the 18th Century

James Hardwicke, who settled in New England in 1762

Hardwicke migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia followed the First Fleets of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

Hardwicke Settlers in Australia in the 18th Century

Mr. James Hardwicke, (Austin), (b. 1768), aged 29, English labourer who was convicted in London, England for life for stealing, transported aboard the "Barwell" in September 1797, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 7

Hardwicke Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. James Hardwicke, English convict who was convicted in London, England for life for pick pocketing, transported aboard the "Baring" in December 1818, arriving in New South Wales, Australia, he died in 1830 8
Mr. Joseph Hardwicke, English convict who was convicted in Bedford, Befordshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Burrell" on 22nd July 1830, arriving in New South Wales 9

Hardwicke migration to New Zealand +

Emigration to New Zealand followed in the footsteps of the European explorers, such as Captain Cook (1769-70): first came sealers, whalers, missionaries, and traders. By 1838, the British New Zealand Company had begun buying land from the Maori tribes, and selling it to settlers, and, after the Treaty of Waitangi in 1840, many British families set out on the arduous six month journey from Britain to Aotearoa to start a new life. Early immigrants include:

Hardwicke Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Fred Hardwicke, Cornish settler travelling from Launceston aboard the ship "Spray" arriving in New Zealand in 1851 10

Contemporary Notables of the name Hardwicke (post 1700) +

Catherine Hardwicke (b. 1955), American production designer and film director
Edward Hardwicke (1932-2011), English film, television, and stage actor, best known for his portrayal of Dr. Watson in the Granada TV series Sherlock Holmes
Major-General Thomas Hardwicke (1755-1835), English soldier and naturalist, known for his work in India from 1777 to 1823, upon his return to England he co-wrote the publication of Illustrations of Indian Zoology (1830-35)
Sir Cedric Webster Hardwicke (1893-1964), noted English stage and film actor
Frederick Hardwicke Knight (1911-2008), prominent New Zealand (British born) author and photographer
Hardwicke Rawnsley (1851-1920), English clergyman, poet, writer of hymns and conservationist

The Hardwicke 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: Cavendo tutus
Motto Translation: Safe by being cautious.

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 29th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/barwell
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 5th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/burrell
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html