Show ContentsHacket History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

The Strongbownians added their own naming traditions to the eastern region of Ireland to which they arrived. The impact of this new tradition was not extremely disruptive to the pre-existing Irish tradition because the two had many similarities. Both cultures made significant use of hereditary surnames. And like the Irish, the Strongbownians often used prefixes to build patronymic surnames, which are names based on the given name of the initial bearer's father or another older relative. Strongbow's followers often created names that were built with the prefix Fitz-, which was derived from the French word fils, and ultimately from the Latin filius, both of which mean son. They also used diminutive suffixes such as -ot, -et, -un, -in, or -el, and occasionally even two suffixes combined to form a double diminutive such as -el-in, -el-ot, -in-ot, and -et-in, to build patronymic names. The surname Hacket is derived from the medieval given names Hack or Hake. These English names were derived from the Old Norse name Haki, which is a cognate of the English name Hook and was originally given to someone with a hunched figure or a hooked nose. Before being imported to Ireland, the surname Hacket was chiefly popular in the western midlands of England. The Gaelic form of the name Hacket is Haicéid.

Early Origins of the Hacket family

The surname Hacket was first found in County Kilkenny (Irish: Cill Chainnigh), the former Kingdom of Osraige (Ossory), located in Southeastern Ireland in the province of Leinster, where they had been granted lands by Strongbow for their assistance in the invasion of Ireland in 1172.

They were also granted lands in counties Carlow, Kildare and one branch moved into Connacht where "they formed a distinct if small sept which was known as MacHackett, their seat being Castle Hackett, six miles south-east of Tuam." [1]

They were originally from Harcourt in Normandy and their name appears on the Honour Roll of the Battell Abbey as being present at the Battle of Hastings. "The Hackets of Niton on the Isle of Wight were descendants of Haket on the Battle Abbey Roll. The eventual heiress, Agnes, dau. of John Hackett, Esq. of Niton, m. John Lye, Esq., of Dorsetshire, and was mother of Anne Lye, wife of Sir James Woraley, constable of Carisbrook Castle." [2]

"Dominus Paganus de Haket, another soldier at Hastings accompanied Henry II to Ireland where he acquired broad lands and seigneuries there; and his descendants, generation after generation, were parliamentary Barons, and potent Magnates in the sister kingdom. "[2]

Early History of the Hacket family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hacket research. Another 54 words (4 lines of text) covering the years 1180, 1195, 1559, 1566, 1592, 1601, 1621, 1625, 1626, 1670, 1676, 1689 and 1706 are included under the topic Early Hacket History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hacket Spelling Variations

A single person's name was often spelt simply as it sounded by medieval scribes and church officials. An investigation into the specific origins the name Hacket has revealed that such a practice has resulted in many spelling variations over the years. A few of its variants include: Hackett, Hackert, Hacket, Halkett and others.

Early Notables of the Hacket family

Notable amongst the family up to this time was

  • Peter Hackett, Archbishop of Cashell; John-Baptist Hackett (Hacket, Hacquet, Hecquet) (died 1676), Irish theologian born at Fethard, County Tipperary; and Humphrey Haggett (born 1601), an English poli...
  • John Hacket (1592-1670), was Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield, and was born in St. Martin's, Strand, 1 Sept. 1592. His father, Andrew Hacket, a prosperous tailor of Scottish extraction, was a senior b...
  • Roger Hacket (1559-1621), was an English divine, son of Sir Cuthbert Hacket, Lord Mayor of London, and was born in the parish of St. James, Garlick Hythe, London. [3]


United States Hacket migration to the United States +

Ireland experienced a dramatic decrease in its population during the 19th century. This was in a great measure, a response to England's imperialistic policies. Hunger and disease took the lives of many Irish people and many more chose to leave their homeland to escape the horrific conditions. North America with its promise of work, freedom, and land was an extremely popular destination for Irish families. For those families that survived the journey, all three of these things were often attained through much hard work and perseverance. Research into early immigration and passenger lists revealed many immigrants bearing the name Hacket:

Hacket Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Jahez Hacket, who arrived in New England in 1654 [4]
  • William Hacket, who arrived in Maryland in 1667 [4]
  • Katherine Hacket, who landed in Maryland in 1667 [4]
Hacket Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Mary Hacket, who arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1772 [4]
  • Michael Hacket, aged 18, who arrived in Pennsylvania in 1776 [4]
  • George Hacket, who landed in New York, NY in 1795 [4]
Hacket Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • William Hacket, aged 20, who arrived in South Carolina in 1812 [4]
  • A Hacket, who landed in New Orleans, La in 1813 [4]
  • John Hacket, who landed in Charleston, South Carolina in 1824 [4]
  • C Hacket, who arrived in San Francisco, California in 1850 [4]

Canada Hacket migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hacket Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mrs. Mary Ann Hacket U.E. born in Delaware, USA who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 [5]
Hacket Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Patrick Hacket, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1817
  • Charles Hacket, aged 24, a labourer, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1833 aboard the ship "John & Mary" from Belfast, Ireland

Australia Hacket migration to Australia +

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

Hacket Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Jane Hacket, aged 19, a domestic servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Fitzjames"
  • John Hacket, aged 22, a labourer, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Lord Raglan" [6]
  • Mary Hacket, aged 20, a servant, who arrived in South Australia in 1856 aboard the ship "Lord Raglan" [6]

New Zealand Hacket 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:

Hacket Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mrs. Mary Hacket, (b. 1840), aged 23, Irish settler from Antrim travelling from London aboard the ship "Tiptree" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 20th January 1864 [7]
  • Mr. Paul Hacket, (b. 1840), aged 23, Irish farm labourer from Antrim travelling from London aboard the ship "Tiptree" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 20th January 1864 [7]

West Indies Hacket migration to West Indies +

The British first settled the British West Indies around 1604. They made many attempts but failed in some to establish settlements on the Islands including Saint Lucia and Grenada. By 1627 they had managed to establish settlements on St. Kitts (St. Christopher) and Barbados, but by 1641 the Spanish had moved in and destroyed some of these including those at Providence Island. The British continued to expand the settlements including setting the First Federation in the British West Indies by 1674; some of the islands include Barbados, Bermuda, Cayman Island, Turks and Caicos, Jamaica and Belize then known as British Honduras. By the 1960's many of the islands became independent after the West Indies Federation which existed from 1958 to 1962 failed due to internal political conflicts. After this a number of Eastern Caribbean islands formed a free association. [8]
Hacket Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Sir Robert Hacket, who settled in Barbados in 1678

Contemporary Notables of the name Hacket (post 1700) +

  • John Hacket (1592-1670), born Halket, an English churchman, Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry from 1661 until his death
  • William Hacket (d. 1591), English puritan known for his attempt to remove Queen Elizabeth I, he was executed in London for treason
  • Hacket Smartt, American Democratic Party politician, Member of Colorado State House of Representatives, 1950 [9]


The Hacket 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: Spes mea Deus
Motto Translation: God is my hope.


  1. MacLysaght, Edward, Irish Families Their Names, Arms and Origins 4th Edition. Dublin: Irish Academic, 1982. Print. (ISBN 0-7165-2364-7)
  2. Burke, John Bernard, The Roll of Battle Abbey. London: Edward Churton, 26, Holles Street, 1848, Print.
  3. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  4. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  5. Rubincam, Milton. The Old United Empire Loyalists List. Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc, 1976. (Originally published as; United Empire Loyalists. The Centennial of the Settlement of Upper Canada. Rose Publishing Company, 1885.) ISBN 0-8063-0331-X
  6. South Australian Register Friday February 7th, 1856. (Retrieved 2010, November 5) Lord Raglan 1856. Retrieved http://www.theshipslist.com/ships/australia/lordraglan1856.shtml
  7. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  9. The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2015, October 20) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html


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