Hardaker History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Hardaker has a long Anglo-Saxon heritage. The name comes from when a family lived in Hardacre, Clapham, in the West Riding of Yorkshire. The place-name is derived from the Old English personal name Hearda, and the Old English word æcer or the Old Scandinavian word akr, both of which mean "plot of cultivated land." The place-name as a whole means "Hearda's farmland." 1

Another source claims the name was derived from the ancient Saxon word Hardgear meaning "a strong spear," and in this case it would not have any relationship to farmland.

Early Origins of the Hardaker family

The surname Hardaker was first found in Yorkshire where the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 include: Willelmus Hardaker; and Nicholaus Harthacre as holding lands there at that time. "Yorkshire must be looked upon as the chief centre." 2

There was one lone early entry for the family in Somerset, that of John de Hordacre, 1 Edward III (during the first year of the reign of King Edward III." 3

And in the village of Charlton, Worcestershire, in 1240 records show William de Handsacre held Charlton Manor.

Early History of the Hardaker family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hardaker research. Another 195 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1300, 1321 and 1343 are included under the topic Early Hardaker History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hardaker 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 Hardaker have been found, including Hardacre, Hardaker, Hardiker, Handsacre, Handacre and others.

Early Notables of the Hardaker family

Notables of the family at this time include Sir William Handsacre (b. c. 1300) in Handesacre in Armitage, Staffordshire. He married Eleanor circa 1321 at of Charlton, Worcestershire. His daughter Elizabeth married...
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hardaker Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hardaker 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:

Hardaker Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Mr. Eri Hardaker, (b. 1862), aged 21, English engineer driver from Yorkshire travelling from Plymouth aboard the ship "Taranaki" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st October 1883 4
Mrs. Annie Hardaker, (b. 1863), aged 20, English settler from Yorkshire travelling from Plymouth aboard the ship "Taranaki" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st October 1883 4
Mr. Gilbert Hardaker, (b. 1883), aged 6 months, English settler from Yorkshire travelling from Plymouth aboard the ship "Taranaki" arriving in Lyttelton, Christchurch, South Island, New Zealand on 21st October 1883 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Hardaker (post 1700) +

Charles E. Hardaker, American politician, Prohibition Candidate for Presidential Elector for Michigan, 1968, 1976, 1984 5
Zak Hardaker (b. 1991), English professional rugby league footballer for Leeds Rhinos
Alan Hardaker (1912-1980), English football administrator for the Football League
Julie Hardaker (b. 1960), New Zealand lawyer and politician, 34th Mayor of Hamilton (2010-)

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
The Political Graveyard: Alphabetical Name Index. (Retrieved 2016, January 29) . Retrieved from http://politicalgraveyard.com/alpha/index.html