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Show ContentsHartley History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms
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Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

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The roots of the Anglo-Saxon name Hartley come from when the family resided in the village of Hartley which was in several English counties including Berkshire, Devon, Dorset, Kent, Lancashire, York and Northumberland. This place-name was originally derived from the Old English words hart which means a stag and lea which means a wood or clearing. [1]

Of all these places, Hartley in Kent in the oldest as it dates back to Saxon times when it was known as Heoratleag in 843. [2] Another source claims this parish dates back further as "Heortleáh in the 8th century." [3]

Early Origins of the Hartley family

The surname Hartley was first found in Yorkshire where "Hartley is a very common West Riding name. It is also established in Lancashire. There are hamlets and townships of the name in the West Riding, Westmorland, Northumberland." [4]

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 included: Ricardus de Hertlay; and Willelmus de Hertelay. They "lived in the parish of Ecclesfield, West Riding of Yorkshire The surname has ramified in an extraordinary manner in the West Riding. The parentage in all probability will have to be sought for in Ecclesfield parish or the immediate neighbourhood." [5]

But before these entries, the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 listed: Brian de Hertheley, Lincolnshire; and Richard de Hertleye, Salop (Shropshire.) [5]

Up to the north in Scotland, the name is from "Hartley (Hartecla 1265, Hartcla 1291, Hartla 1306) a manor in the parish of Kirkby-Stephen, Westmorland. Michael de Hardcla or Hartcla was deputy sheriff of Westmorland in 1276 and 1277, and Sheriff of Cumberland in part of the year 1285 and then until 1298. On the execution of his brother Andrew de Hardcla, earl of Carlisle, for treason, he fled into Scotland with a number of his friends." [6]

Early History of the Hartley family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hartley research. Another 143 words (10 lines of text) covering the years 1191, 1273, 1327, 1379, 1621, 1623, 1691, 1695, 1698, 1705, 1709, 1720, 1757 and 1784 are included under the topic Early Hartley History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hartley Spelling Variations

The English language only became standardized in the last few centuries; therefore,spelling variations are common among early Anglo-Saxon names. As the form of the English language changed, even the spelling of literate people's names evolved. Hartley has been recorded under many different variations, including Hartley, Hartly, Hartlay, Hartlaye, Hartlie, Hertley, Hertly, Hertlay, Hertelay, Hertheley, Hertleye, Hertlegh, Hartleigh and many more.

Early Notables of the Hartley family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

  • David Hartley (1705-1757), English philosopher, "baptised at Luddenden, Halifax, on 21 June 1705, although his son gives this date of his birth as 30 Aug. 1705. His father, David Hartley, was entered...
  • Thomas Hartley (1709?-1784), was a translator of Swedenborg, son of Robert Hartley, a London bookseller and was born in London about 1709. [7]

Hartley World Ranking

In the United States, the name Hartley is the 1,003rd most popular surname with an estimated 29,844 people with that name. [8] However, in Australia, the name Hartley is ranked the 587th most popular surname with an estimated 6,640 people with that name. [9] And in New Zealand, the name Hartley is the 422nd popular surname with an estimated 1,574 people with that name. [10] The United Kingdom ranks Hartley as 308th with 19,749 people. [11]

Ireland Migration of the Hartley family to Ireland

Some of the Hartley family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt. More information about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

United States Hartley migration to the United States +

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that shrouded England made the far away New World an attractive prospect. On cramped disease-ridden ships, thousands migrated to those British colonies that would eventually become Canada and the United States. Those hardy settlers that survived the journey often went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Analysis of immigration records indicates that some of the first North American immigrants bore the name Hartley or a variant listed above:

Hartley Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • William Hartley, aged 23, who arrived in Virginia in 1623 aboard the ship "Charles" [12]
  • Tho Hartley, who landed in Virginia in 1642 [12]
  • Thomas Hartley, who settled in Virginia in 1642
  • Elizabeth Hartley, who settled in Virginia in 1655
  • Jane Hartley, who arrived in Maryland in 1668 [12]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Hartley Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Mary Hartley, who arrived in Virginia in 1705 [12]
  • Stephen Hartley, who arrived in Virginia in 1717 [12]
  • Ann Hartley, who arrived in Virginia in 1717 [12]
  • Michal Hartley, who landed in Mobile, Ala in 1787 [12]
Hartley Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • George Hartley, aged 36, who landed in Alexandria, Va in 1801 [12]
  • George Hartley, aged 36, who arrived in Alexandria in 1801
  • Thomas Hartley, who arrived in Allegany (Allegheny) County, Pennsylvania in 1808 [12]
  • William Hartley, who landed in America in 1811 [12]
  • George H. Hartley, who settled in South Carolina in 1812
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Canada Hartley migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hartley Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Mr. Barnabas Hartley U.E. who settled in Canada c. 1784 [13]
  • Sgt. George Adkin Hartley U.E. who settled in Saint John, New Brunswick c. 1784 he served in the King's American Regiment [13]
Hartley Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Hartley, aged 40 who immigrated to Canada, arriving at the Grosse Isle Quarantine Station in Quebec aboard the ship "Abbotsford" departing from the port of Dublin, Ireland but died on Grosse Isle in June 1847 [14]

Australia Hartley migration to Australia +

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

Hartley Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. Thomas Hartley, (b. 1799), aged 21 born in Helston, Cornwall, UK convicted in Cornwall on 11th April 1820, sentenced for 7 years for stealing a watch, transported aboard the ship "Juliana" in 1820 to Van Diemen's Land, Tasmania, Australia [15]
  • Mr. Thomas Hartley(b. 1799), aged 21, Cornish settler convicted in Cornwall, UK on 11th April 1820, sentenced for 7 years for stealing a watch, transported aboard the ship "Juliana" in September 1820 to Van Diemen's Land, Tasmania, Australia [16]
  • Mr. Nathaniel Hartley, British Convict who was convicted in Hertfordshire, England for life, transported aboard the "Caledonia" on 5th July 1820, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) [17]
  • Mr. John Hartley, British Convict who was convicted in Lancaster, Lancashire, England for 14 years, transported aboard the "Earl St Vincent" on 6th April 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [18]
  • Mr. William Hartley, British Convict who was convicted in York, Yorkshire, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Earl St Vincent" on 6th April 1820, arriving in New South Wales, Australia [18]
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

New Zealand Hartley 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:

Hartley Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Stephen Hartley, who landed in Wellington, New Zealand in 1840 aboard the ship Duke of Roxburgh [19]
  • Mary Hartley, aged 15, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Duke of Roxburgh" in 1840 [19]
  • Stephen Hartley, aged 47, a gunsmith, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Duke of Roxburgh" in 1840 [19]
  • Joseph Hartley, aged 30, a gunsmith, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Clifton" in 1842
  • Trifanna Hartley, aged 29, who arrived in Wellington, New Zealand aboard the ship "Clifton" in 1842
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

West Indies Hartley 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. [20]
Hartley Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Jeremy Hartley, aged 30, and Christopher Hartlie, aged 19, who settled in Barbados in 1635
  • Jeremy Hartley, who settled in Barbados in 1635
  • Jeremy Hartley, aged 30, who landed in Barbados in 1635 [12]
  • Mr. Jeremy Hartley, (b. 1605), aged 30, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Anne and Elizabeth" arriving in Barbados in 1635 [21]

Contemporary Notables of the name Hartley (post 1700) +

  • Sir William Pickles Hartley (1846-1922), English jam manufacturer and philanthropist from Colne, Lancashire, founder the Hartley's jam company; he built Hartley's Village, Aintree, Liverpool, a village of 49 houses for his workers at this factory site
  • Richard Edmond Hartley (1935-2023), mostly known by his stage names Slim Lehart or "The Wheeling Cat," an American country music singer and entertainer
  • Robert Milham Hartley (1796-1881), English-born, American co-founder of the temperance movement in New York
  • Garrett Hartley (b. 1986), American football placekicker
  • Marsden Hartley (1877-1943), American Modernist painter, poet, and essayist
  • Thomas Gordon Hartley (b. 1931), American botanist
  • Fred Allan Hartley Jr. (1902-1969), American Republican Party politician
  • Leslie "Gene" Hartley (1926-1993), American racecar driver
  • Ralph Vinton Lyon Hartley (1888-1970), American Rhodes Scholar and electronics researcher, inventor of the Hartley oscillator and the Hartley transform, recipient of the IEEE Medal of Honor
  • Raymond E. Hartley, American fighter pilot and flying ace in the U.S. Army Air Forces, during World War II, credited with 5 aerial victories
  • ... (Another 16 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Air New Zealand Flight 901
  • Mr. James Follett Hartley (1943-1979), New Zealander passenger, from Otorohanga, North Island, New Zealand aboard the Air New Zealand Flight 901 for an Antarctic sightseeing flight when it flew into Mount Erebus; he died in the crash [22]
Bradford City stadium fire
  • Arthur Hartley (1906-1985), from Bradford who attended the Bradford City and Lincoln City Third Division match on 11th May 1985 when the Bradford City stadium fire occurred and he died in the fire
HMS Hood
  • Mr. Norman Hartley (b. 1922), English Stoker 2nd Class serving for the Royal Navy from Middlesbrough, Yorkshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking [23]
  • Mr. Arthur Hartley (b. 1924), English Boy 1st Class serving for the Royal Navy from Sculcoates, Hull, Yorkshire, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking [23]
HMS Royal Oak
  • James A. Hartley, British Marine with the Royal Marine aboard the HMS Royal Oak (1939) when she was torpedoed by U-47 and sunk; he survived the sinking [24]
RMS Titanic
  • Mr. Wallace Henry Hartley (d. 1912), aged 33, English Bandmaster, Violinist from Colne, Lancashire who played aboard the RMS Titanic and died in the sinking and was recovered by CS Mackay-Bennett, famously his Violin has been recovered and sold at auction for 1.78 Million or 1.1 Million in Euros [25]
USS Arizona
  • Mr. Alvin Hartley, American Gunner's Mate Third Class from Oklahoma, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking [26]

Suggested Readings for the name Hartley +

  • Blue Ridge Mountain Kinfolk: A Record of Ancestors, Descendants, and Relatives of the Author and Wife, Including Fisher-Gilbert-Hall-Hartley-Hill-King-Kirby-Lawson Families by Larry King.
  • Richardson-Hartley-Arender and Related Families; a List of the Known Descendants of Elijah Richardson of Tennessee and Frank Hartley of South Carolina, Both of Whom Moved t Mississippi About 1815 by Thomas F. Richardson.
  1. Smith, Eldson Coles, New Dictionary of American Family Names New York: Harper & Row, 1956. Print
  2. Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
  3. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  4. Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
  5. Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
  6. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  7. Smith, George (ed), Dictionary of National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900. Print
  8. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  9. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  10. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  11. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  12. 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)
  13. 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
  14. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 32)
  15. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 30th May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/tasmanian_convicts_cornish.pdf
  16. Cornwall Online Parish Clerks. (Retrieved 30th May 2018). Retrieved from http://www.opc-cornwall.org/Resc/pdfs/emigration_australia_convicts.pdf
  17. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 25th November 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/caledonia
  18. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 10th September 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/earl-st-vincent
  19. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 5th November 2010). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  20. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  21. Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's. Retrieved 23rd September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  22. Mount Erebus, Memorial, Roll of Remembrance (Retrieved 2018, February 21st). Retrieved from http://www.erebus.co.nz/memorialandawards/rollofremembrance.aspx
  23. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
  24. Ships hit by U-boats crew list HMS Royal Oak (08) - (Retrieved 2018 February, 9th) - retrieved from https://uboat.net/allies/merchants/crews/ship68.html
  25. Titanic Passenger List - Titanic Facts. (Retrieved 2016, July 13) . Retrieved from http://www.titanicfacts.net/titanic-passenger-list.html
  26. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html
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