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The ancestors of the name Hardacre date back to the days of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. The name is derived from their residence 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.
The surname Hardacre 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.
This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hardacre research. Another 195 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1300, 1321 and 1343 are included under the topic Early Hardacre History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
Hardacre has been spelled many different ways. Before English spelling became standardized over the last few hundred years, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. As the English language changed in the Middle Ages, absorbing pieces of Latin and French, as well as other languages, the spelling of people's names also changed considerably, even over a single lifetime. Many variations of the name Hardacre have been found, including Hardacre, Hardaker, Hardiker, Handsacre, Handacre and others.
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 Hardacre Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.
In an attempt to escape the chaos experienced in England, many English families boarded overcrowded and diseased ships sailing for the shores of North America and other British colonies. Those families hardy enough, and lucky enough, to make the passage intact were rewarded with land and a social environment less prone to religious and political persecution. Many of these families became important contributors to the young colonies in which they settled. Early immigration and passenger lists have documented some of the first Hardacres to arrive on North American shores: