Hart History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

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The Irish name Hart was originally written in a Gaelic form as O'h-Airt, which connotes a descendant of Art. 1

Specifically, the family claim descent through "Art Eanfhear, who is number 81 on the 'Line of Heremon," and son of the Monarch Conn of the Hundred Battles." He was at times called "The Solitary," as he was the only one of his father's sons that survived; his two brothers Conla Ruadh and Crionna, having been slain by their uncles. His grief was so strong that in some writings, he was referred to as "Art, the Melancholy." 2

The name literally means "a bear, a stone; noble, great, generous; hardness." 3

Early Origins of the Hart family

The surname Hart was first found in County Meath (Irish: An Mhí) anciently part of the kingdom of Brega, located in Eastern Ireland, in the province of Leinster, where they were of the southern Ui Neill. Before the Anglo-Norman invasion of the 12th century, their chiefs were known as the lords of Teffia.

Early History of the Hart family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hart research. Another 117 words (8 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hart History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hart Spelling Variations

Those scribes in Ireland during the Middle Ages recorded names as they sounded. Consequently, in this era many people were recorded under different spellings each time their name was written down. Research on the Hart family name revealed numerous spelling variations, including Hart, O'Hart, Harte, MacArt, McArt, MacCart, McCart and many more.

Early Notables of the Hart family

Notable amongst the family name at this time was

Hart World Ranking

In the United States, the name Hart is the 179th most popular surname with an estimated 134,298 people with that name. 4 However, in Canada, the name Hart is ranked the 316th most popular surname with an estimated 13,999 people with that name. 5 And in Newfoundland, Canada, the name Hart is the 207th popular surname with an estimated 203 people with that name. 6 Australia ranks Hart as 160th with 18,847 people. 7 New Zealand ranks Hart as 165th with 3,169 people. 8 The United Kingdom ranks Hart as 147th with 35,129 people. 9 Netherlands ranks Hart as 848th with 2,336 people. 10


Hart migration to the United States +

During the 19th century thousands of impoverished Irish families made the long journey to British North America and the United States. These people were leaving a land that had become beset with poverty, lack of opportunity, and hunger. In North America, they hoped to find land, work, and political and religious freedoms. Although the majority of the immigrants that survived the long sea passage did make these discoveries, it was not without much perseverance and hard work: by the mid-19th century land suitable for agriculture was short supply, especially in British North America, in the east; the work available was generally low paying and physically taxing construction or factory work; and the English stereotypes concerning the Irish, although less frequent and vehement, were, nevertheless, present in the land of freedom, liberty, and equality for all men. The largest influx of Irish settlers occurred with Great Potato Famine during the late 1840s. Research into passenger and immigration lists has brought forth evidence of the early members of the Hart family in North America:

Hart Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
Hart Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
Hart Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
Hart Settlers in United States in the 20th Century

Hart migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hart Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
Hart Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century

Hart migration to Australia +

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

Hart Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Hart 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:

Hart Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Hart 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. 17
Hart Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Hart (post 1700) +


The Hart 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: Fortis et fideliter
Motto Translation: Brave and faithful.


Suggested Readings for the name Hart +
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