Harwood History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms 

Origins Available: 
  England 
  Ireland 
  Scotland 


The name Harwood is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is a product of when the family lived in Lincolnshire. The name is derived from the Old English word har which means "grey" and the word wudu which means "wood." 1

"Prior to the latter half of the XIV. cent. the name was written Harward and Hereward, and tradition derives the family from the celebrated Hereward, the patriot Saxon, who a few years after the Conquest headed his oppressed countrymen against the forces of William. He was the younger son of Leofric, earl of Mercia." 2

Another source provides more about Hereward. His history "fills a larger place in legend than in authentic history. A few references to him in the chronicles and an account of his possessions in Domesday are all that we really know of him. But his exploits in defending Ely from the Normans caused the generation succeeding his own to regard him as the popular hero of the English resistance to their French conquerors. Popular songs commemorated his wonderful deeds, and were the sources of many mythical histories which disagree with each other, and with known history. They are written with obvious exaggeration, though some of them are not sixty years subsequent in date to the time when Hereward in all probability was still alive." 3

Early Origins of the Harwood family

The surname Harwood was first found in Lancashire at either Great Harwood or Little Harwood; and or in West Yorkshire at Harewood, all villages. 4

An early record of the family was found in Cheshire in the twelfth century: Hubert de Harewda was listed there in 1176. Bernard de Harewode was listed in 1242 Fees and Alice Harewode was listed in the Subsidy Rolls of Somerset in 1327. 5

Up in Scotland, the name was likely from a local origin, "probably from Harwood near West Calder, Midlothian. Roger de Hauewod held land of Gouyrton near Edinburgh, 1317, and Ada, daughter of Roger de Harewood or Hauwod, is mentioned in Aberdeen in same year. The lands of Trowere in the earldom of Carrick were resigned by Janet de Hawod, 1430." 6

Early History of the Harwood family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Harwood research. Another 256 words (18 lines of text) covering the years 1071, 1464, 1563, 1564, 1565, 1568, 1572, 1574, 1575, 1577, 1578, 1586, 1600, 1614, 1618, 1632, 1634, 1647, 1648, 1674, 1707 and 1787 are included under the topic Early Harwood History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Harwood Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Harwood has been spelled many different ways, including Harwood, Harewood, Horwood, Whorwood, Herwood, Hereward, Harward and many more.

Early Notables of the Harwood family

Notables of this surname at this time include:

Harwood World Ranking

In the United States, the name Harwood is the 3,861st most popular surname with an estimated 7,461 people with that name. 7 However, in Australia, the name Harwood is ranked the 984th most popular surname with an estimated 4,032 people with that name. 8 And in New Zealand, the name Harwood is the 713rd popular surname with an estimated 1,003 people with that name. 9 The United Kingdom ranks Harwood as 697th with 9,585 people. 10

Migration of the Harwood family to Ireland

Some of the Harwood 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.


Harwood migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Harwoods to arrive in North America:

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

Harwood migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Harwood Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century

Harwood migration to Australia +

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

Harwood Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Harwood 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:

Harwood Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century

Harwood 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
Harwood Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century

Contemporary Notables of the name Harwood (post 1700) +
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