Show ContentsHackthorp History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Early Origins of the Hackthorp family

The surname Hackthorp was first found in Yorkshire at Hagthorpe, a settlement as listed in the Domesday Book of 1086. 1 But this settlement seems to have been lost to time.

Hacthorpe (Hackthorpe) is a township, in the parish of Lowther, West ward and union, county of Westmorland 2

It is presumed that the family originated in Westmorland. 3 The first recording of the family was Robert de Hakethorp who was listed in the Assize Rolls for Yorkshire in 1251.

Early History of the Hackthorp family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hackthorp research. Another 116 words (8 lines of text) covering the years 1168, 1171, 1510, 1540, 1585, 1593, 1600, 1605, 1607, 1608 and 1627 are included under the topic Early Hackthorp History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hackthorp Spelling Variations

Anglo-Norman names are characterized by a multitude of spelling variations. When the Normans became the ruling people of England in the 11th century, they introduced a new language into a society where the main languages of Old and later Middle English had no definite spelling rules. These languages were more often spoken than written, so they blended freely with one another. Contributing to this mixing of tongues was the fact that medieval scribes spelled words according to sound, ensuring that a person's name would appear differently in nearly every document in which it was recorded. The name has been spelled Hagthorp, Hagthorpe, Haggthorpe, Haggthorp, Hackthorp, Hackthorpe, Hagthrop, Haggthrop, Haggthrup, Hackthrop, Haythorp and many more.

Early Notables of the Hackthorp family

Outstanding amongst the family at this time was John Hagthorpe (fl. 1627), English poet, who was undoubtedly the son of Rowland Hagthorpe (d. 1593) of Nettlesworth in the parish of Chester-le-Street, Durham. "He was baptised 12 Feb. 1585 (Surtees, Durham, ii. 204). In his writings he refers to the time when he lived in Scarborough Castle, Yorkshire. He married Judith, daughter of Anthony Wye, who...
Another 65 words (5 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hackthorp Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hackthorp family

For many English families, the political and religious disarray that plagued their homeland made the frontiers of the New World an attractive prospect. Thousands migrated, aboard cramped disease-ridden ships. They arrived sick, poor, and hungry, but were welcomed in many cases with far greater opportunity than at home in England. Many of these hardy settlers went on to make important contributions to the emerging nations in which they landed. Among early immigrants bearing the name Hackthorp or a variant listed above were: the name represented in many forms and recorded from the mid 17th century in the great migration from Europe. Migrants settled in the eastern seaboard from Newfoundland, to Maine, to Virginia, the Carolinas, and to the islands..



  1. Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
  2. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  3. Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)


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