Hardacker History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

Etymology of Hardacker

What does the name Hardacker mean?

The name Hardacker first arose amongst the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is derived from their having lived 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.

Early Origins of the Hardacker family

The surname Hardacker 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.

Early History of the Hardacker family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hardacker research. Another 195 words (14 lines of text) covering the years 1300, 1321 and 1343 are included under the topic Early Hardacker History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hardacker Spelling Variations

One relatively recent invention that did much to standardize English spelling was the printing press. However, before its invention even the most literate people recorded their names according to sound rather than spelling. The spelling variations under which the name Hardacker has appeared include Hardacre, Hardaker, Hardiker, Handsacre, Handacre and others.

Early Notables of the Hardacker family

Sir William Handsacre (b. c. 1300) in Handesacre in Armitage, Staffordshire. He married Eleanor circa 1321 at of Charlton, Worcestershire. His daughter Elizabeth married William (Butler) le Botiller, 3rd Lord le Botiller...
Another 31 words (2 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hardacker Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hardacker migration to Australia +

Hardacker Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century

Mr. Joseph Hardacker, British Convict who was convicted in Gibraltar for 10 years, transported aboard the "Dudbrook" on 17th November 1852, arriving in Western Australia 4

Contemporary Notables of the name Hardacker (post 1700) +

Martha A. Hardacker (1845-1884), American teacher and essayist, known for her anti-suffragist papers in the Index, National Register, and Popular Science Monthly

Sources +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Dickinson, F.H., Kirby's Quest for Somerset of 16th of Edward the 3rd London: Harrison and Sons, Printers in Ordinary to Her Majesty, St, Martin's Lane, 1889. Print.
Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 23rd July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dudbrook