Hardewach History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Hardewach is of Anglo-Saxon origin and came from when the family lived in the village of Hardwick near Ashton-cum-Aughton in the county of Yorkshire. The name was originally derived from the Old English word heordewic, when translated refers to the person who dwelled near a sheep farm. 1

Early Origins of the Hardewach family

The surname Hardewach was first found in Yorkshire. Some of the family held estates at Ault-Hucknall in Derbyshire in early times. "The manor of Hardwicke lies on the south side of the parish, and on the border of Nottinghamshire, from which it is separated by the river Meden or Mayden. It was granted by King John, in 1203, to Andrew de Beauchamp: the Hardwickes possessed it for six generations; and Elizabeth, daughter of John Hardwicke, Esq., brought it to Sir William Cavendish. The present Hall of Hardwicke was built by the Countess of Shrewsbury in the reign of Elizabeth; its situation is exceedingly picturesque and beautiful, standing in a fine park containing 621 acres of land, embellished with venerable oaks of most gigantic size. " 2

The hamlet of Kytes-Hardwick has an eponymous significance to the family. "The family of 'Herdwick,' a branch of the 'Hastangs,' took their name from this place, and some of them are supposed to have resided here. John de Herdwick, in the time of Edward III., held several offices of distinction, and in the first of Richard II. was one of the justices of the peace for the city of Coventry. Another John de Herdwick aided Richmond, afterwards Henry VII., at the battle of Bosworth-Field, and, it is said, by his good conduct as a guide to the army, got the earl the advantage in that fight 'of the ground, winde, and sunne.' The manor, at this period called Herdwick-Grembald, was conveyed by him, in marriage with one of his daughters, to William Dingley." 2

Early feudal rolls provided the king of the time a method of cataloguing holdings for taxation, but today they provide a glimpse into the wide surname spellings in use at that time. Robert de Herdewyk was listed in Cambridgeshire and Huntingdonshire, Henry III-Edward I, as was Henry de Herdewyk. 3

The Hundredorum Rolls of 1273 included: Ermina de Herdwych, Cambridgeshire. Later the Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 listed Alicia de Hardwyk; Agnes de Herdewik and Robertus de Hardewyk. 4 Anketill de Herdewic was listed in the Assize Rolls for Warwickshire in 1221 and Richard de la Herdewyk was registered in Somerset in 1243. 5

"The Hardwicks are established in various parts of England, and in most cases they have taken the name of a place in the county." 6

Early History of the Hardewach family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hardewach research. Another 78 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1525, 1527, 1580, 1599, 1608, 1609 and 1621 are included under the topic Early Hardewach History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hardewach Spelling Variations

It is only in the last few hundred years that the English language has been standardized. For that reason, early Anglo-Saxon surnames like Hardewach are characterized by many spelling variations. As the English language changed and incorporated elements of other European languages, even literate people changed the spelling of their names. Scribes and monks in the Middle Ages spelled names they sounded, so it is common to find several variations that refer to a single person. The variations of the name Hardewach include: Hardwick, Hardwicke, Hartwick, Hartwicke and others.

Early Notables of the Hardewach family

Notables of the family at this time include Elizabeth Talbot (nee Hardwick) (1527-1608), Countess of Shrewsbury, also known as Bess of Hardwick. She was daughter of John Hardwick of Derbyshire by his wife Elizabeth Leeke. The Hardwicks had arrived in Derbyshire from Sussex by the mid thirteenth century and farmed land granted by Robert Savage, lord of...
Another 57 words (4 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hardewach Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the Hardewach family

Many English families tired of political and religious strife left Britain for the new colonies in North America. Although the trip itself offered no relief - conditions on the ships were extremely cramped, and many travelers arrived diseased, starving, and destitute - these immigrants believed the opportunities that awaited them were worth the risks. Once in the colonies, many of the families did indeed prosper and, in turn, made significant contributions to the culture and economies of the growing colonies. An inquiry into the early roots of North American families has revealed a number of immigrants bearing the name Hardewach or a variant listed above: William Hardwick settled in Jamaica in 1685; Francis Hardwick settled in Barbados in 1680; William Hardwick settled in St. Christopher in 1716; James Hardwicke settled in New England in 1762..

The Hardewach 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: Cavendo tutus
Motto Translation: Safe by being cautious.

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
Testa de Nevill or "Liber Feodorum" or "Book of Fees," thought to have been written by Ralph de Nevill, for King John (1199–1216)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.