Show ContentsHardin History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

As a surname, Hardin is thought to be derived from the place named Harden in West Yorkshire. The place name in turn is derived from the Old English words "hara," or "hare," and "denu," or "valley." 1

Early Origins of the Hardin family

The surname Hardin was first found in Roxburghshire where one of the first records of the name was "John de Hardene of the county of Roxburghe rendered homage [to King Edward I] in 1296." 2 In Scotland, the family claim Harden in Roxburghshire as their ancient homestead. Other early record list Ricaraus de Harden as selling a horse in 1312 and William of Harden was "custumar" of Dundee in 1359. 2

Harden is a hamlet, in the parish of Bingley, union of Keighley, Upper division of the wapentake of Skyrack, in the West Riding of Yorkshire. 3

One of the first records of the family was of Ricardus de Hareden who was listed in Wiltshire in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273. The "Placita de Quo Warranto, temp. Edward I-III" listed Henry de Hardene in Norfolk, 20 Edward I (during the 20th year of Edward I's reign) and William de Hardene in Sussex.

The Yorkshire Poll Tax Rolls of 1379 had two listings of the family: Willelmus de Hardeyn; and Adam de Hardeyn. 4

Early History of the Hardin family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hardin research. Another 93 words (7 lines of text) covering the years 1296, 1512 and 1890 are included under the topic Early Hardin History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hardin Spelling Variations

The name, Hardin, occurred in many references, and from time to time, it was spelt Harden, Hardene, Hardin, Hardon and others.

Early Notables of the Hardin family

More information is included under the topic Early Hardin Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hardin Ranking

In the United States, the name Hardin is the 624th most popular surname with an estimated 47,253 people with that name. 5

Migration of the Hardin family to Ireland

Some of the Hardin family moved to Ireland, but this topic is not covered in this excerpt.
Another 74 words (5 lines of text) about their life in Ireland is included in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.


Hardin migration to the United States +

The New World beckoned settlers from the Scottish-English borders. They sailed aboard the armada of sailing ships known as the "White Sails" which plied the stormy Atlantic. Some called them, less romantically, the "coffin ships." Among the early settlers bearing the Hardin surname who came to North America were:

Hardin Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Ann Hardin, who arrived in Virginia in 1656 6
  • Win Hardin, who landed in Virginia in 1657 6
  • William Hardin, who settled in Virginia in 1663
  • John Hardin, who arrived in Maryland in 1671 6
  • Will Hardin, aged 24, who landed in Maryland in 1684 6
Hardin Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Jonathan Hardin, who landed in Virginia in 1724 6
Hardin Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • William Hardin, aged 58, who arrived in New York in 1812 6
  • Patrick Hardin, who landed in Arkansas in 1877 6
  • Mike Hardin, who arrived in Arkansas in 1886 6

Hardin migration to Canada +

Some of the first settlers of this family name were:

Hardin Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Thomas Hardin, who arrived in Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
Hardin Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Anne Hardin, who landed in Nova Scotia in 1830

Contemporary Notables of the name Hardin (post 1700) +

  • Ty Hardin (1930-2017), born Orison Whipple Hungerford Jr., an American actor, best known as the star of the 1958 to 1962 Western television series Bronco
  • Paul Hardin III (1931-2017), American academic administrator, Chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (1988-1995)
  • Irving Wayne Hardin (1926-2017), American football player and coach, inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 2013
  • Melora Diane Hardin (b. 1967), American actress and singer, known for her roles as Jan Levinson on NBC's The Office and Trudy Monk on Monk
  • James Timothy "Tim" Hardin (1941-1980), American folk musician and composer, best known for his song "If I Were a Carpenter"
  • Glen Dee Hardin (b. 1939), American piano player and arranger, known for his work with Elvis Presley, Emmylou Harris, John Denver, and Ricky Nelson
  • Jerry Hardin (b. 1929), American actor, best known for his role as the character Deep Throat in the series The X-File
  • Stephen L. Hardin (b. 1953), American historian and author
  • Brigadier-General Thomas Oates Hardin (1894-1968), American Commanding Officer Central Pacific Wing, Air Transport Command (1945) 7
  • Charles Henry Hardin (1820-1892), American politician, 22nd Governor of Missouri (1875-1877), co-founder of Beta Theta Pi fraternity, eponym of Hardin, Missouri
  • ... (Another 53 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

USS Arizona
  • Mr. Charles Eugene Hardin, American Seaman First Class from Missouri, USA working aboard the ship "USS Arizona" when she sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7th December 1941, he died in the sinking 8


Suggested Readings for the name Hardin +

  • Thomas and Polly Hardin and Their Descendants by Robert Allen Hardin.
  • Norris, Hackett, Prescott and Allied Families: Our Ancestors and Their Descendants, Including Adams, Andrews, Bachelder, Bartlett, Boulter, Brewer, Brown, Hinkley, Howard, Huntington et al by Hugh Albert Johns.

  1. Harrison, Henry, Surnames of the United Kingdom: A Concise Etymological Dictionary Baltimore: Geneological Publishing Company, 2013. Print
  2. Black, George F., The Surnames of Scotland Their Origin, Meaning and History. New York: New York Public Library, 1946. Print. (ISBN 0-87104-172-3)
  3. Lewis, Samuel, A Topographical Dictionary of England. Institute of Historical Research, 1848, Print.
  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)
  5. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  6. Filby, P. William, Meyer, Mary K., Passenger and immigration lists index : a guide to published arrival records of about 500,000 passengers who came to the United States and Canada in the seventeenth, eighteenth, and nineteenth centuries. 1982-1985 Cumulated Supplements in Four Volumes Detroit, Mich. : Gale Research Co., 1985, Print (ISBN 0-8103-1795-8)
  7. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2013, February 12) Thomas Hardin. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Hardin/Thomas_Oates/USA.html
  8. Pearl Harbour: USS Arizona Casualties List Pearl Harbour December 7, 1941. (Retrieved 2018, July 31st). Retrieved from http://pearl-harbor.com/arizona/casualtylist.html


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