Show ContentsHardy History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Hardy Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Family Crest Download (JPG) Heritage Series - 600 DPI

Etymology of Hardy

What does the name Hardy mean?

From the historical and enchanting region of France emerged a multitude of notable family names, including that of the distinguished Hardy family. Originally, the people in this region went by one (personal) name. Surnames evolved during the Middle Ages when people began to assume an extra name to avoid confusion and to further identify themselves. These names then began to become "fixed" or hereditary between the generations. One of the types of names adopted as surnames were those derived from nicknames. Nicknames, or "eke-names," were an added name that generally reflected some physical characteristics or other attribute of the person that used the name. The Hardy surname derives from the Old French word "hardi," which came from the Germanic word "hard," which meant "strong", and therefore was a nickname for a courageous or strong person.

Early Origins of the Hardy family

The surname Hardy was first found in Guyenne, where the family was established in a village of Soustons, in Landes.

The members of this illustrious family also settled in other regions, where several of them distinguished themselves. Alexandre Hardy (1572-1632) was a playwright in Paris. Claude Hardy (1604-1678) was a mathematician. Sébastien Hardy, a financier in Paris, was married around 1650. Antoine-François Hardy, a deputy, was born in Caen in 1748 and died in Paris in 1823. He was also a doctor in Rouen. Félix Hardy (1762-1802), a brigade general, married Marie-Joseph-Louise-Galliste Huty de Brusnel in 1797.

The name was first found in Canada with Jean Hardy of Le Havre in the 17th century. 1 Jean, born in 1642, son of Pierre and Isabelle (née Mehoux), travelled from Normandy to Canada in the 17th century. After settling in Quebec he married Marie Poire, born in 1641, daughter of Toussaint and Catherine (née Chatou), at Pointe-aux-Trembles on 21st October 1669. 2

Early History of the Hardy family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hardy research. The years 1811, 1829, 1840, 1893 and 1894 are included under the topic Early Hardy History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hardy Spelling Variations

Spelling variations of this family name include: Hardy, Hardie and others.

Early Notables of the Hardy family

  • Louis-Philippe-Alfred Hardy (1811-1893), a doctor
  • Léopold-Amédé Hardy (1829-1894), an architect
  • Marie-François-Michel Hardy (1840-1893), a librarian

Hardy World Ranking

the United States, the name Hardy is the 310th most popular surname with an estimated 87,045 people with that name. 3 However, in Canada, the name Hardy is ranked the 403rd most popular surname with an estimated 11,571 people with that name. 4 And in Quebec, Canada, the name Hardy is the 555th popular surname. 5 Newfoundland, Canada ranks Hardy as 535th with 86 people. 6 France ranks Hardy as 335th with 11,990 people. 7 Australia ranks Hardy as 301st with 11,829 people. 8 New Zealand ranks Hardy as 516th with 1,337 people. 9 The United Kingdom ranks Hardy as 228th with 25,584 people. 10

Hardy migration to the United States +



Hardy Settlers in United States in the 17th Century
  • Mary Hardy, who landed in America in 1620 12
  • John Hardy, who settled in Salem in 1630
  • Nicholas Hardy, who landed in Maryland in 1633 12
  • Mr. John Hardy, who arrived in Dorchester, Massachusetts in 1633 aboard the ship "Recovery" 13
  • Richard Hardy, who landed in New England in 1639 12
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Hardy Settlers in United States in the 18th Century
  • Marie Hardy, who arrived in Louisiana in 1719 12
  • Henrietta Hardy, aged 9, who arrived in Louisiana in 1797 12
Hardy Settlers in United States in the 19th Century
  • Hugh Hardy, who arrived in America in 1801 12
  • Thomas Hardy, who arrived in America in 1804 12
  • David Hardy, who landed in America in 1811 12
  • Charles Hardy, aged 29, who landed in Alexandria, Va in 1816 12
  • James Hardy, who arrived in America in 1816 12
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hardy migration to Canada +

Hardy Settlers in Canada in the 17th Century
  • Pierre Hardy, who landed in Montreal in 1653
  • Jean Hardy, who married Marie Pairé in Pte-aux-Trembles, Quebec in 1669
Hardy Settlers in Canada in the 18th Century
  • Michel Hardy, who married Marie-Judith Monet in Laprairie, Quebec in 1722
  • Jean-Baptiste-Louis Hardy, who married Marie-Madeleine Bertrand in Cap-Santé, Quebec in 1736
  • Josiah Hardy, who landed in Halifax, Nova Scotia in 1749-1752
  • Joseph Hardy, who married Agathe Bellemare in Yamachiche, Quebec in 1759
  • Aaron Hardy, who landed in Anapolis (Annapolis), Nova Scotia in 1760
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
Hardy Settlers in Canada in the 19th Century
  • Morris Hardy, who arrived in Canada in 1841
  • Mr. Michael Hardy, aged 40 who was emigrating through Grosse Isle Quarantine Station, Quebec aboard the ship "Lord Ashburton" departing 13th September 1847 from Liverpool, England; the ship arrived on 1st November 1847 but he died on board 14
Hardy Settlers in Canada in the 20th Century
  • Joseph Hardy, who arrived in Saint John, New Brunswick in 1907

Hardy migration to Australia +

Emigration to Australia included the First Fleet and Second Fleet of convicts, tradespeople and early settlers. Early immigrants include:

First Fleet
  • Mr. Francis Hardy, British settler convicted at Middlesex, England in 1786, sentenced to Life for highway robbery, transported aboard the ship "Neptune, Scarborough or Surprize" leaving in 1789 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1790 11
Second Fleet
  • Mr. John Hardy, British settler convicted in Somerset, England in 1790, sentenced to 7 years for stealing, transported aboard the ship "Salamander" leaving in 1790 arriving in New South Wales, Australia in 1791 12
Following the First and Second Fleets, other convicts and early settlers arriving in Australia include:

Hardy Settlers in Australia in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Hardy, Irish convict who was convicted in Armagh, Ireland for life, transported aboard the "Atlas" on 29th November 1801, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 15
  • Mr. James Hardy, English convict who was convicted in London, England for life, transported aboard the "Baring" in April 1815, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 16
  • Mr. George Hardy, English convict who was convicted in Derby, England for 7 years, transported aboard the "Dromedary" on 11th September 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land) 17
  • Mr. William Hardy, (b. 1803), aged 16, English shepherd who was convicted in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, England for life for stealing, transported aboard the "Dromedary" on 11th September 1819, arriving in Tasmania (Van Diemen's Land), he died in 1836 17
  • Mr. George Hardy, Scottish convict who was convicted in Edinburgh, Scotland for 14 years, transported aboard the "Eliza" on 13th July 1822, arriving in New South Wales, Australia 18
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hardy 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:

Hardy Settlers in New Zealand in the 19th Century
  • Mr. John Hardy, British settler, as the 2nd Detachment of New Zealand Corps of Royal New Zealand Fencibles travelling from Gravesend aboard the ship "Minerva" arriving in Auckland, New Zealand on 8th October 1847 19
  • Mr. Hardy, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Rajah" arriving in Otago, South Island, New Zealand on 6th October 1853 20
  • Mr. Hardy, British settler travelling from London aboard the ship "Dunedin" arriving in Dunedin, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd January 1856 19
  • Mrs. Hardy, British settler travelling from London with 4 sons aboard the ship "Dunedin" arriving in Dunedin, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd January 1856 19
  • Miss Hardy, British settler travelling from London with sister aboard the ship "Dunedin" arriving in Dunedin, South Island, New Zealand on 23rd January 1856 19
  • ... (More are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Hardy 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. 21
Hardy Settlers in West Indies in the 17th Century
  • Mr. Robert Hardy, (b. 1617), aged 18, British settler travelling from London, England aboard the ship "Alexander" arriving in Barbados in 1635 22

Contemporary Notables of the name Hardy (post 1700) +

  • Oliver Hardy (1892-1957), born Norvell Hardy, an American actor and larger half of the Laurel & Hardy team
  • Thomas Hardy (1840-1928), English novelist, short story writer, and poet of the naturalist movement
  • George Hardy (1925-2025), American pilot and military officer, World War II served with the Tuskegee Airmen and flew 21 combat missions, Korean War flew 45 combat missions as the pilot of a bomber
  • Michael Hardy (1955-2024), American civil rights lawyer and confidant, best known for having defended Rev. Al Sharpton in a defamation lawsuit in 1987
  • Alexander Hardy (1847-1927), American politician, Representative from Indiana
  • Kevin Thomas Hardy (1945-2024), American football player for the New Orleans Saints in the first round (7th pick overall) of the 1968 NFL Draft
  • Joseph A. Hardy III (1923-2023), American businessman and the founder and CEO of 84 Lumber Company and Nemacolin Woodlands Resort
  • Carroll William Hardy (1933-2020), American National Football League player who played from 1958 to 1967
  • Brigadier-General Rosswell Eric Hardy (1893-1961), American Deputy Chief of St. Louis Ordnance District (1941-1942) 23
  • ... (Another 32 notables are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)
HMS Hood
  • Mr. Henry F M Hardy (b. 1916), English Cook (S) serving for the Royal Navy from Brighton, Sussex, England, who sailed into battle and died in the HMS Hood sinking 24
  • Mr. Frederick L Hardy, British Leading Cook, who sailed into battle on the HMS Prince of Wales (1941) and survived the sinking 25
  • Mr. Robert Hardy, British seaman who was aboard the ship "HMS Queen Charlotte" off the coast of Capraia, Italy when she caught fire on the 17th March 1800; listed as survived
  • Mr. Henry Hardy (b. 1920), English Marine from Reddish, Lancashire, England, who sailed into battle on the HMS Repulse (1941) and died in the sinking 26
  • Miss Elsie Hardy, American 2nd Class passenger from Montclair, New Jersey, USA, who sailed aboard the RMS Lusitania (1915) and survived the sinking 27
  • ... (Another 5 entries are available in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.)

Suggested Readings for the name Hardy +

  • An American Family and Its Ancestors Predecessors: Back to Adam through Early American Immigrants of British Extraction According to Past and Present Records by Vivian Higgins Morse.
  • The Eastern North Carolina Hardy-Hardee Family in the South and Southwest by David Lydall Hardee.
  1. Hozier, Charles D, and Antoine Bachelin-Delforenne. État présent De La Noblesse française (1883-1887): Contenant Le Distionnaire De La Noblesse Contemporaine Et Larmorial général De France, Dapres Les Manuscrits De Ch. D Hozier. Librairie Des Bibliophiles, 1884. Print.
  2. Olivier, Reginald L. Your Ancient Canadian Family Ties. Logan: The Everton Publishers, Inc., P.O. Box 368, 1972. Print
  3. "What are the 5,000 Most Common Last Names in the U.S.?". NameCensus.com, https://namecensus.com/last-names/
  4. "Surnames Meanings, Origins & Distribution Maps - Forebears." Forebears, https://forebears.io/surnames
  5. "The first 1,000 family names by rank, Quebec (in French only)" Institut de la statistique du Quebec, https://statistique.quebec.ca/en/document/family-names-in-quebec/tableau/the-first-1000-family-names-by-rank-quebec
  6. The order of Common Surnames in 1955 in Newfoundland retrieved on 20th October 2021 (retrieved from Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland by E.R. Seary corrected edition ISBN 0-7735-1782-0)
  7. http://www.journaldesfemmes.com/nom-de-famille/nom/
  8. "Most Common Last Names in Australia." Forebears, https://forebears.io/australia/surnames
  9. "Most Common Last Names in New Zealand." Forebears, https://forebears.io/new-zealand/surnames
  10. "UK surname ranking." UK Surname map, https://www.surnamemap.eu/unitedkingdom/surnames_ranking.php?p=10
  11. Convict Records of Australia. Retrieved 4th February 2021 from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships
  12. 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)
  13. Pilgrim Ship's of 1600's Retrieved January 6th 2023, retrieved from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  14. Charbonneau, André, and Doris Drolet-Dubé. A Register of Deceased Persons at Sea and on Grosse Île in 1847. The Minister of Canadian Heritage, 1997. ISBN: 0-660-198/1-1997E (p. 79)
  15. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 14th July 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/atlas
  16. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th September 2020). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/baring
  17. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 16th July 2021). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/dromedary
  18. Convict Records Voyages to Australia (Retrieved 15th February 2022). Retrieved from https://convictrecords.com.au/ships/eliza
  19. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 17th October 2018). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  20. New Zealand Yesteryears Passenger Lists 1800 to 1900 (Retrieved 26th March 2019). Retrieved from http://www.yesteryears.co.nz/shipping/passlist.html
  21. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_West_Indies
  22. Pilgrim Ship Lists Early 1600's retrieved 28th September 2021 from https://www.packrat-pro.com/ships/shiplist.htm
  23. Generals of World War II. (Retrieved 2012, March 9) Rosswell Hardy. Retrieved from http://generals.dk/general/Hardy/Rosswell_Eric/USA.html
  24. H.M.S. Hood Association-Battle Cruiser Hood: Crew Information - H.M.S. Hood Rolls of Honour, Men Lost in the Sinking of H.M.S. Hood, 24th May 1941. (Retrieved 2016, July 15) . Retrieved from http://www.hmshood.com/crew/memorial/roh_24may41.htm
  25. HMS Prince of Wales Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listprincecrew.html
  26. HMS Repulse Crew members. (Retrieved 2014, April 9) . Retrieved from http://www.forcez-survivors.org.uk/biographies/listrepulsecrew.html
  27. Lusitania Passenger List - The Lusitania Resource. (Retrieved 2014, March 6) . Retrieved from http://www.rmslusitania.info/lusitania-passenger-list/

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