Hargroves History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

Origins Available:
England

The name Hargroves is part of the ancient legacy of the Anglo-Saxon tribes of Britain. It is a product of when the family lived in Hargrave, a place-name found in the counties of Cheshire, Northamptonshire, and Suffolk. There is also a Hargrave Hall in Cheshire. The place-name is derived from the Old English elements har, which meant "hare" or "on the border," and graf or græfe, which meant "grove." The place-name as a whole meant "grove filled with rabbits" or "grove on a border." 1

Alternatively, the name could have been derived from a Saxon occupation, as "the provider or commissary of an army, from Here or Har, an army, and grave, a steward or disposer." 2

"Hargreaves is an old Lancashire name. It is also common in the West Riding, particularly in the Leeds district. There are two Cheshire hamlets called Hargrave." 3

Early Origins of the Hargroves family

The surname Hargroves was first found in Cheshire at Hargrave, which dates back to the Domesday Book of 1086 where it was listed as Haregrave. The Domesday Book also lists Haragrauna in Suffolk and Haregrave in Northamptonshire. 4

The first record of the family was Geoffrey de Haregrave who was listed in the Pipe Rolls of Derbyshire in 1188. 5 A few years later, in the Hundredorum Rolls of 1273, John de Haregrave was listed as holding lands in Buckinghamshire at that time.

Later again, in East Cheshire in 1296, two records were found: William de Haregreve; and Richard de Haregreve. "The Hargreaves of Lancashire probably spring from Hargrave, Cheshire." 6

The Subsidy Rolls of Lancashire listed Henry de Hargreve in 1332. 5 This latter source notes that Hargreave Hall was located in Cheshire, but we can find no record of it today.

Early History of the Hargroves family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our Hargroves research. Another 91 words (6 lines of text) covering the years 1286, 1332, 1486, 1499, 1529, 1541, 1690, 1739 and 1741 are included under the topic Early Hargroves History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hargroves Spelling Variations

The first dictionaries that appeared in the last few hundred years did much to standardize the English language. Before that time, spelling variations in names were a common occurrence. The language was changing, incorporating pieces of other languages, and the spelling of names changed with it. Hargroves has been spelled many different ways, including Hargrove, Hargreave, Hargreaves, Hargrave, Hargroves and many more.

Early Notables of the Hargroves family

Another 38 words (3 lines of text) are included under the topic Early Hargroves Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Hargroves migration to the United States +

Thousands of English families in this era began to emigrate the New World in search of land and freedom from religious and political persecution. Although the passage was expensive and the ships were dark, crowded, and unsafe, those who made the voyage safely were rewarded with opportunities unavailable to them in their homeland. Research into passenger and immigration lists has revealed some of the very first Hargrovess to arrive in North America:

Hargroves Settlers in United States in the 17th Century

Elizabeth Hargroves, who arrived in Maryland in 1678 7
John Hargroves, who landed in Maryland in 1678 7

The Hargroves 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: Vincit amor patria
Motto Translation: My beloved country will conquer.

Citations +

Mills, A.D., Dictionary of English Place-Names. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-19-869156-4)
Arthur, William , An Etymological Dictionary of Family and Christian Names. London: 1857. Print
Guppy, Henry Brougham, Homes of Family Names in Great Britain. 1890. Print.
Williams, Dr Ann. And G.H. Martin, Eds., Domesday Book A Complete Translation. London: Penguin, 1992. Print. (ISBN 0-141-00523-8)
Reaney, P.H and R.M. Wilson, A Dictionary of English Surnames. London: Routledge, 1991. Print. (ISBN 0-415-05737-X)
Bardsley, C.W, A Dictionary of English and Welsh Surnames: With Special American Instances. Wiltshire: Heraldry Today, 1901. Print. (ISBN 0-900455-44-6)
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)